End Of Season Awards Awarded.....19/05/2018

First Team Finish With Draw Against The Feathers!.....06/05/2018

A win over Feathers would guarantee the Tavs the runner-up spot in our mini-league whereas anything less would make Feathers the favourites for second place.

We began well and took the lead when Ryan Jacobs was upended as he bore down on the goal. Mikey Sneddon coolly finished from the spot. Our joy was short-lived as Feathers equalised with a well-taken goal from a low corner.

Back came Taverners and we regained the lead. Mikey Sneddon saw his shot blocked but Gary Pilkington was quickest to react and steered the ball home. At the other end, Jordan Ripper – who formed a fine partnership with Brandon Burton at the heart of our defence – made a spectacular headed goal-line clearance.

Feathers began the second half strongly and equalised again via a defensive muddle on our part.

However, this spurred the Tavs on and we dominated the later stages; however, our finishing wasn’t good enough to find the winner.

Our last two matches have seen the sort of performances which make some of us impatient for next August’s resumption of football activities!

Team : Siggers, Spalding, Burton, Ripper, Tacey, Riley, Stanojevic(Hollinsworth), Jordan, Pilkington G., Jacobs R., Sneddon
Goals: Pilkington, Sneddon.

First Team Move Up To Second!.....29/04/2018

From the start, we had a determined attitude and stretched the Bramford defence with Mikey Sneddon outstanding on his return after injury. Mikey was unlucky to be ruled offside as his shot crashed into the top corner but he was not to be long denied. A typically tricky run across the box ended with Mikey’s shot finding the corner and we made it 2-0 when a deep free-kick from a delighted Jordan Ripper flew in off the goalkeeper’s finder-tips; Jordan’s first goal for the 1st team.

Bramford gave themselves hope when a long shot found the net but we continued to defend resolutely when required – a long clearance or a pass out of defence as necessary. Tom Brooks and Brandon Burton formed a strong partnership while Bramford found it difficult to counter Lee Riley’s free role and good use of the ball.

And when the chips were down, we produced great blocks while Liam Siggers did very well in goal.

Finally, we produced a very timely third goal – and what a goal! Gary Pilkington, wide on the right, produced a screamer into the top far corner to finish off a fine display; all credit to everyone on duty.

Photos taken at the game by Trevor Hollinsworth can be found here.

Team : Siggers, Spalding, Burton, Brooks, Ripper(Tacey), Riley, Stanojevic, Jordan, Pilkington G, Jacobs R., Sneddon
Goals: Pilkington, Ripper, Sneddon.

First Team Fire Four Past Shorthanded Hardys.....22/04/2018

All credit to Hardys, though. In modern parlance, they ‘parked the bus’ and, behind a battling defence, their goalkeeper did a sterling job despite an early injury.

We kept playing football, attempting to stretch the Hardys defence, but our finishing was wayward. It took us half an hour to go ahead through a Lee Riley header and then Wayne Jordan took control of a scramble to fire in number two before the break.

The pattern continued after half time and we added a third goal through Ryan Jacobs from a Bevan Burgess corner. Trev was the provider for the fourth, as Henry Chard arrived at the far post to make the final score 4-0.

Photos taken at the game by Trevor Hollinsworth can be found here.

Team : Siggers, Spalding, Burton, Ripper(Fisk), Burgess(Cunningham), Riley, Stanojevic(Chard), Jordan, Pilkington G, Jacobs R.,Strutt(Hollinsworth)
Goals: Chard, Jacobs R.,Jordan, Riley.

Greshams Take Honours In Local Debry.....15/04/2018

Our last game, away to Martlesham Old Boys had seen the Tavs produce a good display in an enjoyable match but on Sunday we simply never got going. Our passing was poor throughout and we lacked any pattern or direction in attack.

At least – we felt – facing 10 men in the second half would tip the scales but we suffered the embarrassment of conceding two dreadful goals without ever looking like replying.

One to forget.

Team : Siggers, Spalding(Cunningham), Burton, Jacobs A.(Fisk), Burgess(Woodmansee), Tacey, Brooks, Jordan, Pilkington G, Riley, Jacobs R.

Honours Even with Old Boys.....09/04/2018

The game had been preceded by a presentation of a ‘Liverpool-orientated’ memento to Bevan Burgess to mark his achievement of overtaking Pat Elvin at the the top of the club’s appearance list with 725 matches to his credit.

The Tavs looked solid at the back with the returning Tom Brooks and Andrew ‘Panda’ Jacobs rock-solid at the heart of our defence. We had a scare when Brandon Burton was penalised for holding onto the ball for too long but quickly made a name for himself by tipping the resulting shot over the bar. After we had gone close, we eventually took the lead when Lee Riley produced the pass and Ryan Jacobs coolly held off a defender before firing past the Old Boys keeper.

We were busy and combatative all over the pitch and were only undone when a slip allowed a corner direct into our net.

Unfortunately, despite having the better of things, we were unable to score again although the Old Boys merited their point in a match which was much enjoyed by those who took part.

Team : Burton, Spalding, Brooks, Jacobs A., Ripper(Tunbridge), Tacey, Stanojevic(Burgess), Jordan, Pilkington G, Riley, Jacobs R.
Goal : Jacobs R.

Bevan Tops Them All!25/03/2018

Pat’s record total of 724 had looked unbeatable but Bevan reached 725 in the match against Rosary CC reserves on Sunday – Pat made a personal presentation to Bev on Sunday and the remainder of the Taverners Committee have decided that he will receive the Presidents’ Cup at our Presentation Night to mark this remarkable milestone.

Bevan joined the Tavs in 1986 and, as well as playing his part when called into the first team, he has captained the reserves on countless occasions; none more proudly than when he led the side to victory in the 1995 ISFL Reserve Cup Final.

In addition to Bevan’s 725 appearances (231 1st team & 494 reserves), he has scored 45 goals (5 1st team & 40 reserves).

Well done Bev!

Derby Day Defeat for First Team whilst Reserves Finish Season Shipping Eight.....25/03/2018

We weathered an early storm and then, after Jamie Brittain had fired narrowly wide, we took the lead. A good move led to Mikey Sneddon playing Ryan Jacobs in and Ryan’s finish was coolly taken for 1-0.

Unfortunately, Greshams were finding spaces up front and two goals put them in front.

After the break, we came back to equalise through a solo effort from Lee Riley who dispossessed a defender, beat another man and then fired past the keep; great goal.

We were unable to shake off the Greshams attack and they regained the lead although Gary Pilkington was unlucky not to see the play halted as he sustained a facial injury in the build up. A clear header from a corner made it 4-2 and then a penalty finished off a Greshams 5-2 win.

Despite, a rather ‘flat’ changing room before the game and our struggle to contain Greshams’ ‘main man’, we played some good football at times going forward. It was good to see Craig Parry back from long-term injury and in a Taverners shirt.

Team : Burton, Tacey, Risby, Jordan, Pilkington, Jacobs R., Stanojevic, Riley, Ripper, Brittain(Parry), Sneddon
Goals: Jacobs R., Riley.


Reserves

Taverners 0, Rosary CC 8



You know you are in for a tough game when you go 3-0 down after about 10 minutes. Again, we had the usual bad luck of deflections in the area landing straight at the strikers’ feet, but there was no denying the fact that Rosary were a good team and we were in for a challenging game.

However, we managed to get under the skin of some of their players which disrupted their flow and limited them to ‘only’ 3 more goals before half time.

We made a couple of changes at half time which seemed to steady the ship and limited them to only 2 goals in the second half.

Despite the final score of 8-0, throughout the game we didn’t stop battling for the ball and weren’t afraid to push forward if and when we could.

Will Woodmansee worked tirelessly upfront to close down the goalkeeper and defenders, whilst at the back Matt Davis, Callum Keeble, Matt Pearson, Jules (and then Dave Spalding) and Bevan gave their ‘all’ to prevent a cricket score.

Strutty provided moments of skill to distract us from the score line, and relieve the pressure on the defence. Olly Whiting provided his usual hustle whilst Sean High was once again the tireless ‘man of many positions’ holding back the onslaught as best he could.

Jake Jay, and Abraham Hew in the second half, provided ‘the legs’ out wide, and troubled their defence a few times in the second half.

