| Pope and Smith 1st Division |
Priory Sports Reserves ensured their safety on the 1st division of the Pope and Smith League after securing the point they needed on the final day of the season. The 2-2 home draw against Fyfield Lion was also enough to condemn Fyfield to Division 2 football next term.
The season was always going be a tough one for the team with a change of management mid way through and being unable to field a consistent 11 certainly did not help matters. It wasn’t until the 30th October that Priory recorded their first win and that came in the Gillott trophy against Norton. A first league win following a week later, with a good victory away at Springfield. Although things looked bright after this victory it wouldn’t be until the 5th February when the reserves would win again, once more this came in the Gillott Trophy.
By the time Priory entertained Brookhouse in the Gillott Trophy on 5th February Robbie Kennedy had stepped in to take over as manger of a team, starved of players, direction and confidence. The appointment transformed the team and perhaps had he been a foreign manager an MBE would surely have been awarded. The team were able to welcome new faces. Christian Smith returned after a lengthy spell out through injury and Andy Annal was bribed into joining, provided captain Kevin Robinson bought him 5 pints of Fosters after each game. Kev, eventually bribed Andy to increase this to 7. Adam Linnett was performing well in goal and first team squad member Sam Bridge assisted in shoring up the midfield.
The team recorded four wins on the spin with the most impressive a 5-2 win over South Woodham. These wins gave the team the confidence needed to believe that avoiding the drop was possible. An unfortunate defeat to Gallow in the 4th Round of the Gillott Trophy followed which ended a fine cup run and left just the league to concentrate on. Wins over Woodham Radars and Woodham Athletic proved crucial and the reserves survived the drop by a single point.
Congratulations to Robbie Kennedy and the reserves on their fine efforts this season, especially post Christmas. The squad is much stronger now, and the players are playing with a lot of confidence. With Robbie Kennedy at the helm, the reserves will be hoping for bigger things next season and are showing the signs of being able to compete for a top 5 spot.
Congratulations to Adam Linnett on winning the Mangers and Players Player of the Year award and Robbie Kennedy for winning the Clubman of the Year award.
|
|
 |
|
| No. |
Player |
App |
Sub |
Gls |
Red |
Yel |
POM |
Ave |
|
|
 |
|
| Date |
Opponents |
Venue
|
F
|
A
|
| September 2005 |
| Sun 11 |
Brookhouse |
H
|
3
|
4
|
| Sun 18 |
Woodham Radars |
A
|
0
|
2
|
| Sun 25 |
Ongar United |
H
|
1
|
9
|
| October 2005 |
| Sun 02 |
Woodham Athletic |
A
|
1
|
2
|
| Sun 09 |
Tillingham Hotspur |
H
|
2
|
2
|
| Sun 16 |
RE Social |
H
|
0
|
3
|
| Sun 23 |
ECC Staff |
A
|
0
|
4
|
| Sun 30 |
Norton |
H
|
1
|
0
|
| November 2005 |
| Sun 13 |
Springfield |
A
|
2
|
1
|
| Sun 27 |
Infield |
H
|
0
|
1
|
| December 2005 |
| Sun 04 |
Tillingham Hotspur |
A
|
0
|
3
|
| January 2006 |
| Sun 15 |
ECC Staff |
A
|
1
|
6
|
| Sun 22 |
RE Social |
A
|
2
|
3
|
| Sun 29 |
South Woodham |
H
|
1
|
1
|
| February 2006 |
| Sun 05 |
Brookhouse Reserves |
H
|
2
|
1
|
| Sun 19 |
Springfield |
H
|
4
|
2
|
| Sun 26 |
Brookhouse |
A
|
2
|
1
|
| March 2006 |
| Sun 05 |
South Woodham |
A
|
5
|
2
|
| Sun 12 |
Gallow United |
H
|
1
|
2
|
| Sun 26 |
Infield |
A
|
1
|
2
|
| April 2006 |
| Sun 09 |
Ongar United |
A
|
1
|
2
|
| Sun 16 |
Woodham Radars |
H
|
2
|
0
|
| Sun 23 |
Fyfield Lion |
H
|
0
|
2
|
| Sun 30 |
ECC Staff |
H
|
0
|
2
|
| May 2006 |
| Sun 07 |
Woodham Athletic |
H
|
3
|
1
|
| Sun 14 |
Fyfield Lion |
H
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
 |
|
| Pope and Smith 1st Division |
|
| Team |
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
GD |
Pts |
| ECC Staff |
22
|
18
|
3
|
1
|
109
|
22
|
87 |
39
|
| Ongar United |
22
|
16
|
4
|
2
|
65
|
29
|
36 |
37
|
| Infield |
22
|
8
|
10
|
4
|
34
|
24
|
10 |
26
|
| Brookhouse |
22
|
7
|
8
|
7
|
62
|
48
|
14 |
23
|
| Tillingham Hotspur |
22
|
9
|
6
|
7
|
48
|
42
|
6 |
23
|
| Woodham Athletic |
22
|
11
|
1
|
10
|
47
|
45
|
2 |
22
|
| RE Social |
22
|
7
|
4
|
11
|
41
|
60
|
-19 |
19
|
| South Woodham |
22
|
7
|
5
|
10
|
39
|
65
|
-26 |
19
|
| Woodham Radars |
22
|
6
|
4
|
12
|
40
|
66
|
-26 |
17
|
| Reserves |
22
|
6
|
3
|
13
|
33
|
53
|
-20 |
15
|
| Fyfield Lion |
22
|
4
|
5
|
13
|
27
|
59
|
-32 |
14
|
| Springfield |
22
|
4
|
5
|
13
|
32
|
64
|
-32 |
11
|
| |
| |
| |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
TEAM CREST
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Top Goal Scorer
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| Name: |
| Goals: |
| MOM's: |
| Average: |
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Most 'Player of the Match' Awards
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| Name: |
| Goals: |
| MOM's: |
| Average: |
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Most Consistent
Player
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| Name: |
| Goals: |
| MOM's: |
| Average: |
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