GATEWAY 14 SIL ROUND-UP
Coplestonians top the Premier Division with maximum points from their opening three games following their 6-2 home win over East Bergholt. Kieran Driver opened the scoring after only 14 seconds and Drew Connick added a second shortly afterwards. Driver, Connick and Jordan Godbold all went on to score twice with Bergholt replying through strikes from Ben Pratt and Scott Fryer.
Henley came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Saxmundham. Gareth Jones and Joe Moore netted for Sax only for Henley to reply with a goal from Byron Tejano and a Jack Wharton-Richardson brace.
Haughley gained their first win of the campaign as they defeated AFC Kesgrave 4-1. Ben Griggs, Kie Dyer, Matt Wright and Taylor Bannister were their goalscorers.
Leiston St Margarets defeated Wickham Market by the same scoreline helped by goals from Arron Newton, Tom Curtis, Witness Mhango and Sam Green.
Bacton got their first points on the board following a 2-0 home win over Sporting 87 while Grundisburgh defeated Tattingstone 1-0 and Stowupland won 2-1 at Debenham to go second.
It was the opening round of fixtures in the Championship (formerly Division One). A hat-trick from Alex Biondi helped Kesgrave Kestrels to a convincing 6-0 win at Achilles while Marcus Curtis also netted three times in Gipping Gnats’ 6-1 home success over Claydon.
Ransomes started with three points with goals from Lloyd Clarke, Colby Hillyard and Brett Smy enough to defeat Capel Plough 3-0.
Cockfield and Stanton played out a 3-3 draw with Cordell Jackson, Connor Suckley and George Betson on the scoresheet for Stanton while in the other game Woolverstone defeated Kirton 3-2.
SIL Premier Division: Wickham Market FC 1-2 Henley Athletic FC
The crowd of 52 was bolstered by a significant Henley away support, who enjoyed a hard fought, tight game, decided by two quality 1st half finishes from Kane Webster. Henley manager Jimmy Brown, was forced into changes, with 3 of the starting defenders from Saturday’s game with Falcons subsequently out injured.
Henley had the majority of the early play and took the lead after 20 minutes, when a fine passing move was finished off by Webster sitting the home keeper Bevans down and coolly slotting home for 0-1. Within two minutes the lead was doubled, an individual piece of skill from Webster, seeing Bevans off his line and lobbing him from 30 yards to make it 0-2. Cole came close after 30 minutes, weaving his was past 3 defenders, his vicious strike acrobatically tipped over to safety.
Wickham pulled one back after 40 minutes, Double barged out of the way, before a well-taken finish in off the foot of the far post by Perry made it 1-2 at HT.
This sparked Wickham into action, Spurling forced into a terrific save 5 minutes into the 2nd half. Wharton-Richardson twice saw shots blocked before Wickham sent one narrowly wide on 60 minutes. Tejano had a point-blank header from a corner superbly saved by Bevans and Webster also saw a shot flash wide, with Cole also firing over. Henley had to withstand a lot of home pressure, as they repeatedly launched balls out of defence into the Henley box.
Keeper Bevans, who was having such a spectacular game, felled Tejano in the box in the 90th minute, but redeemed himself saving Webster’s spot kick to keep the score at 1-2. Spurling was again called into action, to punch away late in time added on, as Wickham sent everyone forward looking for the equaliser, however Henley held on to collect their 1st points of the season.
It was a much-changed Wickham side from the ones we faced last season, but still full of graft, physicality and commitment. As for Henley, much improved from Saturday, with Tejano picking up MOTM with an all-action performance, Webster also showing the fans what they can expect, in front of goal.
A DAY OF DOUBLES FOR COPS!
Coplestonians FC 6 East Bergholt United 2
(Match Day Sponsor: R J & E Services)
Late comers missed a cracking start for Cops as they took the lead on 14 seconds….a Suffolk & Ipswich Premier League record!. Jordan Godbold raced clear on the right and crossed for Keiran Driver (sponsored by Dave Little) to fire home. And it wasn’t long before Cops gained a corner and from the kick Drew Connick (sponsored by Last Mile Fibre) slotted home.
The shell shocked opposition nearly hit back when Cops keeper Will Pullen seemed to misjudge a shot that bounced off the post and allowed him to clear. The visitors did however find a way back into the game when their ploy of cross field balls to Jordan Peck saw the Green’s skipper cross for Ben Pratt to head home albeit after a fine save by Pullen.
At 2-1 East Bergholt had a decent spell of play but it was Cops who scored next when Keiran Driver notched his 5th goal in two games with a clinical finish. Driver was having a fine game and his ability in the air was causing the visitors plenty of problems. HT 3-1
.