So, although the score line doesn’t lie, we can be proud of the effort we put in to limit the damage and can look back on the season with pride in that although we have finished second from bottom with 12 points, we have been 'in' most games, we took a point off Rosary, who will finish 2nd, away earlier in the season and we took a point off The Feathers Res. who are currently 3rd.

A photo was taken before the game as Pat Elvin presented Bevan Burgess with a personalised chocolate bottle for breaking his appearance record Here.

Team : Davis, Keeble C., Pearson M., Holmes(Spalding), Burgess, Jay, Whiting, High, Herridge(Hew), Strutt, Woodmansee(Cunningham).

Rampant Reserves Put Seven Past Pythons!.....12/03/2018

Many congratulations to Bevan Burgess as he equalled the appearance record of Pat Elvin. 724 games for Taverners. Well done Bev.

The players available dictated the new diamond formation to us. And it worked. With six players in a midfield role it meant we took control of the game and apart from little spells this we maintained throughout the game.

We took the lead early after Daren Stevens headed down a corner and Darren Herridge was well placed in the 6-yard box to force the ball home.

We spent the remainder of the first half in almost complete control but chance after chance went begging. It was not until just a minute before half time that we went further ahead. Paul Strutt took possession of the ball 25 yards out and although he was fouled on three occasions he stayed strong to shrug off their attention and found the far corner of the net from just inside the 18 yard box.

At 2-0 we knew we had to push home our advantage. One goal from Pythons would give them the belief that they could get back into the game. Maybe saying this at half time was a bad omen because that is exactly what they did within a few minutes of the restart.

We had to get the next goal and then move on to confirm our dominance. This we did with goals from Lee Riley and Paul Strutt who got his second. Both were superb team goals.

Pythons were not the greatest opponents, but our football at times was the best we have seen all season. Lee Riley, Wayne Jordan, Oli Whiting and Darren Herridge all played their parts in the goals which Lee and Paul finished in some style.

Oli Whiting got his first goal for Taverners when he beat three players to score from inside the 18 yard box.

Not only were we dominant through the midfield but also Daren Stevens and Craig Risby rarely let anything get by them. It was turning out to be our most complete performance of the season.

Even though we had control Pythons broke through on occasions and Matt Davis was called into action with some fine saves.

With 25 mins to go we were awarded a penalty and with this game being a special occasion for Bevan it was only right that he took the penalty, which he scored with some power in the top left hand corner.

The game was won and we did leave a few gaps, which Pythons exploited to pull back a consolation goal. We were still creating but our final ball was lacking. With almost the last kick of the game the ball ran free in their 18 yard box and with the keeper off his line Trevor Hollinsworth guided the ball into the empty net.

It was a pleasure to be part of not only this game but the whole season. There have been some pretty bad lows, but the highs this season far outweigh everything else. Just one more game to go next week and looking forward to it already.

Photos taken at the game can be seen Here.

Team : Davis, Stevens, Risby(Pearson M.), Burgess, Brodie(Lowe), Whiting, Strutt(Hollinsworth), Jordan, Riley, Herridge(Cunningham), Jay(Woodmansee)
Goals: Burgess, Herridge, Hollinsworth, Riley, Strutt(2), Whiting.

Possible Pools Panel Jackpot with Two Score Draws!.....26/02/2018

With players returning who would normally be playing it meant team selection was a hard decision. We had 16 players and we have a rule that everyone gets to play some part in the game and maybe win back their place in the starting line up. Making five substitutions is not easy with a game this close.

We already know that on our day we can compete against any team in this league. Feathers are in third place but we played well against them in the away fixture.

We started very strongly and controlled the game for pretty much the whole first half. We took the lead after Ollie Whiting refused to give up on a through ball, which looked a lost cause. His hooked cross into the six yard box was met by Henry Chard who controlled and fired home from close range. This was Ollies last involvement in the game, as he took ill and had to be substituted.

The second half saw Feathers get more into the game and they caused us some problems, which we defended well against especially Jared Pearson who was having an incredible game. However mistakes cost games and after we lost possession just inside their half Feathers broke quickly leaving them with a one on one with Matt Davis and the striker scored.

It was a bitter blow as it gave Feathers the lift they needed. They had most of the control and we made three goal line clearances from Matt Pearson, Trevor Hollinsworth and Jared Pearson. Craig Risby also made some important tackles to keep us in the game.

After using all five subs it got worse when Jared clashed heads with a Feathers player and had to go off with a suspected broken nose which was confirmed later that evening. Down to ten men left us with no option but to defend hard for the remainder of the game, which thankfully we did for a well-deserved point.

Team: Davis, Pearson J., Pearson M., Risby, Burgess(Keeble C.), Chard(Cunningham), High, Whiting(Brodie), Strutt(Jay), Hollinsworth, Stevens(Herridge)
Goal: Chard.

Unbelievable Trev!!! Reserves Fight Back from 3-0 Down To Take Points.....05/02/2018

We took the lead through an own goal from Brandon Burton’s cross but were unable to threaten directly and suddenly Bramford broker to score the equaliser.

The Tavs regained the lead when Lee Riley provided the pass and Mikey Sneddon chipped the keeper in superb style. Tom Brooks then scrambled in our third after a scramble following a corner and Jawa Tacey made the tally four with a fine shot. Mikey rounded things off after a fine dribble through the Bramford defence.

Team: Siggers, Keeble C.(Lowe), Burton, Brooks, Pilkington, Jacobs R., Jordan, Riley, Sneddon, Ripper, Tacey
Goal: Brooks, Sneddon(2), Tacey



Reserves

Thrasher Utd. 3, Taverners Res. 4



What do you do on Sunday afternoon after you have won the mornings game? How do you break it to your family? Will they even believe you? Do you call every player who wasn’t there because they had other commitments to show them what they had missed?

To put this result in context Thrasher had beaten Elmsett 6-0 earlier in the season. So this result is proof of the words that are said before so many games. “If we play to the best of our ability we can beat anyone in this league.”

I would like to say that this result is all down to the management of the team. Part of it is but the majority is down to the squad of 13 players just not giving up.

When the game goes against you. Don’t stop. Don’t give in, because all you need is one breakthrough to change the game. Thrasher had all the play in the first half and they found space time after time. We had just one shot and two corners in the first half. They had numerous chances and scored twice.

We were not a happy camp at half time. We spoke about the problems we faced. We changed formation a little to try to contain Thrashers midfield. This began to work and the first ten minutes was all Taverners. But still the luck was not on our side and they scored again against the run of play. From a corner a goal mouth scramble saw 5 if our players either falling into each other or throwing their bodies in front of the ball but Thrasher found a way through. Now 3-0 down looking back from the halfway line at our five players laying dejected on the floor you got the feeling that once again it was not going to be our day.

Two injuries forced changes, which in turn forced a reshuffle of positions. We were not playing our best football but we were trying, we were competing.

It only takes one piece of magic. One piece of luck to change the make up of the game. That magic was provided by Paul Strutt after he gathered the ball inside the 18 yard box as he reached the corner of the 6 yard he changed his body shape to accurately curl the ball into the far corner with the outside of his right foot. You could actually see and feel the game change. Thrasher could not cope with our set pieces. Corners and free kicks from Andy Lambert, Paul Strutt and Trevor Hollinsworth and the long throw in from Craig Risby.

Within minutes we scored again when from a long throw Paul Strutt gathered in the box and shot on the turn which the keeper could only parry into the path of Gary Cunningham and he finished in style to score his first goal in some 4 years.

Time was beginning to run out with just five minutes left we won a corner on the right. The keeper had coped well with previous corners standing at the near post and picking off the cross with his advantageous height. So Trevor Hollinsworth hit the cross higher and curved to leave him back tracking. As I stood on the side line I watched as if in slow motion Henry Chard rose head and shoulders above all else to score with a bullet header. The elation throughout the team was evident.

At 3-3 we knew there was just two minutes to go and maybe we should take the draw and sit back. But this can often go wrong so we pressed Thrasher and forced them backward into their own half. Paul Strutt won the ball 30 yards out and found Henry Chard free on the edge of the 18 yard box. Henry admits he wanted to curve a cross to the far post but he did it so well that his cross beat the keeper and he scored just inside the far post.

As Thrasher took the centre kick we knew there was just 30 seconds left. Thrasher nearly spoilt the party when straight from the kick off they went through but Matt Davis came out quickly to insure the forward did not have time to place his looped shot to score.

