Kirby Athletic 1st Team Results

Kirby Athletic 0 v 2 Colne Engaine & Bell United

Earls Colne 1 v 0 Kirby Athletic

Kirby Athletic 2 v 3 Tiptree Jobserve

Mersea Island 0 v 0 Kirby Athletic

Kirby Athletic 0 v 2 Foxash Social

Kirby Athletic 2 v 0 Gosfield United

Two second half goals from top scorer Matt Bryant secured a comfortable win for Kirby Athletic against Gosfield. James Farren came closest to opening the scoring in the first half with a looping header that was well saved by the Gosfield 'keeper. Farren then had an even better chance when Steve Bond teed him up but his shot was cleared off the line. Kirby regularly exposed the Gosfield defence, particularly down both flanks, but couldn't turn their dominance into goals. On the few occasions when Gosfield mounted an attack, they couldn't get past stand-in centre half Jake Bettany and the experienced Adam Robinson. The second half started as the first had ended, with Kirby on the attack. They deservedly took the lead after 50 minutes with a fine solo effort from Matt Bryant. He won the ball just outside the penalty area and danced past three defenders before planting a right foot shot into the bottom corner of the net. Kirby continued to press forward with Jimmy Overill and Bond dominating the wide areas and Farren cleverly linking the midfield and attack. The pressure was finally rewarded after 65 minutes when Bryant grabbed his eleventh goal of the season. Overill's free-kick was deflected by the Gosfield wall and Bryant was first to react, smashing the loose ball into the roof of the net. Kirby were unlucky not to increase their lead as they continued to create chances. Bryant had two good penalty appeals turned down and Tommy Dean went close with a powerful drive from the edge of the box

Kirby Athletic 4 v 2 Earls Colne

Boxted Lodgers 3 v 2 Kirby Athletic

Kirby failed to turn their dominance into goals and allowed three points to slip through their hands. Tommy Dean gave Kirby an early lead after eight minutes when his left footed shot from the edge of the box was helped into the net by the Boxted 'keeper. Kirby then played some of their best football of the season with Steve Bond and Matt Bryant linking well with Tim Flaherty down both flanks. Full-backs Simon O'Donnell and Dan Campbell also caused the Boxted defence problems with their over-lapping runs to get on the end of Jake Bettany's clever passes. With half-time approaching, Boxted broke down the right and a cross to the far post finished well by their left winger. Within five minutes of the restart Boxted took the lead with a similar goal. The stunned Kirby players picked themselves up and went on the attack. Dean broke clear twice but couldn't beat the 'keeper. Dean and Matt Bryant both went close with headers as did Mikey Lewis who saw his goal-bound effort tipped over the bar. Another header, this time from Glenn Wiggett, was cleared off the line and Boxted quickly turned defence into attack. A long ball deep into the Kirby half found their striker and his shot from twenty yards made it 3-1. With fifteen minutes remaining, Bryant won the ball in midfield and hit a shot from twenty-five yards that gave the 'keeper no chance. Kirby pressed for an equaliser but Boxted held on to win the game

Kirby Athletic 2 v 0 Bradfield Rovers

Kirby moved up to fourth place in the league with an impressive victory over Bradfield Rovers. Kirby took an early lead when Jake Bettany's cross-field ball found Dan Campbell on the right. Campbell then picked out Matt Bryant who beat the full-back and pulled the ball back to Tim Flaherty on the edge of the penalty area. Flaherty's left foot shot found the top corner for his first goal for the club. Kirby continued to attack with full-backs Campbell and Simon O'Donnell pushing forward, causing the Bradfield defence plenty of problems. O'Donnell had a great chance to score but his shot from ten yards lacked the power to trouble Ashley Gray in the Bradfield goal. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Kirby on the attack and centre halves Adam Robinson and Glenn Wiggett and 'keeper Sam Quinn enjoying a relatively quiet game for a change. Steve Bond impressed again with his strong running and Bettany bossed the midfield, setting up a number of attacks with his clever passes. Despite their dominance, Kirby wasted a number of opportunities to finish the game off. With five minutes left, Matt Bryant finally ensured all three points were Kirby's when he cut in from the right and hit a powerful drive that beat Gray at the near post.

