Monday 3rd may 2010
Braintree & Bocking 4 – 2 Silver End United (AET)
The Premier Division League Cup final finally took place on a cold and windy afternoon at Maldon
Town FC. Played in front of a large crowd it was reining champions Silver End who started the better, strong in their tackles
and keeping the ball much better than Bocking. James Lock and George Harle struggled to get to grips with things in the middle
of the park and Bocking’s backline appeared nervous in the opening period. Despite this Silver End, playing with the
wind, failed to create any clear openings and Stuart Crumpen in the Bocking goal was relatively quiet. Bocking looked dangerous
from set pieces and David Morgan was busy putting himself about upfront. Silver End’s dominance in possession paid off
on after 25 minutes, a flighted ball from the right wing was nodded back across goal and finished confidently under the body
of Crumpen. Silver End continued to win the midfield battle, Bocking’s wide men, Tom Wright and Adam Arkley failed to
get into the game but Bocking did improve and began to impose themselves in the latter stages of the first half. The second
half began with Sean Robins being introduced into the midfield and bocking’s shaped appeared a lot better, seeing far
more of the ball and Sam Harle and Grant O’Donnel in the centre of defence seemed to have settled down. As improved
as Bocking were, Silver End continued to work hard and battle all over the park, limiting Bocking’s openings and still
managing to create a few chances themselves. On 70 minutes Silver End made it 2-0, Crumpen could only manage to half clear
a back pass which was then expertly dispatched over his head to appear to put the match beyond Bocking. The introduction of
Ryan Ince and Fred Harle again shook up the shape of Bockings side and chances started coming their way. Determined to get
back in the match the Bocking were pushing forward with David Morgan causing problems all the time and a number of set pieces
were causing Silver End’s backline lots of problems. It was not until the 80th minute that the breakthrough
came. Bocking forced a corner which was taken by George Harle. The ball was drilled in and managed to find the top corner
with an assist coming from the wind. Belief seemed to run through the Bocking side, as they continued to push to find an equaliser.
This pushing meant that gaps started appearing in the Bocking defence and Silver End will feel they should have converted
at least one of there breakaway chances, and they would of if Brad Temperley had not made a superb interception and clearance.
Into the last two minute of the game and the moment that all Bocking fans were praying for. A throw in down the right was
flicked on by F. Harle to his brother George, who travelled to the by line and cut back for D. Morgan who in turn found Sub
Ryan Ince to grab a last minute equaliser. Into Extra Time the game went and the momentum was strongly with Bocking. It was
Bocking who had the wind in the first period and they started the better, getting forward and playing the ball around well.
Five minute in and a long ball from Crumpen was headed on by Fred Harle and picked up by D. Morgan, he turned and played in
Ince to score and turn the tie on its head, a composed finish from a player who has been out with injury for some time. With
the lead now theirs Bocking settled and stood firm at the back. Lock and Robins gave Silver End’s midfield no time on
the ball and the reining champions were visibly rocked. The second period continued as the first, both teams giving everything
but it was Bocking who looked the fitter, and were given a great opportunity to put the game to bed when a moment of madness
from Silver Ends keeper gifted Bocking a penalty when he decided to throw F. Harle to the ground off the ball. G. Harle stepped
up and scored the goal to put Bocking 4-2 up. Some resolute defending in the final ten minutes meant that Bocking held on
to lift the trophy for the first time since 1996. A great result and the chance of a league and cup double are still alive.
Bocking – Crumpen, Temperley, S. Harle. O’Donnel, Blick, Arkley (Robins), Lock, G. Harle,
Wright (Ince), P. Morgan (F. Harle), D. Morgan
Saturday 16th January 2009
Braintree & Bocking 12 – 1 Steeple Bumpstead
Bocking started 2010 the way they finished 2009 with a thumping Essex Cup victory. Knowing very
little about their opponents the game looked like a potential banana skin but Bocking started well and looked dangerous right
from the kick off. Front man Dave Morgan tested Bumpstead’s keeper early on and it was he who broke the deadlock on
15 minutes with a tidy finish from George Harle’s lay off. The lead was to be short lived as Bumstead replied almost
immediately from a powerful headed goal after a short corner. That goal though only seemed to spur Bocking on and move up
through the gears. James Gill became more and more involved and his quick feet and fine passing ability set D. Morgan through
on three occasions to which Bocking’s leading scorer obliged and confidently applied the necessary finishing touches
giving the home side a 4-1 half time lead. More of the same was the message from manger Morgan at the interval and that is
exactly what he got. Within a minute of the restart Adam Arkely set D. Morgan free down the left and his fine cross was met
by G. Harle to make it 5. Harle then made it 6 with a delicate chip before the introduction of Bocking’s Peter Morgan
heaped more misery on the away side. After scoring with his first touch, a fine finish after being sent through, P. Morgan
then latched onto a cross from brother Dave to make the score 8-1. A quick fire hat trick was then completed with another
confident finish with Bumpstead’s defence nowhere to be seen. D. Morgan was not finished on the scoring front and he
added another two, making it 6 for himself and there was also time for sub Freddie Harle to score the goal of the game, a
screaming drive from 25+ yards into the top corner. A very impressive display from Bocking who need to maintain this kind
of form if they are to win any silverware this year.
Bocking – Crumpen, Temperley, S. Harle, Ince, Blick, G. Harle (F. Harle), Robins, Lock (Coleman),
Gill (P. Morgan) D. Morgan
Man Of The Match – D. Morgan
Saturday 12th September 2009
United Chelmsford Churches 1 – 3 Braintree & Bocking
The long awaited opening league game ended in a win for Bocking who were made to work hard by a
well organised UCC side. On a very hot day and poor playing surface neither side managed to pass the ball around with any
fluency early on. UCC had set up in their usual defensive style and Bocking struggled to create any real opportunities with
Pete Morgan going closest with a short range effort sliced wide. Ryan Ince and Tom Wright provided width for Bocking but their
crosses were dealt with by UCC’s backline. The home side’s ability to restrict Bocking’s chances paid off
when they got their noses in front with a decent headed goal at the far post aimed back across keeper Stuart Crumpen who had
little chance. Bocking responded well and came within inches of equalising when George Harle’s cross was volleyed onto
the cross bar by P. Morgan who was unlucky not to score. 1-0 the score at half time and the second half started much like
the first with a frustrated Bocking failing to open up the UCC back line. Changes were made on the hour with Glenn Bennet
and James Gill being introduced and this seemed to lift the belief of Dave Morgan’s men. UCC did however have a great
chance to put the game to bed on 70 minutes when their danger man turned on the edge of the box and found himself through
on goal but managed to drag his shot wide. Bocking’s back line played superbly throughout the second half to snuff out
any counter attacks and Bocking grabbed an equaliser on 80 minutes. Some determined work from sub Freddie Harle won a corner
for the away side which Gill took and picked out D Morgan at the far post, his header was parried by the keeper only for G
Harle to nod home. Three minutes later and Bocking had the lead with a floated Gill freekick which was flicked in by the faintest
of touches from fellow sub Bennet. Bocking then made sure of all three points when G. Harle latched on to a Gill through ball
and he looped the ball over the advancing keeper. A decent three points to get the ball rolling for Bocking who face a very
tough run of games over the next 4 weeks.
Bocking – Crumpen, S. Harle, Hewett, D. Morgan, Temperley, Ince (F. Harle), Lock, Robins (Gill),
Wright, G. Harle, P. Morgan (Bennet)
Man Of The Match – Samuel Harle