The proof is here gentlemen, “We can beat anyone if we play to the best of our ability and enjoy ourselves.”

Team: Davis, Pearson J., Lambert A., Pearson M.(Cunningham), Risby, Fisk, Brodie(Chard), High, Burgess, Strutt, Hollinsworth.
Goals: Chard(2), Cunningham, Strutt.

Mixed Results!.....28/01/2018

We took an early lead when a corner led to a scramble in the Hardys six yard box and Skipper Tom Brooks scored from close range. Some tremendous close control and dribbling skills saw Mikey Sneddon line busy midfielder Wayne Jordan up for two close range goals before Mikey himself swept through to make the score 4-0. Hardys pulled a goal back just before half time.

Hardys came into the game in the second half but we made our tally five when Mikey Sneddon was brought down in the box and Tom Brooks netted the resulting penalty. Callum Keeble went close with a cross which hit the top of the bar but we added a sixth goal when debutant Will Woodmansee smashed a loose ball home.

We then let our foot off the pedal in allowing Hardys to pull back three goals near the end.

Team: Siggers, Keeble C., Jacobs A., Brooks, Pilkington, Jacobs R., Jordan, Riley, Sneddon, Burton, Woodmansee
Goal: Brooks(2), Jordan(2), Sneddon, Woodmansee



Reserves

Elmsett Utd. Res. 8, Taverners Res. 0



We went into our annual journey into ‘The Sticks’ with squad made up of youth and experience, once Strutty had joined us from Gainsborough! However, no sooner had we kicked off than we had to make a substitution for Jared Pearson who suffered a worrying head injury after an accidental collision with an Elmsett player. Thankfully, Jared made a good enough recovery to be escorted off the pitch and onto a chair, where he waited a whole two minutes before his coaching from the side-lines began.

The early change seemed to affect us as we struggled to get the ball out of our own half and we were soon 2-0 down following some neat football from the home team.

We did have a few encouraging raids into the Elmsett half, with Luke Wessels, Darren Herridge and Strutty playing some clever balls through for the youthful Ollie Whiting and Abe Hew to run onto, but they were unable to finish cleanly on a heavy pitch.

Despite some resolute defending from the back four, and some one-on-one saves from Matt Davis, Elmsett made light work of the heavy pitch and scored 2 more to make the score 4-0 at half time.

Following a reshuffle at half time to shore-up the midfield we started the second half well and withstood the Elmsett onslaught for 15 minutes before we conceded again, and again, and again.

Again, we did create a few chances of our own during the second half, but failed to convert them.

Elmsett then had a perfectly good goal disallowed by the referee for handball, when the blood running down the nose of the scorer clearly indicated the ball had gone in off his nose rather than his hand.

The referee then levelled this up when Jordan Keeble was unfortunate to have a penalty awarded against him after an Elmsett player had thrown himself to the ground which was converted and made the final score 8-0 to Elmsett.

A disappointing result but some encouraging elements. Also, without the combative spirt shown by all, and some great saves from Matt Davis, the score could have been a lot worse!

UP THE TAVS!

Team: Davis, Pearson J.(Cunningham(Keeble J.)), Pearson M., Fisk, Burgess, Whiting, High, Wessels, Strutt, Hew, Herridge.

First Team Start Spring Season with Stalemate!.....21/01/2018

We took the lead when Jawa Tacey – comfortable at right back – fired into the box and, with Tavs debutant Tom Lowe making a run which distracted the keeper, the ball ended in the net.

The second half was a completely different story as Feathers came out fighting and Tom Brooks and Panda Jacobs had to be at their best to control Feathers particularly strong centre forward. We made the one slip ten minutes from time and a Feathers header found the net. Brandon Burton had made one fine save in the first half and he was forced to tip another good effort onto the bar as Feathers sensed a winner.

However, it was the Tavs who finished the stronger side with a series of corners in the final minutes going close.

On balance, a fair result with the teams giving referee Darrel Goddard little trouble.

Team: Burton, Tacey, Jacobs A., Brooks, Pilkington, Jacobs R., Jordan, Riley, Sneddon, Tunbridge, Lowe(Hollinsworth)
Goal: Tacey

Reserves Lose Out in 15 Goal Thriller!.....14/01/2018

It does not however tell the story of this game. I cannot fault a single player from the 13 players we had in the squad. Yes we made mistakes. The 10 goals tell you that. But when we made a mistake we fought back. We never gave up. Out of the 10 goals we gave them 3 through errors we should not make. But if we played like this every week we would be right at the top of our league and probably be unbeaten.

We were fully in this game right to the end. For over an hour we matched and often bettered Orford.

We took the lead through Lee Riley when his determination to keep possession after his first effort was blocked led him to score from an acute angle with a powerful shot into the top corner.

Orford came back straight away with an equaliser and scored two more shortly after to take the lead to 3-1. We did not give up and fought hard in every department.

After Ryan Jacobs, Lee Riley and Callum Andrews refused to give up possession in Orfords 18 yard box the ball fell to Trevor Hollinsworth who chipped the advanced goalkeeper and defenders to score.

Orford again found space and scored again after we contested an out of play decision. At 4-2 I suppose the game looked like it was getting away from us but no. Back we came. Lee Riley was again on target after some great teamwork and he fired home with some power.

Orford were awarded a penalty after a tackle by Paul Strutt was adjudged a foul which we all contested as he made full contact with the ball. So again we found ourselves 2 goals behind. Right or wrong the penalty spurred us on and within minutes we scored again when Callum Andrews beat his defender and his cross was met at the near post by Trevor Hollinsworth to score. Ryan Jacobs completed the comeback before half time when he beat his defender for speed to score with a driven shot to the near post.

5-5 at half time and we were in great spirits. It looked even better at the start of the second half as we attacked from the whistle and were the better side with shots on target from Lee Riley, Callum Andrews, Paul Strutt and Trevor Hollinsworth. It seemed just a matter of time before we were rewarded with a goal. But it was Orford who made the breakthrough with two goals. We still fought on but it was again Orford who were creating the space for more chances. They deserved their win.

This was a game for the future. Excellent performances from everyone especially Andrew (Panda) Jacobs, Oli Whiting, Callum Andrews and Lee Riley saw us compete right to the final whistle.

It was also great to see the return of Henry Chard after a dreadful injury kept him away from playing for some years.

It was without doubt the most enjoyable game of the season so far. We just need to take this to the league leaders next Sunday.

Team: Davis, High(Chard), Pearson M., Jacobs A., Burgess, Andrews, Strutt, Riley, Jacobs R., Hollinsworth(Jay), Whiting
Goals: Hollinsworth(2), Jacobs, Riley(2)

New Year Cheer for First Team!.....07/01/2018

Several opportunities had been spurned before we took the lead from the penalty spot.

Tom Brooks had been presented with a memento to mark his 300th appearance before the match – well done, Brooksy - and he wasted no time in driving the spot-kick into the bottom corner (having earned the penalty kick himself).

A superb solo effort from Mikey Sneddon – back in the side after suspension – doubled our lead and then he produced the corner which was turned in by the alert Gary Pilkington. In Pilky’s words: his sixth goal this season from left back!

Kai Tunbridge and Ryan Jacobs – a debut goal – made the score 5-0 at the break.

Facing the stiff breeze after half-time, we didn’t enjoy as much possession but eventually went six up through Mikey Sneddon. Poor marking gave Hardys the chance to pull a goal back but Ryan Jacobs swept through for a seventh to round off a solid display and a 7-1 win; this gives everyone an appetite for the coming ‘winter league.’

Team: Siggers, Jacobs R., Brooks, Jacobs A., Pilkington(Spalding), Stanojevic(Southgate), Jordan, Tacey, Ripper, Brittain, Sneddon.
Goals: Brooks,Jacobs R.(2),Pilkington,Sneddon(2),Tunbridge.



Reserves

Northam Celtic 2, Taverners Res. 1

Disappointed !! There are only a few games in the season where we can honestly say we should win. And this was one of those games.

Everything started perfectly when a corner taken by Paul Strutt swung inward and Darren Herridge got a touch on the ball to put us 1-0 in the lead.

Although Celtic did press we held them off and could have added to the scoreline.

We played against the strong wind in the first half so we had to work hard and were very happy to reach half time still 1-0 up.