After the break, Cops dominated much of the play and Jordan Godbold (sponsored by Merv & Sue C) extended the lead when he latched onto a fine ball from Brad Sayer (sponsored by Pete Whittaker); his clever close play deceived the Bergholt keeper and he slotted home a left foot shot from close range.
On 59 mins it was Jordan Godbold again on target as he produced an acrobatic overhead bicycle kick to make it 5-1.
Drew Connick made it 6-1 from a close range header as Cops rang the changes and introduced their substitutes. And, there was no respite for the visitors as both Adam Todd (sponsored by Scoop) and Connor MacKay (sponsored by Wolfe Powell) had their shots saved and Jonny Linard (sponsored by TRIBE) also smacked his shot against the woodwork.
The Greens reduced the arrears from a free kick which was well saved by Will Pullen but the rebound was fired home by Scott Fryer. FT 6-2
So three double strikes from Keiran Driver, Drew Connick and Jordan Godbold. Also, rather unfortunate for Will Pullen in Cops goal as he made two great saves only to see his efforts punished by two rebounds!
Well done to the Officials who did a great job.
Scoop
DRIVER TREBLE FIRES COPS TO BIG WIN
Coplestonians 6 Saxmundham Sports 1
(Match sponsored by R J & E Services)
Cops took control of this game early and it wasn’t long before Jordan Godbold (sponsored by Merv & Sue C) fired home the opener across the keeper. A period of great play should have seen Cops well ahead but good work by the visiting keeper and a goal line clearance kept them in the game. Eventually, Cops scored a deserved second goal on 32 minutes when Drew Connick’s (sponsored by Last Mile Fibre) clever play saw him finish well past the static defence.
Only two minutes later, a corner from Baden Holmes was headed firmly home by Keiran Driver (sponsored by Dave Little). And the Cops Centre Forward, Keiran Driver was not finished and soon made it 4-0 before the break. HT 4-0
Before the break the visitors mounted a more spirited response and in the second half scored a good goal on 50m to reduce the arrears. However, a ball on the left to Keiran Driver saw the front man cut inside and fire home for his hattrick.
The introduction of Danny Allen and Connor MacKay gave the home side new impetus and when Stefano Mallardo won a low header it was Danny Allen who fired home from close range to make it 6-1. The visiting keeper made a great diving save from Connor MacKay and Jonny Linard hit the post from a curling free kick which restricted Cops’ scoring aspirations.
This was a solid team performance by the Cops squad which gave them an emphatic win.
There were no issues for the Officials, Mark Warden and his team, with both sides preferring to play football. FT 6-1.
Capel Plough 0 Ransomes Sports 3
It’s hard to imagine how this could have gone any better for the new look Ransomes Sports. In front of a healthy crowd of 88 still basking in the summer sunshine, a fine individual goal from Coby Hillyard helped seal a convincing victory in Lee Laparvlo’s first league match in charge of Ransomes Sports.
Ransomes have added plenty of top-flight experience to their squad this season, and they flew out of the blocks with their high press and possession. Capel Plough looked like they knew they were in for a long afternoon, but they were proving a tough nut to crack. Nit that the home side were exactly out of things at this stage, but they were restricted into counterattacking mode as the visitors dominated the ball.
Ransomes continued to call the tune and eventually found the breakthrough on the half hour. After a patient build up, Lloyd Clarke found Brett Smy in the box. The defensive midfielder looked for an opening, created an opening, and placed a composed finish beyond a rooted Chittock in the Capel goal.The second half began with Ransomes to the fore and they went on to double their lead on 55 minutes. A clever first time pass by Ethan Clarke released Lloyd Clarke and he was allowed too much space to surge through on goal as he swept his shot confidently past Chittock – a well executed finish.
As Ransomes pushed on, Capel Plough were asked to dig in, defend deep and look on the counter, but the visitors sealed their victory on 61 minutes. Colby Hillyard’s speedy break into the box left Capel in ribbons as he slammed home a rising shot on the angle, the power offered Chittock in the home goal no answer.
The Ransomes management were encouraged by their side’s start to the campaign, but they had opportunities to increase their tally. Chittock in the Capel Plough goal however proved to be a stubborn obstacle as he was forced to make crucial saves on three occasions to deny Colby Hillyard from adding to that total.
Capel Plough had one big chance at the very end to get on the score-sheet. In the 90th minute, a defensive mix up on the edge of the visitor’s box saw the Ransomes bench let out a collective cry of angst as the ball rolled towards the open goal only for Ollie Fairs to make a last ditch recovery run to clear off the line.
Ransomes ultimately felt the relief of keeping a clean sheet, but for swathes of this contest they were also in charge and deservedly took home all three points.
