Clements Athletic 2 - 2 Mossops

Me and my big mouth.  Just a week after praising a fantastic turn out, Clements just about scrapped a team together, with 5 central midfielders and 2 strikers missing for various reasons.  There is no doubt that with a full squad we would have turned over this side, but the guys who were there - and especially those who played out of position - should be proud of the way we battled to the end and supported all those in a purple shirt (and the one bloke in a green one).  A special mention for Parker and Gollum, who turn up most weeks to support the team without getting a look in, and stand out as an example to all of us of what being a part of this club should mean.

Subs: Gollum

Despite only having twelve men to choose from, Alec still managed to annoy someone.  Gollum was distraught that Parker and been given the nod in front of him, and if Alec thought he was going to run the line he had another thing coming.

Clements started really well, with Sharpy having the biggest influence on the game.  By dropping off Liam he acted as a target from which to play others into space, and he time and again showed good awareness and neat touches to move the ball out wide to Chris or infield to Ryan, both of whom were finding space.  It was Chris who broke the deadlock with a goal of the season contender.  Liam whipped in a cross from the right which was headed goal wards by Sharpy.  The keeper was beaten but the defender did well to head the ball clear.  Unfortunately for him, it fell to Chris on the right hand side of the box, and he blasted the ball into the far top corner for his first goal in Clements colours: 1-0.

Chris then had a great chance to double his tally for the season when Tapsell played him in.  He again struck the ball well, but this time the cross bar came to Mossop's rescue.

We were looking pretty comfortable up to this point, and it took a slice (literally) of luck to bring Mossops level.  A free kick from the half way line was mis-controlled on the edge of the box, which turned into a perfect through ball for the winger whose cross come shot floated over Conor and into the goal: 1-1.

Clements weren't about to let their heads drop, and retook the lead when Rob played the ball high into the box from a free kick.  No one picked up Sharpy, and he flicked then ball over his head from a standing start to elude the keeper, who was slow off his line: 2-1.

Frustratingly the lead only lasted a matter of minutes, as the Mossops lone striker broke free.  With Niki, Rob and Eye-Ball rushing for a pre-arranged meeting of the Defender's Union on the goal line, there wasn't enough room left for Eye-Ball's attempted clearance to avoid his comrades, and the ball ricocheted into the net.  The striker was pretty desperate to claim the goal, so I've decided to let him have it (I'm nice like that): 2-2.

I'm going to keep the description of the second half brief, as most of the football was too awful to be worthy of a mention.  Both sides had a couple of chances to snatch all three points; Sharpy had the best one for Clements when a diagonal ball across the box from Liam found him in space at the far post with just the keeper to beat.  Unfortunately Sharpy didn't know how much time he had, and snatched at the chance with his left foot when a right boot back across the keeper was what was required.  Liam also had a chance when Parker played a delightful ball into the box, however the defenders were equal to it on this occasion and cleared the danger.  Mossops had a penalty shout turned down (good job for Eye-Ball as that would have been three in four weeks), and when their striker had his one clear cut chance, he lifted it over Conor but wide of the target.

The performance may not have been pretty, but all twelve of us were able to walk off with our heads held high, knowing we had given our all for the team and each other.  Tapsell epitomised this, as he seemed to be all over the pitch at times, throwing himself into tackles and fighting for every ball.  Next week is going to be a much tougher match, even with a stronger side, but we want Purfleet Old Boys to know they have had a game, and that they are going to have to fight for the three points if they want them.

Eye-Ball

Next match: Sunday 24th November @ HOME (that's Blackshots Conor) v Purfleet Old Boys.

South Stifford 3 - 5 Clements Althletic

Clements continued their week on week improvement with a hard thought victory against one of the top sides in the league.  Our opposition may not have been at full strength (and played the first ten minutes with ten men), but that should take nothing away from a performance in which we showed the character and team spirit the manager has been asking for, as we lost the lead twice and came from behind once to win.  Dale has been so prolific in front of goal since joining last season that seeing him score two or three goals in a game isn't unusual.  In fact, in twenty-nine games he had scored four hat-tricks and found the net more than once on ten occasions.  He again gave a finishing master class to score an incredible five goals in today's game (O.K. Sharpy, we know you still hold the record of six), and move himself above Ryan in the goal scoring chart (I wonder if that was an incentive) and Clements up to fifth in the table.