We were aware that with the wind behind us you can often think it will be a great benefit but that is not always the case. We showed pretty well for the first ten minutes but the long lay off over Christmas started to affect us and we lost key players to injury leaving us weaker.Josh Collin, Scott Brodie and Jared Pearson all had to be substituted.

We were not coping well with the Celtic attacks and they went close to scoring on a few occasions. They equalised when we should have dealt with the initial attack. They went passed us too easily to score. With just minutes to go we were hanging on to a point but again we failed to clear our lines again and they scored with no more than two minutes left.

We beat Celtic 4-1 earlier in the season and they were no better on this outing. Unfortunately we were not up to pressing home our early advantage.

Paul Strutt was our only plus point. He had a good game but no one else matched his commitment so he was fighting a lone battle most of the time.

We have a very hard cup game next week and need to be better in every department to go forward in the cup.

Team: Davis, Pearson J.(Keeble J.), Fisk, Pearson M., Burgess, Keeble C., High, Strutt, Brodie(Hart), Collin(Hollinsworth), Herridge(Cunningham).
Goal: Herridge.

#UPTHETAVS

Year Ends with Gallant Defeat!.....31/12/2017

We lined up in an unfamiliar 4-3-3 formation and this worked well with the midfield of skipper Tom Brooks, Wayne Jordan and Lee Riley always involved and playing some good football once we had weathered some early Laxfield pressure.

Unfortunately, an unlucky rebound gave Laxfield the opportunity to take the lead on the half hour and they doubled their advantage when a slip at the back let them in.

We began the second half well and reduced the arrears when one of many long throws by Craig Risby was only half-cleared by a defender and Lee Riley rifled in a superb shot from the edge of the box. We then equalised when Jawa Tacey – another to have a fine match – cut in from the right and fired in left footed, low in the corner.

The Tavs looked the likelier winners but Ryan Jacobs – in an excellent debut – was unlucky with his final shot after outwitting the defence and Brooksy headed narrowly wide.

The game swung from end to end and Laxfield edged the win when Brandon Burton made two fine blocks in a goalmouth melee but couldn’t reach the third effort.

An excellent match, played in good spirit throughout and well-refereed by Tony Joyce. Everyone in a Taverners shirt played their part on a morning when our spirit and performance merited at least a point.

Team: Burton, Tacey, A Jacobs, Risby, Pilkington, Riley, Brooks, Jordan, Henry (Sub: Hatt), R Jacobs, Smith.
Goals: Riley, Tacey.

Another Blank Sunday!.....3/12/2017

An early goal put Brantham in the driving seat but we battled hard and – albeit in a rare breakaway – we were only denied an equaliser by a linesman’s flag, Gary Pilkington having headed home raiding full back Jawa Tacey’s fine cross.

The closing stages of the first half saw Brantham take advantage of mistakes to forge a 4-0 lead and – although Pilky reduced the arrears with another powerful header from Jawa’s corner – we conceded three more goals to finish well-beaten.

Despite this, spirits remained high and it was good to see Rico Stanojevic and Kai Tunbridge both back in action after long lay-offs through injury.

A big squad had been assembled for this morning’s scheduled encounter with Hardy FC – including new signing Ryan Jacobs - but heavy rain saw the Greshams club call all football off and Gainsborough Sports Centre was unable to handle a switch of venue there; the latter might have been a blessing in disguise as heavy snow prevented any football going ahead in Ipswich.

Team: Siggers, Spalding, Brooks, Jacobs, Pilkington, Fisk, Stanojevic(Keeble C.), Jordan, Tacey, Brittain(Tunbridge), Whiting.
Goals: Pilkington.



Reserves

Taverners Res. 0, Rushmere & Diamonds Res. 4

When things do not go right it’s hard to fight against it. But the truth is that in any sport it comes down to how well you are prepared for the competition. It is so hard for me in a game when I have to watch players control a game and make us look second rate. Players who would not have lived with many of the players I have had the pleasure of playing alongside.

Week after week I get more and more frustrated because we just do not have the fitness or the experience to contest, make a difference and change a game like today.

This season so far has felt harder for me as my own fitness has suffered majorly and after six years of never missing a penalty today I missed, and that hurts.

I am happy we now have break until January. I need time away to re-group. I would love to get fit but I am totally useless at training alone so if anyone wants to become my training partner then let me know!

Today we lost to a mediocre team. We gave them three goals which on our day would not have happened. It looked like we did better in the second half as they only scored once but this was mainly down to their awful finishing.

Not everyone had a bad day but they cannot be expected to make up for the fitness of others. The Pearson brothers did well. Paul Strutt and Darren Herridge worked hard to make a difference.

Team: Hart, Pearson J., Stevens(Hollinsworth), Holmes, Pearson M., Strutt, High, Hew, Wessels, Jay, Herridge.


#UPTHETAVS

First Team Fight Back But Fall Short!.....27/11/2017

We fell behind to a goal resulting from a mix-up but still felt at half time that we would get back into the game. And we did: a tremendous shot from Lee Riley flying into the net via the underside of the bar.

We had hardly finished celebrating when a disputed penalty restored Greshams’ lead and then a snap-shot found the corner for 3-1 before another dreadful muddle gifted our opponents a fourth.

With a re-shuffle, we pressed forward and we pulled a goal back when Gary Pilkington headed in Jawa Tacey’s corner. Tom Brooks then headed in a third and we looked well on top and capable of equalising. However, Greshams held out well and we wish them well in the next round.

It was good to see Andrew ‘Panda’ Jacobs back in a Taverners shirt once more.

Team: Siggers, Spalding(Hollinsworth), Brooks, Jacobs, Pilkington, Fisk(Burgess), High(Keeble C.), Jordan, Tacey, Burton, Riley.
Goals: Brooks, Pilkington, Riley,

!.....12/11/2017

We came back with great spirit in the early part of the second half and, when a long range shot from Jawa Tacey found the net, we had a glimmer of hope. we enjoyed a good period, when a second goal might have made things interesting, but the old Boys scored a fifth goal and went on to win 8-1.

Another disappointing morning for the Tavs.

Team: Burton, Tacey, Spalding, Stevens, Burgess, Fisk(Bullamore), Riley, Jordan, Pilkington, Sheppard, Sneddon.
Goal: Tacey



Reserves

FC Monarchs 6, Taverners Res. 0

No complaints. No excuses. We had just 11 players and played the last 20 minutes with ten after Matt Davis was injured. I have played in games this season with a full squad and we didn’t get a shot on goal. But today we had chances.

Darren Herridge, Trevor Hollinsworth and Abraham Hew all had shots on target in the first half. Monarchs pressured us throughout the game and could have scored double the amount but for some excellent defending frustrating them.

Jared and Matt Pearson played well. Ollie Whiting, Scott Brodie and Abraham Hew did well in midfield. Craig Hatt had an excellent game in goal. Matt Davis played his first game on field after five years of being in goal, but Monarchs were simply too good.

It was a little disappointing to see ex Taverners player Scott Welton playing for them after he agreed to sign for us this season. I have no idea what changed his mind. It is players like Scott who we need in our squad so we can leave the players who let us down almost every week out of the selection on a Sunday.

If both teams had full squads available we of coarse could compete. We should have scored in the second half which would have been a deserved consolation. We need players who commit to being there with us on a Sunday. Players who really want to play. We have 53 players signed on. 18 of them are long term out of selection for one reason or another. Leaving us 37 players for this week.

The reality was that between two teams we had just 23 players. So 14 players were not available. 12 of them would have been in one squad or the other. Thank you to the 23 players who did support us today.

I hear players speak on occasions about the success or failure of Taverners. They ask when was the last time we won something. I know we all want to win something. But that just will not happen unless there is a commitment from the full squad for the season.

Maybe what we should do is speak to every player we know commit themselves to the team and say bring me a player with the commitment you have and lets build a team of players who really want to play and really want to compete.

It's ok I've pinched myself now and woke to find that we still have a lot of uncommitted players!

Team: Hart, Davis, Pearson J., Pearson M., Keeble J., Brodie, Hew, Whiting, Keeble C., Herridge, Hollinsworth


#UPTHETAVS

Lack of Fizz on Fireworks Day!.....05/11/2017

We continued to go forward in the second half and equalised with a good header at the far post by Lee Riley from a cross by Craig Risby. Unfortunately, we lost our shape and, as the game moved into its closing stages, our fears were realised when Hardy grabbed a late winner to sum up a poor morning.

