Village News

On a blustery November morning, Bergholt Heath Under 8s took on Stanway Villa Reds in a friendly match due to both teams having a free week in their respective leagues.  As seems to be the case in most Under 8 matches nowadays, the boys seem to take a little while to get into the game and within 5 minutes Stanway took an early 2-goal lead. The rest of the first half was played mostly in the Bergholt half but the defence held firm. HT 0-2.

The second half was a different affair with Bergholt showing more attacking flair and they got they reward when Theo was pushed off the ball just outside the area to gain a free-kick. He stepped up to take it himself and hit a wondrous strike which flew into the roof of the Stanway net. This gave Bergholt a big lift and they started to take the game more to Stanway in order to get the equaliser. However, in one of the Stanway attacks a blocked shot spun high in to the air, it bounced just in front of Daniel in the Bergholt goal but unfortunately the spin took it away from his grasp and straight into the path of a Stanway striker. He coolly slotted the ball home to make the final score 1-3. A really good performance against a strong Stanway side. Well played to both teams.

The Under 10s ‘home’ match Vs Bures United – due to be played at Bures due to the continued unavailability of the Poors Field – was unsurprisingly postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. In fact it was almost under water!

Contrastingly, the pitch at Long Melford for the Under 14s was in good condition given the weather in the previous 24 hours. The Under 14s took to the pitch with a warning from the manager about the importance of winning matches, and duly put in a much more spirited performance than the previous week. Bergholt took the game to Long Melford with some crisp incise passing and after a few half chances, Bergholt took the lead mid way through the first half when a neat exchange of passes saw James Holden lay the ball back to new signing Max Booth just outside the area and he rifled his shot into the roof of the net. The Bergholt ‘keeper was a virtual spectator as the game continued to be played in the Melford half.  A few minutes before half time the second goal Bergholt deserved came when a superb run, a cross by Owen Bernhardt from the right, saw James Holden head into the net unchallenged inside the 6 yard box. The second half started in much the same way and soon it was 3-0, Ollie Sanderson getting on the score sheet. The game was starting to get stretched with Bergholt piling forward, sometimes a little gung-ho, but mid way through the half the fourth Bergholt goal arrived, again Ollie Sanderson was there to stab home after a game of ricochet in the Melford area.  Unfortunately a clean sheet wasn’t to be as, after another period of pressure, a couple of Bergholt defenders were caught thinking themselves to be midfielders, leaving Melford to break 3 on 2, with the striker doing enough to get the ball into the corner of the Bergholt goal. However this did not affect the game too much as another good passing move saw James Holden released in the inside right channel and he coolly passed the ball into the net as the Melford keeper advanced to the edge of his area. With the last kick of the match Melford pulled another goal back courtesy of the wind! The ball was played forward by Melford but headed clear by the Bergholt defence. As the ball dropped a Melford player in the centre circle volleyed it high into the air where it was caught by the wind to look like it was flying off for a goal kick. However a sharp gust saw the ball veer back in the direction of the goal and over the Bergholt ‘keeper into the net. Final score: Long Melford 2-5 Bergholt Heath. Bergholt ‘man of the match’: Max Booth.

The main pitch on the Poors Field was in almost perfect condition for the Under 18s game against Broomfield Youth Blues. A pulsating match saw Bergholt run out 4-3 winners. Andy Parsons, Jack Lugar, Alex Enright and Nathan Swampillai scoring the Bergholt goals.

Next weeks fixtures, Sunday 2nd December:

• Under 8 – No game (mid season break)
• Under 10 – No game (mid season break)
• Under 14 v Bures Utd, KO 10.30am
• Under 18 v FC Clacton, KO 2pm

Our Under 8s were away to Oyster Youth and apart from a crazy 5 minute spell when the home side scored all 3 goals in the match, the game was played in the home half. Unfortunately Bergholt didn’t manage to score that all important goal (or 3).

The Under 10s had a “free” weekend, so no doubt the players were dragged off to start the Christmas shopping!

Top of the table Cornard United visited the Poors field to play our Under 14s. It was 3-1 to Cornard at half time but obviously a few words were said by the manager during the break as in the second half the score line was an even 1-1 draw! Final result: Bergholt Heath 2-4 Cornard United.  Bergholt goal scorers were Ollie Sanderson and James Holden. Bergholt Heath ‘man of the match’: Harry Dixon.

The Under 18s were away to Layer Colts and came away with a 2-2 draw.

Next weeks’ fixtures, Sunday 25th November:

• Under 8 – No game
• Under 10 v Bures Utd KO 10 – being switched to play at Bures due to the Poors Field being unavailable
• Long Melford v Under 14
• Under 18 v Broomfield Youth Blues, KO 2pm

On a crisp, sunny Remembrance Sunday afternoon at the picturesque venue of Bures, which kindly hosted the home match scheduled for the Poors Field, Bergholt Heath Under 8s got their best result of the season and finally ended their losing run.  After a minute’s silence, impeccably observed by players and spectators alike, the first half was a very even affair with both defences getting the better of the forwards.  The second half saw Bergholt Heath have slightly the more possession and opportunities on goal but they just couldn’t turn this into actual goals.  A very enjoyable game to play in and watch. FT 0-0.

Unfortunately the Under 10s match away at Wivenhoe was postponed by the home team due to an “unplayable” pitch – interesting considering the Under 14s were there on the pitch next to it, and they both looked in very good condition!

Away at Wivenhoe, the Under 14s turned in yet another lacklustre display, especially in midfield, which is becoming a too regular occurrence.   Right from the first whistle midfield passes were going straight to the opposition and runners were waltzing their way through to be up against the Bergholt defence 3 or 4 times in the opening minutes.  However against the run of play, Bergholt won a free kick for a foul on Ollie Sanderson a good 30 yards from goal.  Ollie dusted himself off to fire a shot high into the net for a lead that to be honest was undeserved.  Wivenhoe continued to plug away and from yet another attacking move, they equalised with a low shot into the corner of the net.  Just before half time Bergholt got their noses in front again, courtesy of an own goal – the defender firing into his own net as he chased a long through ball.   Presumably he was trying to put it out for a corner.  HT: 1-2.  Half time saw the manager remind the players of their jobs, but within two minutes of the second half Wivenhoe equalised again when a corner hit a Bergholt player and bounced into the net for the second OG of the match!  After this Wivenhoe had their tails up and it was back to the first half pattern when it became Wivenhoe vs the Bergholt defence and goalkeeper – who continued with his first half display pulling off another 3 or 4 top class saves.  Mid way through the half it was 3-2 to the home team when the striker was played through on the right channel and he turned to shot a superb shot from an angle.  4-2 came 10 minutes from time when the left winger was allowed space to hit an inviting cross into an area full of players who had taken a chance to flood forward without the Bergholt players going with them, and the striker headed powerfully into the net.  Bergholt had just one clear cut opportunity a few minutes from time, but the ball was rolled the wrong side of the post with the goal unguarded.  Final result: Wivenhoe Youth Blues 4 – 2 Bergholt Heath.  Bergholt ‘man of the match’: Connor Welfare.

The only home match of the weekend at 2pm on the Poors Field, saw the Under 18s comfortably beat Feering 2-0.

Next weeks fixtures Sunday 18th November:

• Oyster Youth v Under 8
• Under 10 – No Game
• Under 14 v Cornard Dynamo Blues, KO 10.30am
• Layer Colts v Under 18