Alec and Widge may take some credit for Dale's goals, as they moved him from the wing to up front partnering Liam.  Ben S filled the hole on the right wing, and Browne returned having now fully recovered from last week's hangover.  It was fantastic to see such a great turn out, but just a shame that you know from the start that not everyone can be involved in the action.

Subs: Sharpy, H, Ben A, Chris, Bunny, Parker, Gollum

With South Stifford's eleventh man on the way it was vital that Clements made the most of the one man advantage, and the team started brightly and created some good chances to take the lead.  Liam was unlucky not to score when his powerful header from a cross flew straight at the keeper who made a smart save.  Tapsell then found space in the midfield to break and play a perfectly weighted pass to Ben S who was overlapping on the right wing.  He kept his (milk) bottle to avoid two lunging tackles but then shot tamely at the keeper.  The pressure was building to secure a lead when Ben S decided to (milk) float a ball down the channel into the box.  Dale anticipated  the defender missing it a slotted the ball passed the keeper: 1-0.

The eleventh man arrived just as play was re-starting, and it did make a difference as some of the space down the wings disappeared.  Stifford started coming more into the game, and Eye-Ball had to be on hand twice to deny them an equaliser. First there was a clearance off the line after Conor had been beaten by a shot across the goal, and then Eye-Ball put the big striker under just enough pressure under the bar for him to miss a header into an open goal.  Stifford's deliveries from their left side were superb, as they looked for their heavyweight front man, who unsurprisingly chose to go up against Clements' welterweight left back.  A second attempt to win the ball from a cross was more successful for the striker, as he powered the ball - and Eye-Ball - into the back of the net: 1-1.

Eye-Ball continued to be as involved at one end as Dale was at the other, and got his own back on the Stifford Striker as he slid in just in time to block the shot before we were made to pay for a terrible offside line.  Eye-Ball was then the prime candidate for the conceding of a dubious penalty, as he stuck a leg out to intercept a throw only for an opposition player to fall over him from behind.  The penalty was dispatched into the top corner to give Stifford the lead: 2-1.

Going behind at this stage was a big test for our resolve, and we rose to the challenge to get back into the game before half time.  Liam challenged for the ball on the edge of the box and was fouled, allowing Dale to drive the ball into the far corner from the free-kick, leaving the keeper routed to the spot: 2-2.

The half time team talk was mainly positive, but we knew we needed to be better organised across the pitch.  One change was made, with Ben S moving to right back, and H coming on for Browne on the right wing.

H's introduction definitely made an impact, as he made a real nuisance of himself; battling for every ball and linking up well on the right with Ben S.  Last time we played Stifford it was evident that we were the team who tired, having spent most of the game chasing the ball.  On this occasion our improved possession stats and energy off the ball seemed to have the opposite effect, with Tapsell and Foggy finding themselves with more time on the ball and dominating the midfield.

Clements took the lead when a ball was played over the top (assist up for grabs here as I missed the pass), and the defender made a hash of clearing the ball to leave Dale with the simple (unless your Foggy) task of slotting the ball passed the keeper: 2-3.

It took a rare error from Rob to get Stifford back in the game as he scuffed an attempted back pass, which put Niki's brother clear through on goal.  He still had work to do, but showed who got the striker genes as he powered an unstoppable shot across Conor: 3-3.

There was yet another opportunity for Eye-Ball to make a goal line clearance before the lead was once again reclaimed by Clements as Ryan cut in from the left and dribbled into the box.  A rash tackle saw the ball ricochet into Dale's path for another tap in: 3-4.

A big moment of controversy then followed as Clements pushed out from a corner.  The ball was played back over the top and Joe Law ran through on goal, round Conor and slotted the ball home.  Ben A had already raised the flag as there were players in offside positions, and the referee immediately blew his whistle.  Joe was convinced he had run in from an onside position, and protested vehemently (I won't repeat what he actually said to preserve the Law family's good name).  The ref's big mistake was blowing up immediately instead of letting play go on before consulting his linesman.  What followed was a long delay and lots of arguing with the ref that tarnished a good contest.  Fortunately the ref finally did the only thing he really could do (without turning Clements on him as well) which was to stick to his decision and give the offside.

Clements regrouped, and put the game beyond doubt thanks to an unstoppable penalty into the top corner from Dale, who had been scythed down in the box: 3-5.

So Clements secured the three points, and Niki secured bragging rights (at least until we play Stifford again in the cup).