Team: Siggers, Spalding, Risby, Burton, Ripper, Tacey, Riley, Jordan, Pilkington, High, Brittain(Bullamore).
Goal: Riley



Reserves

Taverners Res. 2, Suffolk Spartans 7

What about this game of football. Why is it so frustrating? Why is it so cruel? Why is it every time you lose like this there is a player on the opposing team who is quite simply a horrible human being?

Someone who has no clue of how to win a game with dignity. At least the referee saw how bad he actually was and booked him for his constant verbal outbursts.

The game started well and in all honesty we were the better side but we went behind. Our reaction was instant and from the kick off we attacked. Darren Herridge sent a through ball to Callum Andrews leaving him with a one on one with the Spartans keeper, which he put away skilfully. But within minutes we were again behind and by half time we were 3-1 down.

I talked last week about having the right balance in the team. Well this week our balance was better. We were playing better. But we were still losing and losing by some distance according to the score. We went further behind and it got to 5-1 before we began to make some trouble for the Spartans defence.

We pulled one back when Paul Strutt met an in swinging corner to head home. We always seemed to fail on our final pass making it easy for Spartans to gain possession.

We were well beaten. I would not say we deserved this score.

Team: Davis, Pearson J.(Keeble J.), Pearson M., Stevens, Keeble C., Andrews(Holmes), Whiting, Fisk, Burgess, Herridge(Hollinsworth), Strutt.
Goals: Andrews, Strutt

#UPTHETAVS

Halloween Horror Show!.....29/10/2017

Rushmere took the game by the scruff of the neck from the start but the Tavs battled very hard and the teams were only one goal apart until Rushmere scored twice more just before the break. Our difficulties increased when Tom Brooks was forced to withdraw with a knee injury straight after the break and two more goals conceded meant that a really heavy defeat might be on the cards. To everyone’s credit, we continued to fight hard and kept the final score to seven.

We must keep the spirit and hope that a stronger line-up is possible over the weeks ahead.

Team: Siggers, Pearson J., Brooks (Hinds), Burton, Spalding, Whiting, Lambert, Ripper, Tacey, Riley, Pilkington G. .



Reserves

Taverners Res. 0, Ipswich Pythons 3

Happy Christmas Pythons. Love from Taverners Reserves.

That’s about the best description of what happened.

This was 3 points in the bank with our team selection on Friday. Unfortunately with changes having to be made the balance of our team got worse and worse.

I still believed we could do it. We just had to apply ourselves. Unfortunately we did not.

It’s not all about the quality of players you have. The players we had are good enough. It is all about the balance of the 11 you put on the field.

I need Matt Davis in goal. I trust Matt to do everything in his power to guard our goal. I know he feels the pain of conceding a goal. Daren Stevens at the centre of defence. His experience, aggression and aerial ability are essential.

The midfield has to have a strong holding player like Andy Lambert, Oli Whiting or Sean High. All four midfielders have to have stamina like Oli Whiting. We need someone with the ability to create opportunities like Paul Strutt. On his day he is as good as anyone at Taverners. And we need a front runner. Someone who gets at the opposing defence. Over the years we have been blessed with some superb centre forwards. But right now it is something as a whole team we are missing.

We created very little and seldom troubled Pythons.

We need our players to play for the team. All the good results have come from the team being balanced and the players giving their all for the 90 minutes.

We have a great dressing room every week. We need to take that camaraderie onto the field.

I cannot pick a single player who is to blame for this result. However, a few players had very poor games and need to look at themselves very hard to understand that their performances are not progressing. They need to get back to doing the basic things right first. No names are needed. Personal honesty is needed.

Everyone needs to look at themselves and ask what you can do to insure the team does not perform like this again. Here are a few pointers:

Fitness, passing, decision making, keeping possession and concentration.

I know I am guilty of all of these. I am going to start with fitness.

Where will you begin?

Team: Davis, Pearson M., Holmes(Hart), Risby, Keeble C.(Keeble J.), Wessels(Cunningham), Strutt, Fisk, Burgess, Stevens, Hollinsworth.



#UPTHETAVS

Majority of control but only one goal......23/10/2017

Due to the awful East Anglian derby we had to change 8 players from last weeks game. The replacements were very capable. Some of them were returning reserves who had been out for a few weeks. But for some reason it took too long to really play for each other.

We should have buried a team like Feathers.

The strong wind was a factor and gave Feathers a slight advantage in the first half. But the two goals they got were plain and simply from bad marking. They were using the conditions to put us under pressure but without our mistakes they had not threatened.

Unfortunately we did not create anything of note against the wind. We knew we could pressurise them with the wind in our favour but we needed to make a breakthrough early in the second half. We went close but the Feathers keeper was coping with all our crosses. Maybe we were choosing the wrong path to make the breakthrough.

In fact it was an excellent long-range effort from Lee Riley that eventually gave us hope that we could get back on terms and even win the game. Lee hit a volley from a full 35 yards, which, caught the keeper off his line, and although he half caught the ball he was off balance and could not hold onto the shot.

From this point we attacked again and again but Feathers always seemed to get a foot in to thwart the attack. We needed to be more clinical but we also needed that little bit of luck that would open the gates for a good win. By the time Lee had scored we were already running out of time and maybe that had a bearing on our decision making in front of goal.

As Taverners Reserves we will always have to work harder than most of the teams we play against who have an established line up. But I have confidence in our players that we will get some good results this season. We deserved a better result than this but it is up to us to make that happen.

#UPTHETAVS

Team: High, Warner, Stevens, Risby, Burgess, Keeble C.(Cunningham), Jordan, Riley, Strutt, Herridge, Hollinsworth.

Goal: Riley

Time to concentrate on The League!.....15/10/2017

Once Moreton Hall had scored twice, our heads went down although we had one or two promising attacks; our shooting was, however, too long range to trouble the very able visiting goalkeeper. Two more goals before half time effectively put the tie beyond Taverners’ reach but, thankfully, instead of lying down we produced a much better second half which gave us all more heart.

The Tavs pulled one goal back when the tireless Mike Sneddon gained possession from the keeper’s slip and fired home from a difficult angle. We then scored a second when Mikey’s good work played Ryan Sheppard in and he took his chance coolly to make the score 2-4. All of a sudden, Moreton Hall’s lead looked vulnerable and a third Taverners goal would certainly have made the closing stages interesting. However, Moreton Hall remained calm and saw the rest of the game out.

We wish them well as they progress.

Team: Siggers, Keeble C.(Bullamore), Burton, Risby, Pilkington, Tacey, Jordan, Riley, Burgess, Sneddon, Brittain(Sheppard).

Goals: Sheppard, Sneddon.



Reserves - Sunday Trophy

Eriswell Village 5, Taverners Res. 2

Looking at this fixture you can be forgiven for thinking it’s a long trip for a Sunday morning game against opposition we knew nothing about.

Most of the time these fixtures are ones you remember for years to come. The talk as soon as we met was about games played in previous years where we had to travel a distance. Normally our away games do not go outside Ipswich. But a game like this takes you out of your normal comfort zone.

It is more of an event where you can bond as a team. It is even better when you turn up in a small village on a sunny morning with a beautiful village green pitch and a pub just 20 yards away. The changing rooms were pretty basic but this is how it always used to be on a Sunday. So for the older players and me it’s a trip down memory lane and we can pass on stories of yesteryears to the youngsters.

The second mistake you would make is that this was a one sided match where we were outplayed throughout the 90 minutes. Eriswell were a very good side. They should be. They had at least four semi pro players. On paper once they went 2-0 ahead in the first twenty minutes it should have opened the flood gates for goals at will.

Over past seasons that would have been the case. But this season we actually have a belief in our ability as a team to be able to compete. Every player without exception worked hard and we stopped Eriswell in their tracks limiting them to long range efforts which Matt Davis was easily dealing with.

We started to make in roads and were rewarded when Darren Herridge was fouled in the area. Paul Strutt calmly placed the penalty to the keepers left. Eriswell were obviously worried and began conceding free kicks in their own half but their strength in the air meant we did not capitalise.

It is so hard to stand on the sideline when your team mates are battling so hard . But the joy of being the manager means you can affect play. You can direct when you see something that maybe they cannot see on the field. When we were awarded a free kick on the right of the 18 yard box it was close enough to be able to talk about the placement of the kick. Darren Herridge and I decided that Paul Strutt was favourite to get ahead of his defender on the front post. The free kick was placed perfectly and Paul Strutt headed his second goal to bring us level.

