Clements Athletic 4 - 2 FC Deportivo Thurrock

Clements bounced back from last week’s disappointing defeat with a hard fought victory against a Deportivo team who would have been out for blood given our last minute winner last time we met.

It is worth mentioning the dedication and commitment being shown by those in the Clements squad to be available for games.  Exemplars of this spirit include Dale, who organised going into work two hours late so he could play, and Jake, who we learned in the pub on Friday is using his holiday leave to book off Sunday shifts so he can be at as many games as possible.  It just goes to show how much people are enjoying being a part of this squad.  As a result Sharpy had pretty much a full squad to choose from, with just Rob and H missing.  Congratulations to H, who was in Prague celebrating his 21^st birthday.  We can only assume he survived, but obviously have no idea if he’ll recover in time for next week’s game.

Subs:  Lil’ Ryan, Alex, Chris

All the talk of getting off to a good start, and not going behind in the first 10 minutes only partly translated onto the pitch.  Eye-Ball led by example by making a penetrating run from inside his own half, which unfortunately ended in him running out of pitch before being able to get a cross in.  However, despite this early promise we were no better than average in the first half.  First touches were sloppy, and we allowed Deportivo to panic us into misplaced passes and ineffective long balls.  We inevitably went behind when the ball broke nicely for the striker on the edge of the box, and he nonchalantly placed the ball in the bottom corner: 0-1.

Despite our collective under performance, Clements have individual quality that can lead to chances being created from amongst the murky sea of whale crap.  Providing the moment of brilliance on this occasion was Ryan, who had been none too happy with the lack of supply down the left, and so took matters into his own hands.  Faced with two defenders near the dead ball line Ryan dropped a shoulder, showed a turn of pace and made space to cross left footed into the middle.  Waiting there was his big brother Dale, who remarkably found himself with enough time in the six yard box to control the ball, discuss the state of the economy with the goal keeper and complete a Sudoku puzzle before slotting the ball into one of the two gaping holes either side of the goal keeper: 1-1.

Such is the standard we set ourselves that we felt fortunate to be level at the break.  Still we should have been encouraged by the fact that we were level whilst being well below our best.  The second half was a completely different ball game, as Foggy and Jake started to own the midfield and our front four of Ryan, Liam, Dale and Luke (later replaced by Chris) learnt that they could exploit Deportivo’s weakness in the full back areas.  In the meantime Robin and Brian bullied and harassed the ineffective strikers whilst Eye-Ball and Johnny mopped up anything that Webby didn’t collect himself.

Our pressure paid off when Webby collected the ball and thumped it up-field.  He didn’t quite manage to score the goal he has been claiming he will do at some point, but his deep ball was unwisely left by the centre back, who obviously hadn’t learnt from our last meeting that Liam is a poacher who is always on the lookout for a cheap goal.  He subsequently ran on to the ball and knocked it round the out-rushing keeper before thrashing it into the empty net: 2-1.

It was important that we pushed on to put the win beyond doubt, and we did have the opposition on the ropes.  Unfortunately their goalkeeper was having a blinder and denied the Clements players on numerous occasions.  However, his luck ran out when a moment of brilliance, from the older Kenyon this time, saw Dale flick the ball round the defender with his back to goal before having his shot blocked by the keeper.  However, Dale’s persistence saw him manage to hook the ball over the keeper and into the six yard box where Foggy timed his run brilliantly to meet the ball 3 yards out.   I know what you’re thinking, but no, he didn’t miss! In fact to make sure, he followed the ball into the net and took the defender with him: 3-1.

Anything other than a Clements win now would have been a travesty, but a dishevelled and argumentative Deportivo side were given a glimpse of hope when, with half an hour left to go, the defender who had been at fault for Liam’s goal converted a firm header from a corner: 3-2.

With just under half an hour to go this was a real test of our resolve and determination.  I am pleased to say that every player – including those who came off the subs bench – were more than up to the challenge.  Sharpy once again showed his managerial astuteness as he replace a tiring Jake with Alex, whose defensive instinct was exactly what we needed to break up the opposition play and allow Foggy to venture further forward.

With the goal scoring chart being dominated by a few individuals it was good to already have two new contributors in this game, with Foggy getting his first goal and Webby his first assist.  The game was to be put to bed thanks to another unlikely assists contributor, with Rob floating a free kick to the far left side of the penalty area.  Ryan was left unmarked and brought down the ball superbly without missing a stride, and then passed the ball past the keeper into the far corner: 4-2.

This goal capped off a man of the match performance in which Ryan showed the passion and determination both in attack and defence that has made him such a key member of the squad since he joined just over three years ago.  Unfortunately there was no nomination for DoTD, which meant no free drink for Ryan.  A warning to the next DoTD: you might have to buy two beers!