Ransomes have added plenty of top-flight experience to their squad this season, and they flew out of the blocks with their high press and possession. Capel Plough looked like they knew they were in for a long afternoon, but they were proving a tough nut to crack. Nit that the home side were exactly out of things at this stage, but they were restricted into counterattacking mode as the visitors dominated the ball.
Ransomes continued to call the tune and eventually found the breakthrough on the half hour. After a patient build up, Lloyd Clarke found Brett Smy in the box. The defensive midfielder looked for an opening, created an opening, and placed a composed finish beyond a rooted Chittock in the Capel goal.The second half began with Ransomes to the fore and they went on to double their lead on 55 minutes. A clever first time pass by Ethan Clarke released Lloyd Clarke and he was allowed too much space to surge through on goal as he swept his shot confidently past Chittock – a well executed finish.
As Ransomes pushed on, Capel Plough were asked to dig in, defend deep and look on the counter, but the visitors sealed their victory on 61 minutes. Colby Hillyard’s speedy break into the box left Capel in ribbons as he slammed home a rising shot on the angle, the power offered Chittock in the home goal no answer.
The Ransomes management were encouraged by their side’s start to the campaign, but they had opportunities to increase their tally. Chittock in the Capel Plough goal however proved to be a stubborn obstacle as he was forced to make crucial saves on three occasions to deny Colby Hillyard from adding to that total.
Capel Plough had one big chance at the very end to get on the score-sheet. In the 90th minute, a defensive mix up on the edge of the visitor’s box saw the Ransomes bench let out a collective cry of angst as the ball rolled towards the open goal only for Ollie Fairs to make a last ditch recovery run to clear off the line.
Ransomes ultimately felt the relief of keeping a clean sheet, but for swathes of this contest they were also in charge and deservedly took home all three points.
SIL Premier Division: Saxmundham Sports FC 2-3 Henley Athletic FC
A large and friendly crowd of 112, enjoyed the summer sun and a good, competitive game between these two sides. Henley coming back from a two goal deficit to take all three points with a late, and controversial winner. Sax had had an issue with their shirts, and with the ref’s permission were allowed to field two number 2’s and 5’s, which at times caused some confusion! Good to see common sense from the Ref to get the game on.
The game saw an even start, before Sax took an early lead after only 5 minutes, a pacey passing move down the right, saw a low cross driven in, with was superbly struck home on the half volley by Jones for 1-0, a great finish. Henley came close to the equaliser after 18 minutes, Webster crashing a low drive off the foot of the post.
Sax were causing problems at the other end, their confidence boosted by the early lead, a free kick headed narrowly wide after 30 minutes, increasing their lead after 35 minutes with a lofted freekick from Moore, somehow finding it’s way over Spurling into the corner for 2-0.
Henley responded immediately, pulling one back after 37 minutes, Webster releasing Dende down the right, his cross tipped rearwards by home keeper Johnson, but quickly collected by Wharton-Richardson, he squared it to an unmarked Tejano, who swept home from close range for 1-2. This sparked a period of Henley control, with Webster once again striking the foot of the post on 44 minutes, just before the half drew to a close.
Henley pressed for an equaliser from the restart and were rewarded after 61 minutes, a good pass from Dozzell released Webster, he took the ball to the line, before beating his man and picking out Wharton-Richardon at the back post, who poked home for 2-2. Henley continued to press, with Sax restricted to getting forward on the break, their only real chance of the half coming from a corner, the ball headed downward but blocked at the post by Double.
Henley’s 85th minute came with an initial touch of controversy, subs Cooper and Taylor burst forward into the box, Cooper squared the ball to Taylor, his initial shot was blocked by Johnson, but Wharton-Richardson was on hand to fire in the rebound. The ball blocked by a defender some 2ft behind his line. Despite initial Henley celebrations and protests, play continued for some 20 seconds, before the assistant raised their flag, consulted with the referee and the goal was awarded to bring the final score to 2-3, with one of the Sax number 5s sinbinned for his protests. Whilst the decision took a little time (quicker than VAR though), it was the right one and good to see an assistant have the confidence to give it.
Despite a poor start, Henley were worthy of their win, controlling large periods of the game, especially in midfield with Tejano and Turner-Wilson dominant, MOTM went to two goal man Wharton-Richardson, whose new partnership with Webster is starting to bear fruit.
Sax played some lovely football, as well as working hard throughout, I’m sure they’ll be disappointed not to collect at least a point.
Finally a big thank you to all at Sax for the welcome and their hospitality, great pitch and facilities with a big friendly crowd. When we visited 2 years ago in the league cup, we all commented that they would be a credit to senior football, how right we were.
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