SIL Premier: Bacton United 89 1-5 East Bergholt United

25th April 2026

Bacton United 89 vs East Bergholt United @ Brickwall Meadow - Bacton, Suffolk

Suffolk & Ipswich League - Premier Division (Step 7)

14:30 KO

Free entry

Attendance - approx. 30

Half-time score: Bacton United 89 0-3 East Bergholt United

Goals:

East Bergholt United: Carpenter - 12'

East Bergholt United: Elseidy - 40', 42'

Bacton United 89: Theobald - 50'

East Bergholt United: Godbold - 57'

East Bergholt United: Dennington - 71'

Final Score: Bacton United 89 1-5 East Bergholt United

With glorious sunny skies, I fancied a bit of village football, so decided to make a short trip down into Suffolk to watch some SIL Premier football, Bacton United 89 hosting the closest game. The club, as the name would suggest, was founded in 1989, and they currently play in the top division of the amateur football leagues, equivalent to the Anglian Combination Premier. They are just below mid-table in 11th, but comfortably above the relegation zone, assuming only 2 go down, with today's opponents, East Bergholt United, nearer the top of the table in a respectable 4th.

The club is based on the edge of the village and has a clubhouse with two full-sized well-maintained pitches, the main pitch on which the game was played on was one of the best surfaces I have seen at this level. With a trainline along the back of the pitch and a field full of crops directly to one side, it was a unique place to take in a game of football.

It was a fine spring afternoon, with blazing sun and clear blue skies with a few whispy clouds. Before long the teams were lining up, Bacton United 89 in a striking green and red quarter-pattern kit with long-sleeves, which on a day like today is a disadvantage but probably welcomed the rest of the season, with the visitors East Bergholt United in an all-green kit. I thought I recognised the East Bergholt 11, and it turns out I did as it was Oli Godbold, who had a brief stint at Thetford Town in our 22/23 season, making three appearances.

KEY MOMENTS

BU = Bacton United 89

EBU = East Bergholt United

12' - EBU - GOAL (0-1) - A bright start from the hosts, going close from a couple of set-pieces, but a misplaced pass at the back is intercepted by Carpenter, he drives into the box and drills the ball underneath the diving keeper, and the visitors take an early lead.

33' - BU - The No.7 with a surging run down the right, he skips by the defender, cuts into the box and fires in a cross goal strike, but the East Bergholt keeper and captain was out quickly to cut the angle and makes the stop with his outstretched leg.

40' - EBU - GOAL (0-2) - East Bergholt capitalise on another defensive error. A header drops down to the Elseidy, a burst of paces sees him through the middle and 1-on-1 with the keeper, he is forced to the left but a neat finish across goal sees him sweep the ball into the bottom-right corner, a very fine finish indeed.

42' - EBU - GOAL (0-3) - A quick fire second for Elseidy, the opportunity to attack comes from yet another careless bit of play at the back, the first wave of the attack is halted, but the No.7 on the right recycles the ball and swings it to the edge of the box, Godbold then side foots the ball down the middle where it drops perfectly for Elseidy and from close range he rifles the ball into the top of the net from close range on the bounce, no stopping that strike!

50' - BU - GOAL (1-3) - Bacton United 89 are the first to strike in the 2nd half, this time it is Bacton with the intercept through the No.7, he slides in Theobald, he battles the defender for space and manages to find it before smashing the ball into the roof of the net, in similar fashion to East Bergholt's 3rd, that net taking some pounding for sure!

54' - EBU - East Bergholt with a sweeping attack down the right, the No.8 from just inside the box hits a stinging effort that flies narrowly over the bar.

57' - EBU - GOAL (1-4) - East Bergholt quickly end any chance of a comeback with a 4th. Yet another poor ball at the back, passed straight into the Carpenter, he sends Godbold in down the right, he steps through a challenge from the final defender then powers the ball into the net, effectively sealing the victory.

68' - BU - A long ball pumped forward and the 8 is in, he takes the ball into the box and is in position to shoot before a last second challenge comes in, taking the ball of his boot and thereby preventing the chance to shoot, excellent challenge.

71' - EBU - GOAL (1-5) - East Bergholt put the cherry on top of this big away win. A corner ball is swung in by Godbold (I think), it is allowed to bounce in the middle and the left-back Dennington jumps up to guide his side-footed volley into the net.

87' - EBU - PENALTY - Godbold with a pacey run down the left, he cuts inside and into the box before being taken out by a late challenge, the referee pointing immediately to the spot. Having won the penalty Godbold wanted his name on the scoresheet again, but his effort, hit to his left, is wonderfully saved by the Bacton keeper, a diving effort to prevent the 6th goal.

A comprehensive win for East Bergholt United, and whilst it was well-deserved, their strike force proving to be alert and clinical, it has to be said that Bacton United 89 were their own worst enemy this afternoon, with 4 of the 5 goals triggered by sloppy play at the back. Other than this, it was a much closer game than the scoreline suggested, with Bacton United 89 working hard in the middle, but whilst the goal-scoring chances came quickly for East Bergholt United, Bacton struggled in front of goal. The East Bergholt frontline were pacey and skilful and I'm sure their pressing and positioning helped create so many of the chances, they looked a real handful. I was also impressed with the East Bergholt 3, 5 & 6, they stood solid at the back and cleared up many of the hosts attacks. For Bacton United 89, the No.7 stood out for me, he made some good runs down the right flank. All-in-all an enjoyable afternoon of football, and I wish both teams the best-of-luck for next season.

Line-Ups (alphabetical order):

BACTON UNITED 89: Jack Finbow, Jack Hardy, James Hitter, Finley Smith, Luke Keeble, Benjamin Mills, Alex Rice, Adam Rowland, Ben Rowland, Tom Smith, Archie Theobald. SUBS: Andrew Brookin, Harry Craft, Charlie Flatt, Daniel Steed, Alex Ward.

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED: Coren Bell, Aidan Carpenter, Ryan Dennington, Samuel Donnelly, Zachery Elseidy, Harry Glen, Oliver Godbold, Jack Lambert, Benjamin Pratt, Jamie Scrivener, George Watson. SUBS: Evan Hay, Luke Powell, Jenson Tingley.