Spangels To Continue...

Following Thursday's AGM, confirmation of Spangels entry into the BNESL for season 2006/2007 was achieved, with the majority of the squad keen to build on the successes of the last twelve months.

Daniel Sayer will remain as club Chairman, with Daniel Wilson taking over as club Secretary (short skirt NOT required!). Ian Pritchard retains team management and will hope a few extra bodies can be sought following the probable departure of Rivett, Todd and the Livermore brothers to a new venture. Club Captaincy will remain in the hands of Matt Theobald. King George V playing fields will be approached again as home pitch.

The only major change agreed surrounds sponsorship, with The Engine Room public house now becoming the base of the club and supplier of kit for the forthcoming 2006/2007 season. This breaks a six or seven year tenure of The Bull.

Spangels' AGM

Just a quick reminder to all that the end of season AGM takes place at The Engine Room on Thursday 27th April. The agenda kicks-off at 8.30pm. With continuance of the club at stake, your attendence is required!!

Williams Keeps On Running...

As some of you may be aware, part-time Spangel Leighton Williams completed the London Marathon on Sunday, in an impressive time of 3h 46m 23secs. You can catch up with Leighton's Marathon exploits via the link "Leighton's Running", which should be just to the right of this text...

On behalf of the club I would like to congratulate him on this achievement and hope he can still muster some appearances next season amongst his heavy running schedule.

Spangels Get Third!

Following last weeks postponement of Spangels last league game against Royal United, the BNESL Management Committee have awarded a 0-0 win and therefore the three points to Spangels, thus giving them third place.

Back in September, I think many Spangels players would have sent for treatment anyone who suggested third place & a cup final victory would be the reward for their efforts in 2005/2006...

Team.........................P...W...D...L...F...A...PTS
1. Panfield Bell Rovers.....14..14...0...0..74..18....42
2. Engine Room..............14...9...0...5..51..45....27
3. SPANGELS.................14...8...0...6..33..33....24
4. Chelmer Village Athletic.14...7...2...5..55..40....23
5. Orange Tree..............14...7...2...5..25..32....23
6. AFC Foxco................14...4...1...9..33..42....13
7. Boars Sports Reserves....14...2...2..10..28..47.....8
8. Royal United.............14...1...1..12...9..51.....4

Right Royal Cock-Up

Due to financial irregularites, Royal United have been unable to secure a home pitch for Sunday's final game of the season, meaning that the result is likely to be decided by the BNESL Management Committee.

This development will bring disappointment all round for the Spangels squad set to face them, who had hoped to secure third spot, although this could still be awarded to them off the pitch.

Spangels do, however, have the offer of an end-of-season friendly against Barnston U18's on the table and Pritchard may look to bring this interesting season to a close with a competitive run-out.

Depleted Spangels Go For Third

Despite missing many key squad members, Spangels go into their last fixture of the 2005/2006 season with third place in their sights.

Spangels final opponents of this successful campaign are bottom of the table Royal United, whom they beat 2-0 back in September.

However with Tivey, Winsborough, Wilson, Lynch & Ramsay absent and Whiteman injured, the squad will be stretched to maximum.

Lowe is expected to return for this game, having been injured since mid-January and Pritchard will call upon Terry Livermore, the brother of cup hero Gary, as well. Hagan will be given ninety minutes as a small consolation for his failure to appear in Sunday's Cup Final victory.

Should Spangels win on Sunday, this would round out the season with an impressive five successes on the trot...

BNESL Division Three Table

With one game to go, Spangels can still finish third!

Team.........................P...W...D...L...F...A...PTS
1. Panfield Bell Rovers.....13..13...0...0..68..18....39
2. Engine Room.............13...9...0...4..51..39....27
3. Chelmer Village Athletic.14...7...2...5..55..40....23
4. Orange Tree..............14...7...2...5..25..32....23
5. SPANGELS.................13...7...0...6..33..33....21
6. AFC Foxco................14...4...1...9..33..42....13
7. Boars Sports Reserves...14...2...2..10..28..47....8
8. Royal United..............13...1...1..11...9..51.....4

The Victorious Winners! 

Panfield Bell Rovers 2 Spangels 4 (AET)

BNESL Division Three Cup Final (played at Halstead Town FC)

Despite putting on one of their worst displays of the season in front of around 100 paying spectators, Spangels grabbed glory and brought home the silverware in the form of the Braintree & North Essex Sunday League Division Three Cup. The fact that they won this trophy is more down to the antics of the opposition, rather than any great play on Spangels part.

And even though Panfield had managed to get three (yes, three!) players sent off by the end of the match, Spangels still almost lost this game!

Pritchard named a familiar starting eleven, with Livermore stepping in for the injured Lynch at right-back, with Spangels wearing Casuals reserve all green kit due to a clash with Panfield's grey.

Spangels created the first chance of the game, with a flowing move, which saw Sayer free on the left, but his low drive was comfortably saved by the Panfield 'keeper. Unfortunately, this was the best football Spangels played and over the remaing 119 minutes of this match they failed to string passes together.

Panfield dominated the rest of the first half and took the lead after 15 minutes direct from a corner which swung in violently, decieving Ramsay in the Spangels goal. Several other chances were created by Panfield and Ramsay produced some excellent saves as Spangels defence failed to deal with the attacking threat posed.

However, with the score only 1-0 at half-time and now with the wind in their favour, Spangels felt confident of improving their performance and getting back in the match.

The second half was a scrappy affair and Spangels struggled to create anything clear-cut.

Panfield then decided to start helping Spangels by getting a few players needlessly sent off. First, Livermore won a race with a Panfield forward and played the ball out on the right, level with the Spangels box. The Panfield player apparently didn't like this and pushed him in the face, leaving the ref' no alternative but to send him from the field of play.

Then, Whiteman was played through on goal by Rivett and was chopped down from behind as he lined up to shoot. Being the last defender, this meant a second red card for a Panfield player. From the resulting free kick, Crow's corner was parried by the Panfield 'keeper and Livermore tucked the rebound away from a couple of yards.

Spangels huffed and puffed for the rest of the half against nine men, but continued to lack a cutting edge until Todd was introduced in place of Putt. The big front man started to see a lot of the ball and went close a couple of times before the ninety minutes was out.

So, extra time and Spangels had to feel confident against nine men, however their play in normal time had been poor and several players were tiring.

The first half of extra time came and went without much incident, but the second half saw another sending off and finally some goal action.

First, a Panfield player already on a yellow card failed to allow Ramsay to clear from his hands despite several warnings from the referee and left the official the only option of another yellow, followed by a red.

Panfield were now down to eight, but still managed to take the lead moments later when Wilson pulled an attacking player in the box conceding a penalty, which was duly dispatched.

The embarrassment of losing to eight players finally kicked Spangels into life and straight from the kick-off they won a corner. The ball was cleared to the edge of the box where captain Theobald waited and he smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Minutes later Spangels were in front for the first time, with Todd getting a goal his substitute performance deserved, beating the 'keeper well. Another substitute Winsborough hit an excellent shot from 20 yards which was well saved. The final nail in the coffin was applied by Spangels first goal-scorer Livermore who finished well after a 30 yard cross ball by Crow.

So, in the end Spangels won this game and enjoyed the spoils afterwards, but Panfield have to look at themselves and their own conduct and wonder what might (and should) have been.

Team : Ramsay, G.Livermore (2), Wilson, Pritchard, Theobald (C) (1), Tivey (Winsborough), Rivett, Sayer (Collis), Crow, Putt (Todd (1)), Whiteman.

Spangels MOM : Gary Livermore

Official MOM : Alex Crow