Bergholt Heath YFC – Results 6th & 13th October
Apologies for two weeks’ combined reports this week, hopefully normal service will be resumed next week.
6th October – Colchester Villa Yellows vs BHYFC Under 9s
Bergholt Heath Under 9s made the short journey to the Gilberd to play league newcomers Colchester Villa Yellows this week. The hosts made the brighter start and put the Bergholt defence under pressure and they nearly scored when it would have been harder to miss. Miss they did as the hard pitch caught the striker out and the ball bobbled at the wrong time and his mis-cued effort hit the post. Bergholt, spurred by this let off, went on the attach themselves and Oliver’s long range lob nearly deceived the Villa ‘keeper who managed to claw the ball out just before it bounced into the top corner.
The game was free-flowing with both teams pushing for the opening goal – Oliver again and Thomas L coming close for Bergholt before the deadlock was finally broken. The ball was crossed into the Bergholt box which they failed to clear and the Villa striker slotted the ball past Daniel. The hosts then had the chance to double their lead when they had a free kick on the edge of the area. The ball was well hit but Daniel did exceptionally well to push the ball onto the crossbar. Bergholt were determined to hit back but just as they got clear through on goal the referee blew of half time.
At half time the Bergholt manager told the boys just how well they had fought back last week and that they had to do the same again. They did that and had the balance of the second half. Bergholt had the ball in the back of the Villa net but the referee blew his whistle to stop the game for an injury just before the ball went over the line – the second time Bergholt’s luck had run out. Try as they may, Bergholt could not find a way through and no more goals were scored.
Bergholt Heath player of the match: Oliver Baker – some excellent long range efforts and a great midfield battling performance.
13th October – BHYFC Under 9s vs Oyster Youth
Bergholt Heath Under 9s were back on home soil after three weeks on the road. The goals and pitch were prepared in heavy rain but it stopped just before kick-off. The pitch itself was wet and in the warm-ups the ball was zipping along the ground giving the keepers extra to think about……
From the kick-off, Bergholt started the brighter of the two teams continuing to pass the ball around well as they had the previous two weeks. Oyster Youth stood firm and the half looked like it would end goalless. However, a break from Bergholt saw Tommy get free from the Oyster defence and his powerful shot whizzed past the stranded keeper. Bergholt looked to stretch that lead further when Theo tried his luck from distance but his lob just cleared the crossbar. Oyster were still in the game and got a heavy slice of luck when from a corner and despite the best efforts of Daniel to stop it, the ball was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Billy at the near post. HT 1-1.
With the rain still holding off, the second half kicked off with the visitors slightly on the ascendancy. They got another slice of luck when a long range shot squeezed under the body of Daniel and just rolled over the line before he clawed it away. With their tails up, Oyster then stretched their lead further when a couple of minutes later the striker got free of his marker and slammed the ball into the back of the net. Despite these setbacks the Bergholt team continued to press and try to get back into the game. Daniel made up for his mistake with a fantastic catch from a free kick whilst long range efforts were the name of the game with various team members all having a go. However, they were either going just wide of the post or into the keeper’s arms and even when he was beaten, the defender cleared off of the line. FT score 1-3.
Bergholt Heath player of the match: Billy Sutton – another solid game from the Aldham Ace!
6th October – Feering Falcons Reds vs BHYFC Under 11s
The Under 11s were also away, at Feering Falcons Reds, and started the game as if they were still on their school holidays! Within a few minutes the players decided that rather than tackle they would let the home forward run through and score. Things were not helped when Bergholt cleared their box but the referee stopped play. It was unclear why he had blown his whistle – and even more puzzling when he gave Feering a penalty, which was scored. Things were not looking any better going forward, with miss-placed passes, but then Bergholt pulled a goal back just before half time when Matthew headed forward to Jonah who put it away.
The second half started much better and Bergholt equalised when a shot from Matthew bobbled its way past the keeper. Although Bergholt were still not playing too well, they were battling much better and were having far more shots than the home team but most were going wide or high. However the Feering keeper did make one excellent save. Bergholt scored what seemed to be a good goal but it was ruled out for off side, although the boys insisted afterwards that the cross went backwards not forwards – which is likely given the number of incorrect throw in and offside decisions given during the game. Feering were not out of the game though, and from a poor clearance they scored what proved to be the winner when a shot back at goal hit the underside of the bar and spun into the net to make the final score Feering Falcons Reds 3 – 2 Bergholt Heath.
Bergholt ‘s man of the match: Nathan.
13th October – Wivenhoe vs BHYFC Under 11s (League Cup)
After last weeks horror show this was a complete turnaround in performance terms for the Under 11’s, away to Wivenhoe in the League Cup. Bergholt only had nine for this cup match but all of the boys had a great game. Wivenhoe started the better but Bergholt managed to curtail them. Indeed after a great through ball from Tyler Bergholt should have taken the lead. Jonah just had the keeper to beat, but then suddenly pulled up. One of the players called offside and, rather than listening for the whistle, he stopped. Harvey made a couple of great saves to keep the scores level. Ben and Alex playing at full backs were having fantastic games with some excellent counter attacking clearances. Bergholt were passing far better this match and the tackling was much better with Dan working hard at centre back. A small lapse in concentration led to the away team going into the break one down.
