Village News

Bergholt Heath YFC – Results 16th March

Great Bradfords vs BHYFC Under 9s

Bergholt travelled to Braintree to play Great Bradfords in the first of the Trophy Event matches.

Last week Bergholt struggled in the first half due to rustiness of having a month off playing. This week they didn’t suffer with this, and despite the first five minutes being dominated by Great Bradfords, the rest of the half was very even. Both teams attacked with vigour but were thwarted by solid defences which led to Bradfords trying their luck from long range – the best of these was superbly caught cleanly by Daniel, whose kicking from the hand today was the best it has been all season. Bergholt’s goal chances were limited but they had the best chance of the half when Thomas H jinxed past the full back and put in an excellent cross which found Oliver at the far post. He tried to place it in the top corner but saw his shot go just over the bar. HT 0-0.

For the second half Bergholt were playing up the hill and with the threat of the shot from distance Daniel was instructed to stay on his line as much as he could. The task was made harder when the deadlock was broken following a Bradfords attack where the striker bundled his way through the Bergholt defence and his shot gave Daniel no chance.

Despite this setback Bergholt heads did not drop and they took the fight to Bradfords with Nicholas, Thomas H and Theo running at the Bradfords defence. Apart the goal itself, Bradfords did not really get near the Bergholt net except for a quickly taken corner which took everyone by surprise but fortunately James was at the near post to stop it sneaking it into the net. Bergholt themselves had a number of chances but were denied at the last – Theo denied by a last-ditch challenge, Oliver by the keeper and James following a lovely pass from Freddie, sped down the wing and unleashed a fierce shot which the keeper did well to hold. In the last-minute Billy did his now trademark dribble down the wing but ran out of time as the final whistle blew. FT 0-1.

Bergholt played much better than last week and deserved something out of the game, but it wasn’t to be this time.

Bergholt Heath Player of the match: Thomas Haworth – took the battle to Great Bradfords…….

BHYFC Under 11s

The Under 11’s had a spare weekend but are scheduled to resume action next week.

BHYFC Under 15s vs Elmden Rovers

Back to league action for the Under 15’s, at home to Elmden Rovers who currently sit bottom of the A league. In blustery conditions, the away team won the toss and elected to play down the slope with the wind behind them in the first half. The visitors decided to try long balls over the top in the hope of capitalising on the wind, but rarely did they threaten despite the ball spending long period in the Bergholt half. As the first half wore on Bergholt saw more of the ball and played some good football through the midfield but as usual lacked any sort of presence up front.

HT: 0-0.

The second half saw Bergholt have the advantage of the wind and being far more positive when in possession. After 10 minutes a superb passage of play saw Max put through one on one with the keeper and he slotted the ball into the corner to relieve all the nerves. A few minutes later and it was 2-0 thanks to a direct free-kick some 30 yards out from Sam, who beat the keeper low down to his right. Maybe the keeper should have done better but it was a good strike from distance. Corners and half chances came and went but yet another 30 yard free kick from Sam – this time into the top corner that gave the keeper no chance – sealed the match against an Elmden team that never gave up and battled hard to the end but were never really in the game.

Full time: Bergholt Heath 3 – 0 Elmden Rovers.

Man of the match: Sam Clark – part of a back four that never gave the visitors a chance, plus 2 important goals.

Next weeks fixtures: Sunday 23rd March:

• Under 9 vs Rowhedge Juniors KO 11am
• Colchester Villa Blues vs Under 11
• Under 15 vs Stanway Rovers KO 10.30am

Bergholt Heath YFC – Results 9th March

Oyster Youth vs BHYFC Under 9s

After a four week absence from playing a game, the Bergholt manager knew that the first half was going to be a tough one for the boys to get back into some kind of rhythm.  The Oyster Youth pitch has been waterlogged for this period and so the grass has not been cut and so the combination of long grass and a bit of rustiness meant that often in the first half the Bergholt passes were a little short.  The hosts, having played a fortnight ago were the sharper of the teams with the visitor’s only meaningful attack resulting in a cross from Thomas H which zipped across the penalty box agonisingly between the two Baker brothers who were in the box. The introduction of the first set of substitutes did give Bergholt a bit of momentum with Nicholas in particular catching the eye with some super dribbling. However, Oyster did get their reward when they got past the Bergholt defence and the striker, one on one with Daniel, rammed the ball home. HT 1-0 to Oyster Youth.

