Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 1

Saturday 11th September 2021

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.58

Tiptree Jobserve 1 Belle Vue Social Club 2, attendance 36

43’ 0-1 (pen)

66’ 1-1

77’ 1-2

@ Colchester United F.C. Florence Park Training Ground, Pitch 5

Grange Road

Tiptree

CO5 0UH

No Admission or Programme.

I had been to a game here before, when I saw Colchester United U23’s lose 0-3 to Leeds United in a Professional Development League match, back on 3rd May 2017. The game that day was played on Pitch 1, which is right next to the building, but Tiptree Jobserve always play on Pitch 5, which runs widthways in front of you as you enter the complex. It is an awful ground and is basically a 3G cage, but with a grass pitch. There are even blue markings of small size pitches and the spare goals are kept on the inside of the rail, blocking the view of the pitch and also placed in a dangerous position, as they are too near the touch line and there are a couple of exposed edges that could really do a player some serious damage if they ran into them. I am glad I came here as part of a double, rather than waste a day on it as a one off.

The game itself looked to be decent, at least on paper, as it was 4th versus 3rd in the league table, but it wasn’t. It was a terrible game, not helped by the constant whinging and moaning from Belle Vue. They are a really horrible team to watch and it’s disappointing that I haven’t visited their ground yet, as it’s certainly not something to look forward to!

The first half was really poor and it looked like it would end goalless, but Belle Vue scored from the penalty spot two minutes before the break to go in 0-1 up. Tiptree levelled things up midway through the second half, when a cross from the left was flicked past the ‘keeper at the near post. Belle Vue won it with a cracking goal thirteen minutes from time, when a ball was played back and hit first time into the box, where their No.9 scored with a diving header from six yards that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

The win sees Belle Vue rise to second in the table, having now won five out of five matches. It is a pity they can’t just stick to the football, as they are obviously a good side. Sadly, this was by far the least enjoyable ground visit this season.

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Division 2

Saturday 11th September 2021

Kick Off 12.30 Actual 12.31

Kelvedon Social 2 Tiptree Jobserve Reserves 4, attendance 18

14’ 1-0

15’ 1-1

45’ + 1, 1-2 (pen)

53’ 2-2

80’ 2-3

90’ + 1, 2-4

@ Kelvedon Recreation Ground

The Chase

Kelvedon

CO5 9AB

No Admission or Programme.

My original plan for today had been to do a treble in the Cheltenham League, but that was reduced to a double, when the 16.15 kick off at Pittville United was showing as postponed on Friday. However, when this match was reversed (no one seemed quite sure why it wasn’t being played at Tiptree), it threw up a more preferable double for me, so I headed to Essex instead.

The match was 11th versus 9th in the league table and what it lacked in skill, was certainly made up for with effort and commitment. It was good entertainment throughout. Kelvedon volleyed in from a corner after fourteen minutes to go 1-0 up, but a fumble by the ‘keeper was followed in to level it up within a minute. Tiptree led 1-2 at the break following a stoppage time penalty.

The second half was set up nicely eight minutes in, when a cross from wide on the left eluded the ‘keeper and sailed into the top corner of the net to make it 2-2. Both sides went close on a number of occasions before Tiptree went 2-3 ahead with ten minutes left, when a defence splitting pass was neatly lifted over the ‘keeper from 12 yards. A fourth goal, following a save that saw the rebound smashed into the net, made the points safe for the visitors in stoppage time.

I had forty minutes to get to a second game, but chose to visit a ground less than ten minutes drive from here…..