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