Eriswell were visibly shaken. But they pressed and with just seconds of the first half to go they went ahead when the ball took an incredible bad bounce in front of Rob Fisk which took it into the path the oncoming striker to score.

We knew the beginning of the second half would be the turning point and we had to work very hard to maintain our shape. We had to rearrange and make changes when Luke Wessells got injured. But we did and we again held off Eriswell. Their biggest problem as a team was they were relying on their main semi pro striker and we had worked him out with Jared Pearson doing exceptionally well against him.

Eriswell took him off and from that point they played so much better and made it very difficult for us. We had chances at 3-2 but could not make the breakthrough. Matt Davis almost single handed kept us in the game with a string of incredible saves.

Eriswell scored two goals in the last 15 minutes and were deserved winners, but who were the real winners?

Every single Taverners player can be very proud of this game. We left the field elated after Pat Elvin got everyone together to congratulate us on the performance. I looked at the Eriswell team as we walked off the field and there was no elation. The noise in the dressing room was all from our room full of banter and laughter. We all went to the pub for a drink, sat with our mates in the pub garden and not a single Eriswell player was there. So who really won on Sunday morning? Taverners Reserves!!!!

#UPTHETAVS

Team: Davis, Fisk, Wessels(Hollinsworth), Pearson M., Pearson J., Whiting, High, Hew, Jay(Hart), Strutt, Herridge.

Goals: Strutt (2)

Blank Sunday!.....08/10/2017

Tom Brooks and Brandon Burton were at their best but we were rarely able to relieve the pressure and Brantham took the lead following a goalmouth scramble. We continued to battle away and to play some decent football on the break, eventually levelling the scores when Tom Brooks was fouled in the box and the skipper smashed the resulting penalty high into the top corner.

Our best period proved to have been just before half time as the second half saw Brantham enjoy more and more possession and we hardly created any chances at all. Brantham took the lead and then sealed their win in the dying minutes as the Tavs pressed forward.

Team: Siggers, Spalding, Burton, Brooks, Pilkington, C Keeble(Strutt), Jordan, Riley, Tacey, Sneddon, Brittain(Pearson J.).

Goals: Brooks.



Reserves

Taverners Res. 0, Thrasher Utd. 4



When a game goes against you it is frustrating. How can you get things so right and then one Sunday morning it all leaves you for no reason at all. The things you have to deal with during the game. There is nothing worse than a bad winner. A bad loser I fully understand and I respect his passion and feelings. But a bad winner is just someone who takes out all his loses on the rare occasion he cannot be shot down in flames and he takes great pleasure in acting like a complete fool.

The problem I have is that I know all these facts but because we are losing he will always win the war of words. It’s the hardest thing in the world but the best way to deal with these people is to ignore them completely.

I knew in my heart that this game was probably not going to change and we were not going to get back into contention because I have been playing this game longer than any of the other players on the field have been alive.

It is at this time as a team you need one or two men to step up and make a difference. Before the loser mentality can set in you need a few little things to go your way. Some good football and couple of near misses. But we never got any breaks and even if we do not admit it to ourselves the majority of our team on this day did not have the ability to change the outcome.

Over the years we can all name a player who took a game and turned it around. My favourite is David Beckham against Greece. Everyone talks about the free kick, but he made that result happen. Taverners have had a few players who could change a game. Players who never knew when to quit. But today we did not have a player to change this game. Perhaps it was just a little run of bad luck that caused this game to go so wrong.

We totally controlled the first half but came in at half time 2-0 down. We did not deserve it. Thrasher get on top and we gave them room to play.

Our passing was abysmal. Our first touch was atrocious. Our attitude was one of defeat. I actually heard a player say that it did not matter that they scored from a very weak free kick to make it 4-0 as we were already 3-0 down. Of coarse it matters!!!!

The only plus point was the performance of new signing Oli Whiting who was by far our best player on the day.

We have to put this result behind us. It is a great comfort to me that we get another league game against these fools where we can set the record straight.

Next week we start again.

Team: Davis, Keeble J., Risby, Pearson M., Burgess, Whiting, Brodie, Wessels(Holmes), Southgate(Fisk), Collin(Cunningham), Hollinsworth.

#UPTHETAVS

Draws!.....01/10/2017

The Tavs began well – based on a strong defence with Brandon Burton and Duncan Southgate commanding throughout – and, although we survived some scares, we grabbed the lead during the first half when Lee Riley’s well-flighted free kick was headed in at the far post by Wayne Jordan.

Perhaps we were complacent at the break because EEOB scored an equaliser immediately after wards from a low corner.

Undeterred, we continued to play some good football and we regained the lead when Mike Sneddon produced a superb run, beating player after player, before firing into the far corner. Back came EEOB and another low cross proved our undoing for 2-2.

Play went from end to end and, for the Tavs, Lee Riley fired narrowly wide after a great one-two with Mikey while EEOB saw a cross come off the bar.

With ten minutes left, we regained the lead through Jawa Tacey, who unleashed a tremendous shot over the keeper and in.

EEOB put us under great pressure and we looked fortunate to survive a strong penalty appeal. Unfortunately, this was only a brief reprieve as EEOB grabbed a last minute leveller.

Frustrating for Taverners after we had lead three times but probably a fair result overall.

Team: Siggers, Spalding, Burton, Southgate, Pilkington, C Keeble, Jordan, Riley, Tacey, Sneddon, Collin(Ripper).

Goals: Jordan, Sneddon, Tacey.



Reserves

Taverners Res. 0, Elmsett Utd. Res. 0



I do not think we have been involved in a goalless draw for a very long time. This is also the first clean sheet we have kept for a fair number of seasons.

Can we complain about the draw? Do we think we should have won?

The answer is no. A draw was on reflection a fair result.

Elmsett could have and should have sneaked the win in the last minutes of the game but that would have been wrong and they failed to score from close range.

We were the better side and controlled most of the game but we did not create enough in the last third to warrant a goal. We had a few chances but they were half chances. Our real opportunities would have been from completing the final ball into the 18-yard box, which we failed to do.

Even from the 6 set pieces we had we only hit the right ball twice and both times players either did not commit or they were in the wrong positions to take advantage.

It is frustrating when players demand to take set pieces but fail to create anything with the opportunity.

Major plus points from this game. New signings Oli Whiting and Abraham Hew performed very well and I look forward to seeing them get better through the season.

It was good to see the return of Andy Lambert who had a solid game in defensive midfield. Again Daren Stevens was immense at centre half and he will be missed over the next few weeks through work commitments.

The unbeaten run continues and for the first time in many seasons we are truly expecting a good result. It is a good feeling.

Team: Davis, Risby, Stevens, Pearson M., Burgess, Brodie(Hew), Lambert A., Wessels(Hinds), Whiting(Cunningham), Herridge, Hollinsworth.

#UPTHETAVS

Reserves earn draw after letting lead slip!.....24/09/2017

But what am I disappointed with? We had two injuries within the first ten minutes with Scott Brodie and Trevor Hollinsworth having to go off. But we were playing very well and took the lead after Trevor’s through ball found Lee Riley and in turn he found Paul Strutt who went through to score at the near post.

We were in control and after the substitutions we scored again with a cross from the right, which bounced behind Lee Riley, but in some style he performed a superb overhead kick to score.

But then Rosary caused a few problems which we dealt with until a small error saw them pull one back. Again we pushed on. Lee Riley and Wayne Jordan commanding the midfield. Daren Stevens and Matt Pearson very strong at centre half.

At Half time we talked about maintaining the pressure and playing on the fact that the Rosary keeper was not on his best form. We did just that and were rewarded with another two goals. Lee Riley scored when he shot from the corner of the 18 yard box and beat the keeper easily and after some great football on the right through Paul Strutt and Lee Riley Gary Pilkington found himself free and scored from an acute angle.

4-1 in the lead. Game over. All we have to do is to maintain the pressure going forward and keep our shape defensively. Rosary could not break us down playing football through our midfield so they went for the long ball over the top. This proved to be our weak point and every ball seemed to cause us problems. They scored three times in almost identical ways to even the score the last coming just a minute from time.

So obviously it was gut wrenching to see this long ball causing us problems. But we played very well so where is this disappointment coming from?