Another week to be proud to be a Clements player.  Maybe last week’s defeat isn’t such a bad thing, as we know what humiliation feels like now, and should be extra determined to avoid feeling that again.  More of the same next week please.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Essex cup third round @ Home v Iceni Wanderers

Goal scoring chart

Mustang 3 - 2 Clements Athletic

This was a result that none of us expected, and although we may have been a bit overconfident prior to this match against our winless, bottom of the league opponents, it is hard to be too critical of a performance where Mustang took three of the four chances we gifted them, and we only managed to convert two of the dozen or so that we created.  In a way this result may do us some good, as perhaps we were getting a little carried away thanks to our early success, but we can be in doubt that we can not afford to be below par in any department and expect to still win games in this league.

With H and Jake missing Sharpy chose to start with Chris in the middle, whilst Brian came back in for Luke with Alex filling the hole in the centre of defence which Foggy had occupied the previous week.

Subs: Rob, Johnny

The game couldn’t have got off to a worse start, as we found ourselves a goal down before anyone on our team had even touched the ball.  A hopeful ball over the top was misjudged by Alex, and the forward gratefully slotted the ball past Webby: 1-0.

We needed an immediate response, and Foggy will be thankful that his dad wasn’t watching his son putting in a bid for miss of the season.  Instead it was the usually reliable Ryan –who you would have put your house on scoring – blazing over from three yards with the empty net at his mercy.  This unfortunate miss, and another effort that rattled the crossbar when a simple side foot into the corner would have sufficed, earned Ryan the DoTD award.

To rub salt into the wounds we then found ourselves two behind, when we didn’t move out from a cleared corner as a unit, and Mustang’s makeshift striker found himself with time on the edge of the box to lash the ball inside the near post.  Webby did try to convince the net that the ball had hit the side netting, but it actually went a good foot inside the post (nice try Webby): 2-0.

We really couldn’t afford to let our heads drop, and we had already shown that we could get into their box regularly enough to create chances.  As it happened our first goal came from a free kick about 30 yards out on the left after Foggy had been tripped.  Ryan’s floated cross to the back post eluded everyone and went in off the underside of the crossbar: 2-1.

The scores were then level when Dale slipped the ball through the Liam, who may have been offside but did what all good strikers do by finishing first and worrying about the flag afterwards.  The flag did come once the ball was in the net, but the referee overruled and the goal was allowed to stand: 2-2.

We should have now been scoring a flurry of goals to stop any thoughts Mustang may have had about taking all three points.  Instead we found ourselves behind going into half time when Mustang’s striker was given space in the box from a corner to attempt an audacious overhead kick which surprised us all, including Webby who had little chance of stopping the effort: 3-2.

It was obvious what we had to do in the second half, and we spent the best part of 45 minutes camped in the opposition half.  However, we would have had a better chance of finding the Holy Grail than finding the back of the net.  Chance after chance flew wide or was blocked by the numerous bodies that crowded the area.  Even the defenders were getting in on the act with Brian hitting the post from a corner, and Eye-Ball having an effort that flew over.  It was probably these attempts to assist in attack whilst holding up the defence as we committed more men forward that earned Eye-Ball the MoTM award.

There was a risk that the score line would become even more embarrassing when a Mustang player found himself clear through as we chased the equaliser.  However, for the first time one of their touches didn’t turn to gold, and Webby was able to comfortably collect the ball from an ill-advised attempt to lob him.

So a week to forget (shame we have to have this report as a reminder), but it would be wrong not to offer our opposition a bit of praise.  They got stuck in, played with heart and character, took their chances and therefore deserved a bit of luck. Others may find it amusing to see this result, but that just puts more emphasis on us to prove it was a blip, and that we are still a team who can beat anyone in this league.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 16^th November @ Home v FC Deportivo Thurrock

Goal scoring chart

Clements Athletic 2014-15

Clements Athletic 3 – 1 Lakeside F.C.

The omens were looking good for this game.  The team effort to get the posts up by 0945 continued,  all but two of the squad were available, we had a referee and the rain held off long enough for us to pose for the team photo prior to the game.  Things just got better and better as Clements put in such an impressive team performance that we almost didn’t vote for DoTD.  However, we were then reminded that Jake had turned up 10 minutes before kick-off, and couldn’t see straight thanks to the previous evening’s excesses.  Having said that, it was impressive that he did turn up and managed about 60 minutes.

OK, so we are still waiting for the official Clements photo – did the Champions league trophy give it away?

