Essex & Suffolk Border League

Premier Division

Wednesday 16th August 2023

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.34

Brightlingsea Town 3 Tiptree Heath 1, attendance 66

26’ 1-0

41’ 2-0

70’ 2-1

90’ + 2, 3-1

@ Strangers Corner Sports Complex

Church Road

Brightlingsea

CO7 0QT

No Admission or Programme.

Brightlingsea are newly promoted, having finished second in Division 1 last season, whilst Tiptree Heath had finished second in the Premier Division. Both teams had opened with a win, so it was a chance to go top of the table, albeit early days, if either could take the three points again tonight.

Brightlingsea opened the scoring when a long ball over the top was lobbed over the ‘keeper and they doubled their lead four minutes before halftime finishing at the second attempt after the initial shot hit the crossbar and was only partially cleared. Tiptree pulled it back to 2-1 midway through the second half, finishing at the near post from a ball hooked back across the six yard box. Brightlingsea finally made the game safe in stoppage time, chasing down a long ball over the top and getting the run off the ball from a challenge on the ‘keepers attempted clearance. Tiptree then had a man red carded for dissent, but not enough time left to make any difference to the score.

Strangers Corner is a desolate place, down a small track to the right as you enter Brightlingsea on the B1029. Despite having cricket, rugby and football pitches here, there is no parking, but the nearby streets have no restrictions. There is a changing room building just inside the entrance and the pitch was as far away on the far side as it could be (a good 250-300 yards). It was roped along the near side and had a pair of dugouts on the far side.