We had golden chances to go further ahead and we did not convert these.

Should there have been formation changes to combat the long ball game?

Football is a cruel game. At 4-1 in the lead if someone had said to me that Rosary could get back into this game I would have said “Yea and pigs can fly” Well it would seem pigs can fly and that is very disappointing.

Team: Davis, Pearson J.(Keeble J.), Stevens, Pearson M., Risby, Strutt(Hinds), Brodie(High), Jordan, Burgess(Cunningham), Riley, Hollinsworth(Pilkington G.).

Goals: Pilkington G., Riley(2), Stutt.

#UPTHETAVS

Goals Galore As Both Teams Progress In County Cup Competitions!.....18/09/2017

Taverners 8, The Cherry Tree 5



After a week of frantic management activity trying to make sure that we were able to field two full teams, we were delighted that this was finally achieved – helped, of course, by the fact that we were playing on adjoining pitches at Greshams – and that both teams were able to make progress in their respective County Cup competitions.

In fact, the best news was the availability of Mikey Sneddon and what a morning he enjoyed!

Cherrytree opened the scoring but we came back to equalise immediately – the gaffer’s ‘plan b’ seeing Mikey and Jamie Brittain spearheading an attack which led to Mikey firing in. Kai Tunbridge then cut in from the right to shoot home and Jamie Brittain made the score 3-1 from the penalty spot after a defender had handled a cross.

Lee Riley scored from close range and Mikey netted his second – countered by a Cherrytree goal – to make the half-time score 5-2.

Although Cherrytree enjoyed much possession in the early part of the second period we went 6-2 ahead with a great shot from Mikey Sneddon into the far corner to complete a fine hat-trick. Back came our opponents to reduce the arrears but Mikey netted his fourth for 7-3.

Some slapdash defending enabled Cherrytree to give themselves hope with two goals but a ‘goal-fest’ was sealed when a cross from Bevan Burgess and unselfish pass gave Jamie the chance for a final 8-5 scoreline.

Mikey’s four-goal haul was the first time a Taverners 1st teamer had scored four in a game since Tom Brooks achieved it in the 2002/03 season against Ipswich Hospitals; great stuff, Mikey!

Team: Siggers, Keeble C., Burton, Spalding, Burgess, Tunbridge, Jordan, Riley, Pilkington G., Sneddon, Brittain(Keeble J.).
Goals: Brittain(2), Riley, Sneddon(4), Tunbridge



Reserves

Suffolk FA Sunday Trophy

Taverners Res. 5, Ipswich Pythons 3



We had to make a lot of changes this week due to injuries and unavailable players. Luckily for us a few older heads agreed to step in to make up the team. So with an team average age of 41 the balance of the team looked very good.

Players stepped up to insure we continued our good form. Daren Stevens, Rob Fisk, Scott Brodie and Tim Smith played very well. Three players, Julian Holmes, James Bullamore and Sean High were playing their first game this year and they did not let us down.

The score makes the game look closer than it really was. Phythons should not have been in the game at all. They were gifted two goals from very poor decisions. Strangely both were throw ins which were inexplicably not awarded.

However we were head and shoulders above them as a team so no matter what went against us we played through it. We got off to a great start with goals from Tim Smith who was a constant thorn in the side of the opposition defence and the once a year "worldy " from Rob Fisk when the ball ran loose 25 yards out and Rob struck an unbeatable shot into the top left hand corner.

Phythons did not cause any problems until they were awarded a penalty which they scored. This changed the game for ten minutes and they got back to 2-2 with a headed goal from a corner. We knew all we had to do was to get back on our game and this we did when Darren Herridge dribbled the ball into the box where he beat three players and then slotted the ball home.

Tim Smith added another before half time when he was put through on the right and beat the on coming keeper with a delicate chip.

The second half was much of the same with us controlling play. We had many chances to add to the score but all were close but not converted.

Tim Smith completed his hat trick with a goal mid way through the half after what has become known as a "locksmith" pass from James Bullamore. Tim has now left to go to university and we wish him every success. Phython scored again but the win was never in doubt and we continue our unbeaten run.

Team: Davis, Bullamore, Stevens, Holmes, Pearson J., Fisk, Brodie, High, Herridge, Smith, Hollinsworth(Cunningham).
Goals: Fisk, Herridge, Smith(3)

#UPTHETAVS

First Team Falter Whilst Reserves Rejoice!.....10/09/2017

However, Rushmere are a good young side who are unlikely to lose many games this season.

We rode our luck early on but then came closest to opening the scoring when Jamie Brittain saw his shot tipped over and Tom Brooks hit the bar with a header from Lee Riley’s corner.

A mistake gave Rushmere the chance for the lead but we broke straight back and Mikey Sneddon’s persistence saw him regain possession before firing hard and low past the keeper.

The second half began badly for the Tavs with Rushmere scoring twice but we came back and reduced the arrears when Gary Pilkington headed in following Brooksy heading across goal and towards the far corner. We looked as if we might pull things round but more mistakes gave Rushmere the opportunity to reach 6-2 by the end.

Team: Burton, Spalding, Brooks, Risby, Pilkington(Burgess), Sheppard, Jordan, Riley, Tacey, Sneddon, Brittain(Tunbridge).
Goals: Pilkington, Sneddon.



Reserves

Taverners Res. 4, Northam Celtic 1



I suppose this report could be a little predictable. I could look at the game and tell you how great we were. How well we played. Yes it is true we played very well in all departments. But it was not a shock to me. We have been saying from the start of the season that we are very capable of competing in this league.

Every team in this league apart from Monarchs are on a level par with us. Until Sunday we had not got it right. Maybe due to availability players were not in their right positions. Maybe our confidence was not right. We already know our fitness has been an issue. On Sunday we got it right.

Northam Celtic are bottom of the league but just like us they have decent players and should gain results if they get it right on the day. The hardest part now is to take this result and continue to improve.

We lost a few players prior to the game to the 1st team due to injuries and unavailable players but we reorganised. In some respects it gave me the chance to play some players in a new role, which proved beneficial. Jared Pearson at full back did very well.

We needed more grit in midfield so adding Luke Wessels and partnering him with Scott Brodie gave us an advantage.

From this week we will lose all the university guys as they disperse to all over England and the world. We wish them well and hope they will return to us whenever they are home.

One of these guys got us on the road to this result early on. Josh Collin picked out Tim Smith with a perfect through ball leaving Tim with a one on one with the keeper, which he dealt with perfectly beating the keeper to his left.

The score stayed this way through to half time. Celtic did get back into the game and this last ten minutes of the first half were a little worrying.

We needed another goal to make the game safer and this was gifted to us early in the second half when the Celtic keeper under no pressure dropped the ball at the feet of Tim Smith who easily stabbed the ball home.

Celtic to their credit did not give up. Great performances from Darren Herridge, Scott Brodie and Callum Andrews in midfield insured we kept control.

We then experienced a completely confusing decision when Matt Davis saved well pushing the ball onto the cross bar. The ball dropped beside him and he gathered the ball. A few Celtic players called for a goal saying the ball bounced over the goal line which it obviously did not. However the referee gave the goal even though he was some thirty yards behind the play.

This could have dented our confidence but instead we pushed on. We went further ahead from a free kick 25 yards out taken by Luke Wessels. Luke beat the wall to score into the top right hand corner of the goal.

We now had total control and added fresh legs to maintain the score line and deservedly went further ahead when from a corner the ball dropped 8 yards out to be met by Chris Henry who shot on the half volley to score.

We need to take this form forward. With so many players away this week it is going to be a challenge but we have the strength in our squad.

Team: Davis, Pearson J., Stevens, Pearson M., Keeble J.(Hosking), Smith(Hollinsworth, Brodie(Henry), Wessels(Fisk), Herridge, Andrews, Collin.
Goals: Henry, Smith(2), Wessels

Encouraging Start for First Team.....03/09/2017

Over at Gainsborough, our reserves were soundly beaten but they had been weakened by two players being called up for the first team at short notice. And all three who came into the first team did very well.

Back at Greshams, we began with some fine attacks – good combination play and strong runs; Jawa Tacey produced several bursts foward with crosses which flew dangerously close to the visitors’ goal.

