March/April Fixtures

Spangels have two league games scheduled, prior to their Division Three Cup Final on the first Sunday in April;

5th March - League - Chelmer Village Athletic (A)
12th March - League - Orange Tree (H)
2nd April - LEAGUE CUP FINAL - Panfield Bell Rovers (N)

Note : League matches against Hogs FC (H & A) TBC - Royal United (A) fixture may be awarded to Spangels, subject to confirmation by BNESL committee.

Sunday Lie-In

Spangels players will enjoy a lie in this week, with their opponents Royal United failing to organise a pitch or match official for this re-scheduled fixture. This leaves them in an ackward position and could see Spangels awarded the points.

Manager Pritchard would probably have prefered to see this fixture played with the League Cup Final fast approaching. However, the squad for this Sunday was severely depleted with Lowe, Winsborough & Lynch injured and Theobald, Collis, Rivett, Todd & the Livermore brothers unavailable.

Cup Final Date Confirmed

Spangels BNESL Division Three Cup Final against Panfield Bell Rovers has been confirmed as taking place on Sunday 2nd April 2006, kicking-off at 2.30pm at Halstead Town FC.

This should give manager Ian Pritchard time to finalise his final sixteen and maybe even his starting eleven, with another five league matches still to be played. The first of these takes place this Sunday away to bottom of the league Royal United.

AFC Foxco 0 Spangels 2

BNESL Division Three

Spangels returned to winning ways in the league today, duplicating their home win earlier in the season against AFC Foxco. Whilst Spangels failed to kill the game off until the last five minutes, the result was never really in doubt, with stand-in 'keeper Tivey having little to do all match.

The result lifts Spangels comfortably into mid-table and will improve confidence as the weeks pass to their league cup final, date to be confirmed.

With Whiteman absent through "sickness" and Ramsay away, the match gave manager Pritchard a further opportunity to give players a chance in the starting eleven. Hagan was moved to the bench as Crow returned up-front with Todd, who was available for the first time in several weeks. The Livermore brothers strengthened the substitute situation, along with Putt.

The game was fairly scrappy early on as neither side gained a clear advantage. Pritchard found room at the far post following a corner and was unlucky to see his bending effort curl over, hitting the stanchion of the goal.

The break-through came after twenty minutes, following an excellent effort by Rivett, which came back off the post and was finished by Todd, who pounced well.

Tivey scrambled across goal soon after as a Foxco strike shaved the post, but this was as close as the home side came to scoring.

The second-half saw Lynch pick up an ankle injury after an ugly tackle by an ugly Foxco player. The same Foxco player was involved minutes later in a bout of fisty-cuffs with Theobald which saw both players dismissed and Sayer booked for having his say.

This incident took the game more in Spangels favour and enabled them to score the goal which killed off the match with five minutes remaining. A sweeping move which involved at least five players saw Rivett cross to unmarked Gary Livermore in the box and he finished clinically to ensure the points went to the away side.

Team : Tivey, Lynch (T.Livermore), Wilson, Pritchard, Theobald (C), Rivett, Sayer, Winsborough (G.Livermore (1)), Collis (Putt), Crow, Todd (1).

Spangels MOM : Neil Rivett

Return To Winning Ways For Spangels?

Spangels will be looking to return to winning ways on Sunday when they travel to mid-table AFC Foxco in a Division Three fixture. The game between the two sides earlier in the season saw a 2-0 win for Spangels, with an own-goal and a Whiteman strike securing the points.

Since their 6-2 win over Boars' Sports Reserves on 20th November 2005, Spangels have failed to win the three league games they have played since, losing each by the odd goal.

Spangels' last league match was against league leaders Panfield Bell Rovers, where they were unlucky to go down 2-1, with Crow missing a last minute penalty. Prior to this defeat, they lost by the odd goal in nine away to Engine Room and lost 3-2 in the reverse fixture before the Christmans break.

Despite 'keeper Ramsay's absense and Lowe's injury, Pritchard hopes to field a strong side, with Theobald available after last weeks' no-show. Winsborough should be back from holiday (skiing injuries permitting!) and Todd should make the fixture, in a push for the cup-final team. Tivey is expected to pick up the gloves, making it four custodians for Spangels this season!

Cup Final Opponents Confirmed

The BNESL have confirmed Spangels Division Three Cup Final appearance, with their opponents being run-away table toppers Panfield Bell Rovers.

Having beaten second placed Chelmer Village Athletic in the semi-final and running Panfield close in their recent league fixture, Spangels should have nothing to fear going into the final, to be held at either Halstead Town or Witham Town - date to be confirmed.

Pritchard will be using the up-coming fixtures to finalise his starting eleven, with every shirt up for grabs...

Another Rescheduled Game For Spangels

The opponents for Spangels fixture on Sunday 26th February have been changed, as bottom of the league Royal United replace Hogs FC in an away game.

Spangels 2 Braintree Sporting 5

Neil Horrocks Memorial Trophy Round One

Spangels went down to loftier opponents in Division Two Braintree Sporting in this match and will consider a lack of chances created and poor defensive work at corners as their downfall.

Hagan retained his shirt in the starting eleven, with Collis returning. Crow was named a sub' along with the Livermore brothers. Putt & Whiteman formed the partnership upfront. Tivey went into the back four in captain Theobald's absence.

Spangels started poorly and were two goals down as early as the tenth minute. Pritchard was beaten to a cross by Sporting's big number ten and the ball squirmed under Ramsay's body for the first, whilst another corner was headed in at the far post.

The home side responded, with a Whiteman penalty that was driven straight down the middle saved by the away 'keeper. Whiteman did convert another chance a few minutes later after a 40 yard ball by Tivey.

Unfortunately, Sporting restored their two goal cushion from another corner, a carbon-copy of their second goal, being scored at the far post.

Rivett burst on to a Sayer dink to put Spangels back in the fixture five minutes before half time.

In the second half, despite the encouragement of only being a goal down, Spangels struggled to create anything clear cut and Braintree Sporting took the game beyond the home side scoring two quick fire goals, both from corners.

One Gary Livermore effort whislted past the post late on, but Spangels never looked like getting themselves back into it.

Team : Ramsay, Lynch, Wilson, Pritchard, Tivey (C), Rivett (1), Sayer, Collis (Crow), Hagan (G.Livermore), Putt (T.Livermore), Whiteman (1).

Spangels MOM : Neil Rivett