Kirby Athletic 1 v 2 Maldon St. Marys

Maldon St. Marys continued their impressive start to the season win a 2-1 defeat of Kirby Athletic. Kirby were aiming to make it three wins out of three but found the quality of Maldon too much. Kirby were missing key man Mikey Lewis in the middle of midfield forcing the inform winger Matt Bryant to play in a more central position. Bryant could have put the home side ahead after 12 minutes after rounding the keeper but the angle proved to be too tight.  Weather conditions made it difficult for both teams to get the ball down and start playing but Maldon showed their quality early on and were managing to play the better football of the sides, carving some good chances for themselves. Kirby Keeper Sam Quinn made a great save to keep the score at 0-0 but was powerless to stop Maldon from taking the lead after 25 minutes.  Some sloppy defending again from Kirby saw the home side 2-0 down 8 minutes later.  Kirby came out for the second half with a more attacking mentality and began to increase the pressure on Maldon. Their perseverance paid off 15 minutes into the half with Steven Bond pouncing from close range after a fumbled cross. With the score at 2-1 both teams continued to attack but Maldon’s defence proved too strong and the side held out to take a well earned three points away from home.

Match Report by Sam O’Donnell.

Kirby Athletic 2 v 0 Coggeshall Town

Having conceded nine goals in their last two games, Kirby kept a cleaned sheet to record a well-earned victory over Coggeshall. Kirby took the lead after ten minutes when former Kirby skipper, Sam White slipped over trying to cut out James Farren's through ball. Tommy Dean raced clear and found Steve Bond who scored his first goal for the club with a calm finish from just inside the area. Kirby almost doubled their lead a few minutes later when Jake Bettany was unlucky not to get on end of Farren's cross from the left. As the half progressed, Coggeshall dominated possession and were unlucky not to equalise when a shot hit the post and the ball rolled along the goal line before Simon O'Donnell managed to clear. Kirby had to soak up a lot of pressure at the start of the second half and a combination of saves from Sam Quinn, tackles from centre-halves Adam Robinson and Glenn Wiggett and poor finishing from the Coggeshall strikers kept the score at 1-0. Kirby then had opportunities to secure the points when Dean's clever lob from outside the area beat the 'keeper, bounced inside the six-yard box but went over the bar. New signing Tim Flaherty then pounced on a loose ball but his shot hit the post. In the last minute, a quick free kick from Robinson found Matt Bryant down the right and his cross beat everyone, hit the far post and went in.

Rayne 4 v 6 Kirby Athletic

Kirby looked to be suffering a hangover from last week's defeat at Tiptree when some more sloppy defending saw Rayne take a two goal lead after half an hour. Both goals were from free headers that caught the Kirby defence flat-footed. With half time approaching Kirby finally woke up and started to put the Rayne defence under pressure. Skipper Mikey Lewis started the comeback with a scrambled effort from inside the six-yard box before a James Farren cross from the left was met by Tommy Dean who side-footed the equaliser. After the break Kirby took control of the game and romped into a 5 - 2 lead with three more goals from Tommy Dean. Steve Bond and James Farren provided the assists for two of them and Dean then capped a great performance when he thumped in his fourth of the game from just inside the penalty area. Kirby had a string of further chances but poor finishing again let them down with Simon O'Donnell, Matt Bryant, Jake Bettany, Bond and Farren all missing with only the 'keeper to beat. Rayne took advantage of Kirby's complacency and scored two quick goals, one a shot from twenty-five yards and the other from the penalty spot following a handball by Glenn Wiggett. O'Donnell then secured all three points for Kirby when he cut in from the left and hit a powerful shot that beat the 'keeper at his near post.