We took the lead when Lee Riley (great to see him back in a Taverners shirt) played Mikey Sneddon in and the striker took the ball round the keeper to score. A muddle at the back enabled Laxfield to equalise but we quickly regained the advantage when Lee found the raiding Gary Pilkington who swept the ball home.

Mikey took everyone by surprise – particularly the Laxfield keeper – when he fired a free-kick direct into the net from long range with a cross being anticipated. Our opponents weren’t finished and slack marking enabled another well-taken goal to bring them back into contention.

We regained our two goal lead when the tireless Wayne Jordan robbed a defender and strode through to chip the keeper for 4-2.

The next goal was clearly going to be vital and a goalmouth scramble led to Jamie Brittain firing home for our fifth.

A great game and a solid display by all 12 Taverners players to give the side a confidence-boosting start to the season.

Team: Burton, Spalding, Brooks, Risby, Pilkington, Keeble C.(Sub: Wessels), Jordan, Riley, Tacey, Sneddon, Brittain.
Goals: Brittain, Jordan, Pilkington, Sneddon(2)



Reserves

Rushmere & Diamonds Res. 6, Taverners Res. 0



The only blame lies with ourselves. Yes we had late call offs, which affected the team, but we still had a team of players who should have been able to compete with opposition like this.

We play with what we have available and I am happy with that. The players we had on the field are good enough on their day. Unfortunately today was just not that day for some of them.

Just last week we competed with a team who will win the league at a stroll but today we let a mid table side have enough time and space to look good. We fed them with confidence.

Players of note were Matt Davis in goal. Scott Brodie put in a lot of excellent work. In the second half Josh Collin was excellent.

The biggest problem is without doubt fitness. I am more guilty of this than anyone. Solution? Training. Most of our players are young enough to have some natural fitness but this will not get you through 90 minutes. Even when I had natural fitness I still trained 3 times a week and played 3 times a week. Fitness gives you time on the ball. Your speed of thought improves and making the right decision at the right time became second nature.

So if you are depressed as I am about the way I was on the pitch today then you have to look at yourself and do something about it or accept the fact that other younger and fitter players will take your place in the starting line up. The only plus from today is that we did create a few more chances than we have in previous weeks. Paul Strutt went close and Calum Andrews should have probably scored when set through on his own. Matt Pearson did score but was flagged offside which, to be honest was a bad decision but something we deal with every week when opposing linesmen do not play by the rules.

We all want to do something to change the game but as frustration sets in our decisions on the ball become worse. We could have scored twice in the first half when better-placed players were not used.

Three games into the season and we are bottom with a -14 goal difference.

The solution is with you.

Team: Davis, Pearson M., Stevens, Burgess, Bloomfield(Keeble J.), Hosking(Andrews), Brodie, Strutt, Pearson J., Hollinsworth, Collin.

Same Ol' Same Ol'.....27/08/2017

To be very honest, I respect the fact that they were better than us in the second half. My respect fades when I realise that they actually believe they have the right to be in the bottom division and the league title is already a forgone conclusion. They did not even respect the fact that our home kit is red. If they have a 2nd kit they probably complain about wearing it because it is so bad. So they turned up in red. Obviously it was so important to them to keep a clean sheet that they cheated offside decisions to insure we did not break through.

These teams pop up and disappear every year because they do not set out as we do at Taverners. We have survived in the Sunday league with two teams for many years now because we give opportunity to players and we build from within rather than manufacturing one team to spend a few seasons sweeping passed the lower divisions collecting silverware as they go. When they meet their level suddenly their players find it harder to get up on a Sunday.

Would they survive 50 years in the league as we have done? The answer is very obvious.

We talked about our game plan and in the first half we did everything correctly. They had opportunities but we worked well and they did not benefit from these. They spent most of the first half complaining about offside decisions, which were 100% correct every time. We still have a few players yet to reach good match fitness we also have a few players who need time to get used to playing in an adult league. This proved to be our downfall in the second half. We had to make a few changes and the fitness levels started to show. We would clear an attack but we never picked up the second ball in midfield and so invited another attack.

It was great to see younger players like Tim Smith, Callum Andrews and Josh Collin on the field. They will learn a lot from these games and they are most definitely players for the future. Very good performances from Matt Davis and Lee Riley. Once Monarchs scored their first we started to drag our heels a bit and the result was sealed.

Hopefully apart from the return match we are now clear of the glory boys and we can enjoy the other games against teams on our level.

Team: Davis, Keeble.C(Hart), Stevens, Southgate, Pilkington, Smith, Riley, Strutt(Hollinsworth), Pearson M., Andrews, Collin(Keeble.J).

Reserves start with battling defeat.....20/08/2017

Without changing formation, we came into the game and several chances went astray. And then we produced two goals from Lee Riley – on his return to the Club – to bring the Tavs level at 2-2 before the break. The first was a good shot across the keeper from a tight angle and the second a chip over the advancing Spartans keeper.

Half-time came at just the wrong moment and disrupted our improved display. Spartans quickly got on top after the break and a superb shot, from some distance, gave them the lead again. They scored a fourth to secure an opening win.

Before the match Ray Sherman was presented with an award to mark his 200th appearance for Taverners; well done, Ray.

Team: Hart, Keeble.C(Collin), Risby, Pearson M., Pilkington.G(Fisk), Herridge(Henry), Southgate(Strutt), Brodie(Keeble.J), Sherman, Riley, Stevens
Goals: Riley(2)

Season 2017/18 Fixtures!

		First Team				Reserves

Aug  6					Friendly no.1			
    13         				Friendly no.2					
    20  			                        Suffolk Spartans          A 4-2
    27							FC Monarchs	          H 0-6
		
Sep  3		Laxfield Utd.  (WL)		  H 5-2 Rushmere & Diamonds Res.  A 6-0
    10		Rushmere Lions (WL)		  A 6-2 Northam Celtic            H 4-1
    17		Cherry Tree    (SS1)		  H 8-5	Ipswich Pythons (ST1)     H 5-3
    24							Rosary CC Res.		  A 4-4
 
Oct  1		Eastern Elec. Old Boys FC (WL)    A 3-3 Elmsett Utd. Res.         H 0-0
     8		Brantham Ath.  (WL)               A 3-1 Thrasher Utd.             H 0-4			
    15		Moreton Hall Yth FC Ferals(SS2)   H 2-4 Eriswell Village FC (ST2) A 5-2
    22						        The Feathers FC Res.      A 2-1
    29		Rushmere Lions (WL)               H 0-7	Ipswich Pythons FC        H 0-3			

Nov  5		Hardy FC       (WL)               A 2-1 Suffolk Spartans          H 2-7 
    12						
    19          Eastern Elec. Old Boys FC (WL)    H 1-8 FC Monarchs               A 6-0
    26	        Greshams  (Sen. Cup Pre.)         H 3-4
	
Dec  3		Brantham Ath.  (WL)               H 1-7 Rushmere & Diamonds Res.  H 0-4
    10		Hardy FC       (WL)	          H P-P					
    17	        Hardy FC       (WL)	          H P-P				        
    24
    31          Laxfield Utd.  (WL)		  A 3-2

Jan  7		Hardy FC       (WL)	          H 7-1	Northam Celtic FC.        A 2-1
    14          S/C 1					Real Orford (J/C 1)	  A 10-5   
    21		The Feathers        (SL)          A 1-1	Rosary CC Res.            H P-P
    28		Hardy FC            (SL)    	  A 4-6	Elmsett Utd Res.          A 8-0	

Feb  4		Bramford Cock       (SL)          H 5-1 Thrasher Utd.             A 3-4
    11		S/C 2					Rosary Res.               H P-P	    
    18		
    25		Martlesham Old Boys (SL)   	  H 3-3	The Feathers FC. Res.     H 1-1

Mar  4		The Feathers        (SL)          H P-P	Rosary Res.		  H P-P			
    11							Ipswich Pythons		  A 2-7
    18		Bramford Cock       (SL)          A P-P	Rosary Res.		  H P-P
    25		Greshams            (SL)          A 5-2	Rosary Res.		  H 0-8

Apr  1          Feathers	    (SL)          H P-P	
     8		Martlesham Old Boys (SL)          A 1-1
    15		Greshams            (SL)          H 0-2
    22		Hardy FC            (SL)          H 4-0
    29		Bramford Cock       (SL)          A 3-1

May  6		Feathers	    (SL)          H 2-2

		WL=Winter League
		SL=Spring League