Looking at the league table midweek was a bit of a shock, as we had fallen from second in the table to about sixth.  This was due to the fact that S.S.C. Orsett had folded and all their games (including our victory) had been wiped.  Poor old Sharpy must have been wondering why he had bothered taking all the stick from refereeing the game.  So we were now back to two wins from two, three games and 7 points behind our opponents.  Still their results didn’t suggest they were anything we should be too worried about, as was born out in our dominate display.

For the first time Sharpy had his three specialist central midfielders (I think H deserves that label now) to choose from, but rather than change what has been a winning formation skipper Foggy was asked to partner Robin at centre back, which is a job he is equally excellent at (is that a good enough mention skip?).  The rest of the team had a familiar and formidable look to it.

Subs: Jonny, Rob, lil’ Ryan

Clements superiority was soon evident, and it was interesting to see Lakeside – who were kicking into a strong wind first half – having to resort to the type of long ball over the top that has been a criticism of our team in the past.  As it was, most of these passes and long range efforts flew wide or were easily dealt with by Webby (also suffering from alcohol impairment), who did have to make one fine tip over the bar.

Clements broke the deadlock when the ball was worked out by Jake to Chris (he must have seen the blue boots), who had come in off the right wing.  He then slipped a perfect pass through to Dale, who had found space between the shoddy Lakeside back four.  He had time to compose himself and riffle a low shot into the far corner: 1-0.

The lead was soon extended with a goal that caused much debate in The Old Ship Inn after the game, as Ryan’s inswinging corner (won by Dale’s good persistence) deflected off a defender at the near post and into the net.  I had thought that the dubious goal committee was a democratic entity, and that the 6-4 vote in Ryan’s favour would mean he should be awarded the goal and Dale the assist.  However, it actually turns out that dictator Sharpy has the right to veto the vote, which means another scalp for own goals, and only an assist for Kenyon the younger: 2-0.

We continued to stay on top until the last five minutes of the first half, when Lakeside enjoyed more possession and began to get closer to finding the net.  With the last kick of the half they reduced the deficit when, like many keepers before him, Webby was caught out by a dipping free kick which was assisted by the strong wind that was blowing between the flats and Thurrock Harriers: 2-1.

The timing of this goal wasn’t great, as it would have improved Lakeside’s half team talk.  However, at least it also meant that Clements could regroup and remind each other that we were still winning, and were by far the better side.

The overwhelming emotion that seemed to be flowing through the Clements side in a challenging second half, where the heavens opened and the wind strengthened (I can’t believe the plastic bag warranted DoTD nominations), and one I definitely felt was pride.  This was also reiterated by Sharpy at the end of the match.  It just felt that there was no way we were going to lose, with every man prepared to take responsibility for ensuring we didn’t, and fighting for his fellow warriors in red.  This spirit was epitomised by Chris Batt, who you wouldn’t usually associate with crunching sliding tackles and putting your head in danger of being kicked, but this is exactly what we witnessed. 

As a result, I don’t remember Lakeside creating a clear cut chance, even when they introduced lightning pace, this was countered by the superb positioning and timing of Jonny and Rob (who had replaced Robin and Jake, with Foggy moving to midfield).  Foggy and H were putting their bodies on the line in midfield, Ryan was racing forward to support and create chances for Dale and Liam, whilst also doing more than his fair share of defending to ensure we kept our noses in front.  Luke was reigning in his attacking urges to help the defensive cause, and Dale and Liam continued to terrorise Lakeside’s defence with their determination, pace and movement.  Even lil’ Ryan got in on the act, and on another day would have been awarded a penalty after being tripped in the box.

Daylight was finally put between us and the opposition when Liam raced down the right before lifting the ball into Dale, who smashed the bouncing ball into the far corner for his second goal of the game: 3-1.

As the weather got worse, any hope Lakeside had against the wind was quickly evaporating, and the final score line flattered them, as we had some great chances to properly humiliate them.  Dale hit the wood work once and shot narrowly wide following two defence splitting passes (OK, hoicked clearances) from Eye-Ball.  H lifted the ball clear over the bar having temporarily forgotten how to kick a football when in front of goal, and Liam saw his effort saved by the keeper’s legs when put through one-on-one.  Still this did nothing to dampen the sense of satisfaction from collecting another well-deserved three points and ending our opponent’s unbeaten start.

There were many deserving nominations for MoTM, but this week the award went to Foggy, who had been solid at the back but really came into his own when pushed into midfield.  His shear tenacity and dogged determination was too much for Lakeside’s fragile midfield, who were bullied and harassed for much of the half.

No week is going to be easy, and next week we have the challenge of coping without our top scorer and two first choice central midfielders.  Still, this gives us the chance to show what a strong unit we are.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 9^th November, Away @ The Billet v Mustang.

Goal scoring chart