Tiptree Jobserve 5 v 0 Kirby Athletic

Kirby's four game unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday when they were well beaten by a strong Tiptree side. Tiptree gave an early warning of what was to come within the first five minutes when their striker beat the Kirby defence but his shot was well saved by Sam Quinn. Kirby responded well and had a good shout for a penalty turned down when James Farren was bundled over in the box. Steve Bond then had a good chance but his shot found the side netting. Tiptree began to put the Kirby defence under more pressure and deservedly took the lead mid-way through the half with a goal from close range. Within five minutes they doubled their lead when Kirby surrendered possession in the midfield and a cross from the right wing was turned in at the near post. Kirby started the second half brightly but their hopes of a comeback were soon over when their winger cut in from the right and hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net. The same player then completed his hat-trick with similar effort. Kirby struggled to keep the ball long enough to mount any serious attacks and with twenty minutes remaining Tiptree scored their fifth. The remainder of the game was played mainly in the Kirby but some excellent defending by Adam Robinson and Lawrence Newell prevented further goals. This Saturday the first team will attempt to bounce back when they travel to Rayne.

Bradfield Rovers 0 v 2 Kirby Athletic

Kirby made it four games unbeaten with a hard earned victory at Bradfield Rovers. A competitive but scrappy first half saw both teams struggle to create chances. The one clear opportunity fell to Bradfield but Sam Quinn's fine save low to his left ensured the half finished goal less. In the second period, skipper Mikey Lewis and Jake Bettany took control of the midfield and Kirby put the Bradfield defence under much more pressure. Tom Dean had the best chances to open the scoring but a couple of good saves by former Kirby 'keeper Ashley Gray kept Bradfield's hope of a point alive. Any attacks that Bradfield did manage to mount were quickly snuffed out by centre-halves Adam Robinson and Lawrence Newell. With fifteen minutes remaining Matt Bryant was tripped as he broke into the box and the referee awarded a penalty. Top scorer Bryant stepped up to send Gray the wrong way for his fifth of the season. Within five minutes Kirby secured all three points when Dean cut in from the left and hit a thumping drive from just inside the area that found the top corner.

Kirby Athletic 2 v 2 Haverhill Sports Association

Kirby left it late to salvage a point against Haverhill on Saturday. Despite creating several good chances during the first half, Kirby could not turn their dominance into goals. With half time approaching, Haverhill took the lead when a poor clearance was turned back into the box and ball was tapped in from close range. Within 5 minutes of the restart, Kirby found themselves two down when a clever lob from the edge of the area beat the advancing Sam Quinn in the Kirby goal. Kirby continued to press forward and managed to pull one back with 25 minutes remaining when Dan Campbell scored his first goal in 5 years at the club. A cross from Jimmy Overill was only cleared as far as the edge of the box and Campbell rifled in a shot that found the bottom corner of the net. With time running out, Kirby grabbed a well deserved equaliser. James Farren's in-swinging corner was volleyed in by skipper Mikey Lewis for a share of the points.

Gosfield United 1 v 1 Kirby Athletic

Kirby Athletic were disappointed not to come away with all three points in a game they dominated for long periods. Kirby got off to the best possible start within the first 5 minutes when top scorer Matt Bryant's neat half volley from the edge of the area found the top corner of the goal. Within two minutes Gosfield were level when a miss-kick from Lawrence Newell allowed the Gosfield striker a clear run on goal and his shot gave Sam Quinn no chance. Kirby spent the rest of the half pressing for another goal, with Dan Campbell, Simon O'Donnell, Jimmy Overill and Bryant combing well down both flanks. Despite having a string of chances to take the lead, a combination of poor finishing and several good saves from the Gosfield 'keeper frustrated the Kirby strikers. With half-time approaching Gosfield could have taken the lead. A quick break caught out Kirby's defence and they had to rely on a fine save from Quinn to ensure the scores remained level at the break. Gosfield enjoyed more possession at the start of the second half but never really threatened the Kirby goal. Kirby continued to press forward and again had chances to score. Steve Bond, Tom Dean and Jake Bettany all found themselves in good positions but were unable to breach the Gosfield defence. With time running out, Dean hit a powerful shot from the edge of the area that the 'keeper somehow managed to tip over the bar.