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 17th November @ Home v Mossops

Goal scoring chart

Clements Athletic 4 - 2 S.S.C. Orsett

Clements deservedly picked up their first win of the league campaign thanks to two goals from Ryan and one each from Tapsell and Liam.  It wasn't as comfortable as the scoreline suggests, as a two goal lead was wiped out with 12 minutes to go.  Clements showed the character and fight that Niki had demanded in his pre-match speech to restore the two goal winning margin that our overall performance deserved.

Alec and Widge were forced to make changes, with Dale working and Browne declaring himself unfit for duty, and showing he had the team's best interests at heart.  Ben W was asked to play at right back, and Liam was given a friend up front in the form of H.  I'm sure Liam felt like Christmas and his birthday had come at once.

Subs: Sharpy, Bunny, Alan, Ben, Gollum, Parker

With the sun in our eyes and a strong wind blowing against us into the bottom left corner, it was always going to be difficult to keep the ball under control and on the pitch.  In fact Eye-Ball touched the ball more with his hands than feet in the first half, as countless balls forward from Orsett sailed off the pitch, carried by the strong wind.  Clements looked to get stuck in though, and deservedly took the lead when Ben W's throw-in was left by Liam for Ryan, who turned towards goal and struck the ball low into the corner of the net: 1-0.

Clements rode their luck a bit in the first half, and were thankful that Conor was on top form, as he tipped two looping efforts over the bar, and saved acrobatically to his right from a firmly struck free kick.  Orsett came closest to scoring when an attempted clearance ricocheted off an Orsett player, who found himself through on goal.  His effort hit the post, and rebounded kindly into a team mate's path.  Ben W (who put in a dominant display at right back despite being out of position) and Eye-Ball managed to get back on the line, and it was Ben who superbly managed to deflect the goal bound effort over the bar.

Clements had two great chances to take a two goal lead into the break.  Firstly Foggy hit a rasping effort from outside the box that hit the crossbar, and then H - who had been working hard down the channels - got to the right byeline and put in an excellent cross.  Unfortunately Liam couldn't connect from six yards out, and we had to settle for a slim one goal lead at half time.

Clements started the second half with purpose, knowing that a second goal was vital to neutralise any whiff of an Orsett comeback.  Ryan dully delivered when the ball was worked over from the left with Sharpy (on for Chris) to Liam on the right.  He forced the defender into a mistake, and the ball fell to Ryan who once again showed great composure to drive the ball low into the bottom corner: 2-0.

Any hope that Orsett would lie down and die was misplaced, as they continued to work hard in the belief that one goal could turn the match around.  The post once again came to Clements rescue in the second half, and another effort was put narrowly wide.  Orsett then pulled one back when a simple ball over the top split our defence in half, and the striker finished clinically: 2-1.

The lead was then wiped out when two unsuccessful attempts to clear the ball from a corner ended in it being blasted into the net through a sea of bodies: 2-2.

It was now time for Clements to show what they were made of, and so often our driving force, Tapsell once again popped up with a moment of brilliance to re-establish our lead.  With about 10 minutes left, Ben W threw in the ball to Tapsell from the right on the edge of the box.  His first touch turned the defender, and his second (with his left boot) sent the ball curling into the top corner: 3-2.

Clements weren't about to let the three points disappear again, and settled the game when Sharpy found himself in the box, and unselfishly played the ball across for Liam to fire into the net.  The trigger happy linesman did his best to deny Liam his second goal in as many weeks, but thankfully the referee was prepared to over rule him: 4-2.

With minutes remaining, Foggy had the chance to put the icing on the cake, and get a deserved goal for his tireless running and committed display in midfield.  His block from an attempted clearance saw him through on the goal, under no pressure and with just the keeper between him and goal.  Unfortunately he looked as out of place as a hog roast at a bar mitzvah, and the keeper cruelly blocked his tame effort.  We did later establish that even Eye-Ball has a better scoring record over the past 5 years, who can appreciate that the chance would have looked much harder to Foggy than to those more accustomed with finding the onion bag.

Whilst it would have been nice to stroll off with a larger winning margin and a clean sheet, it was really encouraging to see such a positive response to losing a two goal lead.  Much tougher challenges lie ahead, but there is no reason why we can't come off with our heads held high each week if we continue to give 100% for each other and the team.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 10th November. Away @ Belhus Park v South Stifford

Goal scoring chart