Saturday, 11 October 2025

East Thurrock Community 1 Springfield 0 - Tommy Barnacle's brilliant solo goal just past hour mark settles scrappy encounter as East Thurrock Community edged out ten man Springfield in their Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier contest

Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division, Saturday 11th October

Well, it's nearly mid October (where does the time go) and I saw that East Thurrock Community where taking on Springfield and with the podcast I was involved with (The Back Post Show) covering both these teams in the Border League, it seemed fitting to make my first visit to Wyldecrest Sports Country Club in Corringham to see these two do battle for the second time this season.

Wyldecrest is only a stones throw from where East Thurrock United once played, Rookery Hill, so it wasn't too far for the supporters of the now defunct United to travel too watch the Community club that was formed off the back of that happening a few years ago, and with around 200 in attendance for today's game, it appears that those fans now back this club, a club that seems to have a good vibe about it.

Speaking with the vice chair and chair before the game, they are trying to do things the right way and they have certainly created a good atmosphere at this fan owned club, it's a nice facility with a decent clubhouse which gives you great views of the game from the outside area, and with plans to put in floodlights and a stand, which they have purchased from Rookery Hill, they are certainly looking to get back into Senior Football in the near future.

For now though they had a tough top of the table clash against Springfield, a side like ETC who had come over from the Olympian League for this season, both sides had started the season and were both unbeaten and sitting in the top two positions until recently, the visitors had then lost back to back games coming into this one and had slipped to fourth, four points behind the still league leaders ETC who had lost their first game this season last weekend.

Both were looking to bounce back then from disappointing weekends last time out, the two sides had met already in the league this season at Arun Close in late August, and that game ended all square in a 1-1 draw, a tight contest was again expected here, who could bounce back from defeats last time out, we would soon find out.

A slow start to the game suddenly had a moment that Springfield were not happy about, centre half Frazer Wraight had already received an early booking for a foul just inside the hosts half, and in the 16th minute he was to receive another yellow and a very early bath after what the visitors thought was a free kick to them, was in fact given in favour of the home side, and Wraight duly 'took' the free kick and blasted it down the field.

This was deemed booting the ball away by the referee who pulled a yellow and then red card to dismiss the defender, much to the dismay of Springfield who would now have to play with ten men for the majority of the game, however in what was a very poor first period, the visitors carved out the best chance when Jermaine Da Luz struck the post with a lovely curling left footed effort just before half time.

So, not the half most of us were wanting, but there was little given in what was a scrappy encounter, and fair play to the visitors, it was hard to see who had ten men if truth be told, and they were certainly making the hosts work hard, as you would expect, you felt this was already a very important game even if it's still early in the season.

Could ETC make their numerical advantage count, well it took a moment of genius to break the deadlock just past the hour mark, Tommy Barnacle dancing past three defenders before unleashing a powerful effort high into the net, I had a wonderful view of it from behind the goal on the raised up part outside the clubhouse, it was a brilliant goal and now you felt ETC could go on and maybe win this one more comfortably.

It wasn't to be this way, the ten men of Springfield still had the ability to be dangerous and stayed in the game, and to be fair the hosts didn't create a bundle of chances, yes they did come close to doubling their lead on a couple of occasions, but Springfield caused the home side some nervous moments down the other end, overall though it had been more of a scrap then a quality battle, but the hosts did just enough to see off their opponents and take a big win and remain top of the table.

Congratulations to East Thurrock Community, they have a good thing going over there right now, for Springfield it was a disappointing afternoon again, that three defeats in a row now which sees them slip to sixth and further behind the leaders, they will take alot of positives though after battling so well with ten men for most of the game, fair play to them for that, although losing will still be a disappointment for them.

Full time East Thurrock Community 1 Springfield 0









There were six other games in the division today, let's take a quick look at what happened and how it affected the table:-

Belle Vue Social Club 1-1 Tiptree Heath

Dedham Old Boys 0-4 Great Bentley

Earls Colne 1-1 Alresford Colne Rangers

Gas Recreation 0-3 Hatfield Peverel

Sudbury Sports 5-0 White Notley

Thorpe Athletic 0-2 Cressing United

East Thurrock Community's slayers last weekend, Tiptree Heath, netted a 1-1 draw at struggling Bell Vue Social Club, whilst ETC's nearest challengers right now, Great Bentley, netted four away from home for the second weekend running (they netted a 4-1 win at Springfield last Saturday) to keep the pressure on the leaders, Dedham Old Boys are in mid table after that thumping loss.

Alresford Colne Rangers picked up their first point of the season at their eleventh attempt, netting a 1-1 draw at now seventh placed Earls Colne, Hatfield Peveral are in third and three points behind second after they netted a 3-0 win at struggling Gas Recreation whilst Sudbury Sports hammered second bottom White Notley to go fifth in the standings.

And finally Cressing United, who welcome the league leaders to their home next weekend, are in ninth spot after they grabbed a brilliant win at high flying Thorpe Athletic who are now fourth after this disappointing loss.


That concludes today's blog, hope you enjoyed reading.....

   

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