The Bergholt manager told the boys at half-time that if they made their passes stronger then they would get their reward and sure enough they did this and the game was played predominately in the Oyster half. The boys attacked with much more purpose and with the cobwebs having disappeared, Bergholt were having more success in particularly down the right hand side with Billy taking the ball from defence to the edge of the Oyster box. Theo came close several times to connecting with goal-scoring opportunities but each time his timing was slightly out, whilst Joe and Ollie tried to get on the score sheet as well. Bergholt did get their deserved equaliser when Freddie swung in a corner and Theo pounced at the near post to equalise.

Bergholt tried to then push on and get the next goal and the same combination came close to doing this when Freddie’s clearance found Theo outside the box and his half-volley was superbly struck but flew just over the bar.

Try as they could Bergholt just couldn’t apply the final touch required, and having scored in the last minute to win against Reed Hall in the last game, were unfortunately on the reverse of this when indecision in the defence led to the Oyster Youth striker pouncing to get the winner. FT 2-1.

A real shame as Bergholt played themselves back into the game after a slow start and a win would have rounded off the weekend nicely following the Colchester United tour and Guard of Honour.

Bergholt Heath player of the match: Eddie Davies – some excellent tackles and clearances today epitomised by the sprint back to get a vital block in after going up pitch to help support the attack.

Cornard Dymanos Reds vs BHYFC Under 11s

The Under 11s ran out 2-0 winners in the match courtesy of goals from Thomas Whitlow and Jonah Murray.

Man of the match went to Ben Sams.

FC Clacton Blues vs BHYFC Under 15s – League Cup Quarter final

The defence of the cup ended at the quarter final stage but the result did not reflect the match.  All the football was played by Bergholt who took the lead in the 7th minute when Max got on the end of a free kick from Sam.  Bergholt looked comfortable in possession and appeared not to be in any danger of conceding, but as the game wore on, encouraged by some voracious support and ever more physical challenges, Clacton started to wear Bergholt down – the referee not offering any protection at all from two footed challenges and flying elbows.

Mid-way through the second half Clacton equalised when the ball somehow found its way into the far corner of the net from a cross-come-shot.  Bergholt looked to bounce back and had a clear penalty decision turned down when the defender lunged from behind, nowhere near getting the ball, and the referee gave a corner!  Clacton now appeared to be able to do anything they wanted, spurred on by ever more choice language from their coaching team.

In the last minute a superb challenge in the Bergholt box had them screaming for a penalty that clearly wasn’t, only for an innocent tangle of legs a few seconds later which gave the referee the chance to blow his whistle for a spot kick.  It was duly despatched to give Clacton the winner and put them through to the semi final – not before yet another 2 footed challenge went unpunished again. Bergholt ended the match with a few blooded noses – literally!

Bergholt Heath man of the match – Sam Clark, stood up to the physical challenge and tried to lead by example.

Next weeks fixtures, Sunday 16th March:

• Gt Bradfords vs Under 9
• Under 11 – should have an away freindly, to be confirmed
• Under 15 vs Elmden Rovers, KO 10.30am

Bergholt Heath YFC – Results 2nd March

The Under 9’s game away to Oyster Youth was again postponed to to a water-logged pitch in West Mersea.

Lexden Saints Blues vs BHYFC Under 11s

A tough match was expected as we faced league leaders Lexden.

We started the match not too badly, but after a while a pattern started emerging as, when Saints attacked, our marking was poor, recovery slow and the guys at the back were overwhelmed with yellow attackers. This led to us going in 5 down at the break.

Second half ,as normal was better as the boys shut down the attackers whose shots were hurried and didn’t trouble Harv.

As time went on we eventually got going and there were some passing combos up field which led to a couple of half chances.  Lexden ran out deserved winners and look fitting winners of the league.

Hopefully the boys have got going again after the enforced lay off , we look forward to better things next week.

MOM went to Richard for a much improved second half performance.

BHYFC Under 15s vs Notley Youth

The Under 15’s were also facing their league leaders Notley Youth, at home.  Yet again we were missing injured James Holden and Ollie Sanderson, plus Leo Tiffney, so another depleted squad.

The match started evenly although there were contrasting styles on display with Notley wanting to play the long ball and Bergholt looking to pass through the midfield.  The Notley long ball system meant the Bergholt defence had to be on their toes, but there were not many chances created by the visitors.   With Max playing a deeper role in midfield in place of Ollie, the usual spark was missing up front so when the passage of play swung towards Bergholt, the end product was generally missing in the final third.

The second half continued in much the same way as the majority of the first half, with the visitors having most of the possession but Bergholt looking comfortable and unlikely to concede.  New signing Joe Johnson came on to make his debut and slotted in well at centre back alongside Sam with Jamie moving to left back for the first time.

Final score: Bergholt Heath 0-0 Notley Youth, Bergholt Heath ‘man of the match’: Luke Bloomfield

Next weekends matches – Sunday 9th March: