Braintree Town V Rochdale | 05.05.2025 | Cressing Road Stadium | Vanarama National League 46/46 |

LISBIE FIRES IRON TO SAFETY

Braintree Town secured their Vanarama National League status with a brilliant all round team performance in a 2-0 home win over top 4 side Rochdale. 

Rochdale, who have already confirmed their fourth place finish in the play-offs found Bird with a left wing clipped cross in the fourth minute but looped his header just over via the top of the crossbar. 

The Iron meanwhile went into the game knowing that they were effectively safe unless a 12 goal swing between them and Wealdstone occured. 

Dale went close in the 10th minute, Ryan East's right wing corner was met by captain Ethan Ebanks-Landell at the near post but glanced his free header just wide of the far post. 

Alan Judge however skewed a powerful low strike wide of the bottom left-hand corner for the hosts in the 16th minute, before Rochdale keeper Barrett was well placed at his near post to block Lisbie's close range near post shot behind on 25 minutes, with the resulting corner deflected over onto the roof of the net for another set-piece. 

The Iron went close again three minutes later, the third of the successive corners from Chay Cooper saw his right wing delivery headed goal-wards by the hosts before Aidan Francis-Clarke looped a dangerous header towards goal that was headed off the line. 

Braintree created another good chance on the 40th minute, Lisbie drove through space before breaking into the penalty area where the ball broke for Matt Robinson whose shot went well wide of the top left-hand corner. 

Just as the clock struck 45, Kyrell Lisbie latched onto a dangerous squared ball from Ryan Clampin to poke the ball home from point blank range at the second attempt to break the deadlock for the hosts. 

Around a minute after the restart, Tom Blackwell saw a close range shot crucially blocked after a great left wing cutback. 

A few minutes later, Rochdale saw strong appeals for a penalty dismissed for a corner, before Chay Cooper fired over from 30-yards out. 

Kyrell Lisbie doubled his and the Iron's lead on 55 minutes, rubber stamping their survival in the process, after exploiting space to latch onto Chay Cooper's great defence splitting pass clear on goal to sit the keeper down and find the bottom left-hand corner. 

With 71 minutes on the clock, Chay Cooper raced down the right wing before picking out Louie Annesley 12 yards from goal whose towering bullet header was well held by visiting keeper Barrett.

At the other end, Rochdale whipped a dangerous left wing free-kick narrowly over the top far corner on 81 minutes, while Cooper curled a shot over as Braintree finished the season on a high. 

Braintree Town:- 13 Henry Gray, 20 Aidan Francis-Clarke, 4 George Langston (c), 12 Jamal Fyfield, 3 Ryan Clampin (82' Amartey), 5 Louie Annesley, 18 Matt Robinson, 11 Chay Cooper, 10 Alan Judge (90+1' McPherson), 16 Kyrell Lisbie (74' Pinnington), 7 Tom Blackwell. Subs: 1 Philip Haxthausen-Nielsen, 21 Jacob Pinnington, 23 Cameron McPherson, 24 Francis Amartey. 

Rochdale:- 1 Killian Barrett, 4 Ryan East (61' Weston), 6 Ethan Ebanks-Landell (c), 10 Devante Rodney (61' Barlow), 11 Michael Adu-Poku, 24 Corey Edwards, 27 Ryan Bird (61' Mitchell), 28 Jack Kingdon, 30 Jili Buyabu, 33 Sam Beckwith (HT' Logan), 40 Ian Henderson (61' Allarakhia). Subs: 3 Finlay Armstrong, 7 Tarryn Allarakhia, 9 Kairo Mitchell, 16 Kyle Ferguson, 18 Aidan Barlow, 26 Liam Hogan, 31 Charlie Weston. 

Goals: Kyrell Lisbie (45', 55'). 

Att: 1427. 

My MOTM: Kyrell Lisbie. 

Cambridge United v Birmingham City | 03.05.2025 | Cledara Abbey Stadium | Sky Bet EFL League One Match 46/46

Birmingham City achieved a EFL record 111 points, only losing three matches enroute to the Sky Bet EFL League One title with a 2-1 victory at Cambridge United. 

Cambridge however had the first shot on goal after 20 seconds, Elias Kachunga was released free down the left-hand side only for Ryan Allsop to smother the shot away well at his near post. 

The U's then fired a low shot just wide of the bottom far corner from just outside the box in the second minute as James Gibbons' fourth minute dangerous low cutback just cleared by the Champions as the relegated U's started on the front foot. 

While James Brophy half-volleyed a fierce shot just wide of the bottom left-hand corner in the fifth minute, the Champions looked to get a foothold in the game but struggled to create anything of note in the opening ten minutes.

City did however whip a decent left wing cross into the box but it was comfortably held by goalkeeper Nathan Bishop. 

Ethan Laird looked to latch onto a dangerous ball over the top down the right-hand side but Kelland Watts intercepted it well to shut the door on the former Manchester United youngster on the 12th minute. 

Willum Willumsson looked to break through into the area a minute later, but Bishop read the situation well to intercept and claim possession. 

Ryan Allsop meanwhile was alert to swat away Sullay Kaikai's 13th minute dangerous left wing corner, which was creeping underneath his crossbar as the hosts continued to dominate the early proceedings. 

Great play from the home side saw Brophy feed Kachunga, who in turn fed Kaikai into plenty of space to square an inviting ball across the penalty area in the 18th minute but the Champions turned it behind for a corner.

That corner resulted in a second, from which Kachunga's low far post effort went agonisingly wide into the side-netting a minute later. 

Watts' 20th minute pinpoint long ball found Brophy down the left wing, whose cross was headed into an area for the winger to latch onto the loose ball albeit his shot went wide of the top far corner. 

The Champions though broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when skipper Christoph Klarer, after a quick one-two with Ethan Laird, wrapped a cross-shot in off the far, left-hand, post into the top corner, rather against the run of play - which is often the style of Champions.

Cambridge continued to stay in the game and deservedly equalised on 37 minutes, Liam Bennett's brilliant ball over the top threaded Ryan Lacey clear on goal down the right-hand side to volley home into the bottom far corner, via the inside of the post. 

Luke Harris on the other hand missed a golden opportunity to restore the Champions' lead on 41 minutes, sidefooting Laird's dangerous low cross just wide of the bottom far, left-hand, corner from close range. 

The hosts started the second half like the first, as Kachunga slipped Kaikai in onto the left-hand side whose shot was well smothered and held by Allsop at point blank range after 47 minutes. 

Taylor Gardner-Hickman meanwhile saw his shot well blocked by U's captain Michael Morrison in the 50th minute, before Bishop was alert to claim a left wing cross into the danger area five minutes later. 

Elias Kachunga however received a controversial second yellow card in the 68th minute having appeared to have won the ball fairly before being penalised for seemingly catching Myung-Jae. 

The visitors meanwhile curled a shot narrowly wide of the far post on 72 minutes, as the two sides continued to battle out an even contest. 

Despite the man disadvantage, the U's continued to look dangerous in attack as Dom Ballard, after some neat passing play, picked out Brophy in the centre with a clever low ball but his near post shot from point blank range was well saved by Allsop on 74 minutes.

Keshi Anderson's clipped cross in from the left-hand byline was headed narrowly wide by Lukas Jutkiewicz at the far post on 80 minutes, as both sides looked set to get an arguably well deserved point apiece despite the visitors controlling a lot of the possession. 

The Blues however netted their 84th league goal of the season two minutes later, Marc Leonard's corner was crossed back in by Myung-Jae was inadvertently turned into his own net by Kelland Watts. 

An excellent 90th minute save from Bishop denied a shot from distance, before Marc Leonard rattled the face of the bar with a left wing set-piece in the first of four additional minutes.

Despite not much ultimately between the two sides, in terms of clear cut chances, Champions Birmingham returned home with all three points, though relegated Cambridge have plenty of positives as they look ahead to a rebuild over the summer.

Cambridge United:- (4-2-3-1) 13 Nathan Bishop, 2 Liam Bennett (88' Bennett), 5 Michael Morrison (c), 6 Kelland Watts, 26 James Gibbons, 4 Paul Digby, 28 Ben Stevenson, 11 Sullay Kaikai (88' Loft), 10 Elias Kachunga, 7 James Brophy, 19 Ryan Lavery (HT' Ballard). Subs: 31 Louis Chadwick (GK), 3 Danny Andrew, 29 Dom Ballard, 38 George Hoddle, 18 Ryan Loft, 15 J Okedina, 22 Josh Stokes.

Birmingham City:- (4-2-3-1) 21 Ryan Allsop, 2 Ethan Laird (59' Anderson), 4 Christoph Klarer (c), 31 Grant Hanley (64' Bielik), 16 Lee Myung-Jae, 12 Marc Leonard, 13 Paik Seung-Ho (HT' Iwata), 18 Willum Willumsson (HT' Dowell), 28 Jay Stansfield, 18 Taylor Gardner-Hickman, 26 Luke Harris (72' Jutkiewicz). Subs: 45 Bailey Peacock-Farrell, 6 Krystian Bielik, 24 Tomoki Iwata, 30 Kieran Dowell, 14 Keshi Anderson, 10 Lukas Jutkiewicz, 9 Alfie May

Booked: Kachunga (34', 68'), Taylor Gardner-Hickman (75'), Watts (77'), Stokes (89').

Goals: Ryan Lavery (37'); Christoph Klarer (25'), Kelland Watts (82'og).

Assists: Ethan Laird (25'), Liam Bennett (37').

Att 6764 ( BC)

Needham Market U18 v AFC Sudbury U18 | 07.05.2025 | Jobserve Community Stadium United Way Colchester United | Veo Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup Final |

Needham Market Under-18s made club history as the first group to win the Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup since the competition split from the Sunday version.

The club had previously won the joint competition a decade ago, with the young Marketmen this time around denying Sudbury from reclaiming the cup that they'd won for five consecutive seasons prior to last season.

Sudbury broke the deadlock in the fourth minute, a low cross from the left-hand side found Sam Cox at the far post to tap home from point blank range.

Ten minutes later, Needham went agonisingly close to an equaliser, Harlyn Palmer won possession brilliantly down the right wing before burning his man for pace as he raced through to square an inviting ball across the danger area, just evading Evan Gledhill but for Luca Savill to sidefoot his shot agonisingly just over the crossbar. 

Needham controlled the majority of the possession for the opening twenty minutes, with Evan Gledhill spotting the keeper off his line from 35-yards out but saw his lobbed attempt held by the keeper. 

Nine minutes later, against the run of play Sudbury latched onto a left wing free-kick at the near post but saw the shot beaten away well by Charlie Skinner but did score from the resulting corner from the half-hour mark as Stan Richardson headed home at point blank range.

Two minutes later, the young Marketmen deservedly halved the deficit straight away as a left wing free-kick fell to Kellen Fiddy on the right-hand edge of the box whose ferocious low volley back across goal cannoned off the base of the post, falling to James Coton quickest to react and sidefoot home into the roof of the net. 

Charlie Smy then blocked a midfielder's shot from just inside the box on 43 minutes, though the resulting free-kick was deflected onto the roof of the net for a corner which Charlie Skinner commanded his box well to punch away at his near post as the rebound shot was fired comfortably over a minute later.

Needham started the second half like the first, controling possession as Kellen Fiddy's low shot was deflected straight at the 'keeper on 49 minutes, while Sudbury saw a close range tame back-heel collected by Skinner.

A crucial goal-saving slide tackle from Bailey Burrowes in the 53rd minute prevented a shot from point blank range, before Filip Zadlo skewed a low shot on the turn agonisingly wide of the near post moments later.

Olly Reynolds was adjudged to have given away a foul as he headed agonisingly over at close range on 55 minutes, as Evan Gledhill fired a fierce first time low shot strike at the goalkeeper from Coton's lay off on 59 minutes.

The Reds equalised a minute later, James Coton released substitute Filip Zadlo free down the left-hand side to cooly skin his defender and smash home into the bottom near corner.

Sudbury curled a shot just over from outside the box on 69 minutes, though Needham took the lead in sensational style on 72 minutes.

Evan Gledhill punished a handball from 30-yards out sumptuously curling the resulting free-kick into the top near, right-hand corner, while Charlie Skinner firmly parried a shot away diving across to his right-hand side a minute later. 

Sudbury hit the resulting corner over, as Filip Zadlo latched onto a great through-ball to drive into space only to see his shot dip onto the face of the crossbar on 82 minutes.

A minute later, Sudbury won a penalty which Richardson smashed home into the bottom right-hand corner. 

Sudbury then hit a tame shot from outside the box straight at Skinner on 92 minutes, as the match went to a penalty shootout.

Sudbury took first as goalscorer Richardson fired the opening spot-kick low down the middle, while Needham goalscorer Filip Zadlo saw his initial spot-kick saved by the keeper, low to his left-hand side, while the retake - after the stopper crept off his line - was also denied to give Sudbury an early advantage.

Sudbury doubled their lead, finding the bottom left-hand corner, while Charlie Smy kept Needham in the contest - placing a well taken penalty into the top left-hand corner.

Sudbury then found the bottom right-hand corner, while Brad Smith oozed confidence, smashing home into the top left-hand corner, sending the keeper the opposite way in the process to make it 3-2 to Sudbury after 3 kicks each. 

Sudbury then found the bottom left-hand corner, while James Coton forced the shootout to a fifth round - sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to smash home into the bottom left-hand corner. 

Sudbury though smashed their potential match winning penalty well wide of the bottom left-hand corner, with Evan Gledhill cooly smashing home into the bottom left-hand corner to level the scores at 4-4. 

Sudbury then fired their sixth penalty into the top left-hand corner, with Kellen Fiddy beating the keeper for power, finding the bottom right-hand corner for 5-5.

Charlie Skinner, who notably saved three penalties in the semi-final shootout, repeated his heroics to dive across to his right-hand side and brilliantly tip the effort over.

Olly Bowman though saw his penalty smothered away by the keeper, albeit Sudbury dragged their low penalty wide to once again give Needham match point.

Luca Savill proved to be unfazed as he wrapped the winning penalty home into the top right-hand corner to win the Cup 6-5 on penalties.

Needham:- 1 Charlie Skinner, 2 Brad Smith, 3 Tyler Wright (58' Bowman), 4 Bailey Burrowes (90'+4' Savill), 5 Oliver Reynolds (c), 6 Charlie Smy, 7 Harlyn Palmer (83' Hopkins), 8 Kellen Fiddy, 9 Evan Gledhill, 10 James Coton, 14 Luca Savill (HT' Zadlo). Subs: 11 Filip Zadlo, 15 Harry Hopkins, 16 Josh Tennial, 17 Olly Bowman, GK Jake Bloom. 

Goals: James Coton (32'), Filip Zadlo (60'), Evan Gledhill (72'); Sam Cox (4'), Stan Richardson (30', 85'pen).

Pens:- 

Sudbury (5):- ✔️✔️✔️✖️✔️✖️: Richardson, ?, No.7, No.16, No.3, No.8, No.4, No.29. 

Needham (6):- ✖️✔️✔️✔️✔️✖️✔️✔️: Filip Zadlo, Charlie Smy, Brad Smith, James Coton, Evan Gledhill, Kellen Fiddy, Olly Bowman, Luca Savill.