Kirby Athletic 3 v 1 Boxted Lodgers

A good team performance in their first home game of the season ensured Kirby recorded their second victory of the season. Despite missing three regular defenders, manager Paul Kendall was able to shuffle his squad to good effect. Simon O'Donnell and Jimmy Overill both impressed in unfamiliar full-back roles as Kirby created several good chances during the first half. Matt Bryant shot wide from inside the box, Steve Bond's header was well saved and Jake Bettany just failed to get on the end of a teasing free-kick from Overill. At the other end, Kirby's new look defence restricted Boxted's strikers to a few efforts from distance that didn't trouble Sam Quinn in the Kirby goal. With half-time approaching Kirby deservedly took the lead when a clever move down the right involving Mikey Lewis and Bond released Bryant whose shot from a tight angle found the corner of the net. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Kirby pressing for a second goal. It finally came mid-way through the half when Bond was brought down 30 yards from goal. Tommy Dean stepped up and his powerful strike gave the 'keeper no chance. As the game wore on, Boxted pulled one back when a ball over the top of the Kirby defence caught them flat-footed and the Boxted striker finished well from close range. Kirby soon restored their two goal advantage when they were awarded a penalty for hand ball. Matt Bryant notched his third of the season when his kick sent the 'keeper the wrong way.

Maldon St.Marys 2 v 1 Kirby Athletic

Kirby Athletic 0 V 3 West Bergholt

Barnston AFC 1 v 2 Kirby Athletic

 Kirby left it late on Saturday to get their first points of the season.

The first half saw Kirby struggle to mount any serious threats on the

Barnston goal and had to rely two great saves from keeper Sam Quinn.

With half-time approaching Barnston deservedly took the lead when their

striker was given too much room on the edge of the box and his powerful

drive gave Quinn no chance. Whatever was discussed at the break had the

desired effect as Kirby came out with a more positive attitude and

started to put the Barnston defence under pressure. Matt Bryant and Jake

Bettany were controlling the midfield and creating chances but a mixture

of good defending and poor finishing prevented an equaliser. With 20

minutes to go, new signing Matt Bedford was introduced and made an

immediate impact. His first touch was a low drive from the edge of the

box that found the corner of the net. A few minutes later, Bedford was

pushed over as he ran into the box and a penalty was given. Kirby's

chance to take the lead was wasted when Tom Dean's tame spot kick was

easily saved. Dean then had a great chance to make amends but he

couldn't apply the finish with only the keeper to beat. With time

running out, Dan Campbell rounded the keeper and chipped the ball across

the area to Bryant whose shot from a tight angle smashed against the

post. Just when it looked like Kirby would have to settle for a point,

substitute Jimmy Overill hit the winner in stoppage time with a fierce

drive from 30 yards that flew into the top corner.

Haverhill Sports Association 3 v 1 Kirby Athletic

Clacton United 1 v 0 Kirby Athletic

Kirby started the new campaign away at local rivals Clacton United and were disappointed to come away with nothing following an entertaining game. In a goalless first half, it was Kirby who came closest to scoring when Tom Dean only had the keeper to beat but his tame shot was easily saved. Shortly before half time Matt Bryat he'd scored when his shot went through a crowd of players but hit the inside of the post and bar and rebounded to safety. Simon O'Donnell also went close when he attempted to lob the keeper from the edge of the area but his shot bounced just wide of the post. Clacton put the Kirby defence under more pressure in the second half and took the lead when their striker found space in the box and calmly finished. Clacton could have extended their lead were it not for the outstanding Sam Quinn, making his debut in goal for Kirby. First he managed to tip a powerful drive over the bar, then he made an acrobatic save low to his left to prevent another goal bound effort. With time running out, Kirby thought they'd equalised from a corner. Two Clacton defenders collided trying to clear the ball which fell to Bryant who tapped it in the net. Unfortunately, the referee thought a Kirby player had fouled the defender and the goal did not stand.