The second half was even better, with the midfield putting several great balls through to Tyler and Jonah. Jonah latched onto one and thumped it in to make it level GOOOAAALLL!!! Bergholt should have taken the lead but Jo and Ty when clean through several times hesitated just a tad too long instead of pulling the trigger. The guys at the back worked hard and restricted Wivenhoe’s chances. Full time 1-1 and onto extra time.
The first half was a bit of stalemate in midfield but the second half saw a couple of chances as both teams went for it to avoid penalties. Again Bergholt had a half chance but failed to convert and with a couple of minutes to go, a goal mouth me-lee saw the ball rebound off the post for a Wivenhoe player to score the winner. A great game by both sides and a fantastic performance by the boys.
MOM went to Alex for a terrific display.
6th October – FC Clacton vs BHYFC Under 15s
Our Under 15s completed the hat-trick of away fixtures. After last week’s first win of the season at East Thurock United (CYFL) in the Essex Cup, coming from a goal down to win 2-1 with goals from Ben and Max, they were away to FC Clacton this week.
As there was a full squad for the first time this season, a new team photo was taken, but after a delayed kick off Bergholt got off to a very slow start and fell a goal behind early on. However the equaliser came quickly when a handball resulted in a free kick on the edge of Clacton’s area that Sam fired into the bottom right hand corner.
Whilst not playing well, Bergholt did manage to get quite a few crosses in the box although none found any players in blue. However Bergholt fell behind again midway through the half when a free kick was cleared and the follow up shot was blocked only for it to fall kindly for an unmarked player to shoot from 20 yards out and find the top corner.
Bergholt looked a bit shell shocked and within 10 minutes Clacton made it 3-1 when they latched onto an under hit attempt to head back to Connor and they scored again.
The half time whistle came and the Clacton players and management seemed confident that the points were in the bag against a Bergholt team that looked 2nd to everything and had no answers as to how to turn it around. How wrong they were. After a team talk that wasn’t quite a Fergie’s Hairdryer, but stern enough to let the lads know that the 1st half performance was not good enough and after a bit of a shake up, they went out for the second half in determined fashion.
Within 10 minutes Ollie played a through ball to James Holden and he sped away then coolly beat the Clacton keeper to reduce the deficit. Bergholt were flying now and allowed Clacton no time on the ball smothering most attacks before they developed. It wasn’t too long before James returned the compliment, squaring the ball for Ollie to score through a crowded penalty box and the game was level. The subs went on again and continued the hard work of those that they replaced and it looked certain that James had scored another as he hit a screamer that was heading for the top left hand corner only for the keeper to acrobatically tip the ball over at full stretch. An incredible save!
With around 10 minutes to go Mickey went on a mazy run down the left wing beating 3 or 4 players before cutting the ball back to Luke who’s shot took a kind deflection and nestled in the bottom left corner to make the score 4-3 and put Bergholt in front!
Bergholt had completed a remarkable comeback and showed exactly what they are capable of when the everyone plays at 100% and work hard together as a team. It wasn’t just the closing down and winning the ball back that won the game though, some of the football played in that second half was excellent.
All 16 were excellent for the 2nd half and they deserve a lot of credit, however Man of the match was Mickey, mainly for his jinking run and assist, but he also had a solid game at left back too.
13th October – BHYFC UNder 15s vs Rowhedge Juniors (League Cup)
Our Under 15s were at home, also in the League Cup Round 1, against C league Rowhedge Juniors. In a first half characterised by strong wind and driving rain, Bergholt lost the toss and had to play against the conditions. Against lower league opposition, Bergholt were given time and space on the ball and with a better final ball into the box, even against the wind and rain, they should have been comfortably ahead by half time. As it was, the only goal of the first half was via a penalty after Luke had been taken out by the visiting ‘keeper when clean through on goal. Ollie stepped up to coolly finish from the spot.
The second half saw the sun come out and the wind drop – just as the Bergholt boys were looking to enjoy the advantage of the conditions! Bergholt were much more direct this half and a relatively one sided match saw further goals from James – a shot into the far corner after cutting in from the left, Luke from a tight angle – also from the left, Owen with a shot under the ‘keeper and finally from Max in the last couple of minutes from just inside the area. Connor in the Bergholt goal was relatively untroubled all match. Final score: Bergholt Heath 5 – 0 Rowhedge Juniors.
Bergholt Heath man of the match; Birthday boy Sam Clark.
Next weeks fixtures Sunday 20th October:
- Brooklands vs Under 9
- Under 11 vs Halstead Town Reds, KO 10am
- Stanway Rovers vs Under 15 – Essex County Cup R2
