I would tend to worry that talk of a game being a ‘must win’
and the ‘biggest of season’ would add pressure that would have a negative
effect on the team’s performance.
However, it seems that the current Clements Athletic squad thrives and
performs to their best when this additional pressure is applied. The proof is the fact that for the second
time this season we were the first team to put a mark in the L column of
top-of-the-league opponents. This might
also explain why we couldn’t beat the worst team in the league! Both the wins
against Lakeside and Staines have been particularly convincing, and we were on
top from the start in this game against a team who were obviously technically
proficient and good at keeping the ball.
These attributes may make for good viewing, but what I am realising is
that few teams (if any) in this league are as effective as Clements at the
direct approach, whereby we are always looking to move the ball up the field
and put defences on the back foot as quickly as possible.
Sharpy picked a side that, despite missing two first choice
midfielders (although one of them was in goal), was set up to attack with Joe
making his first start of the season on his Winter return from university and
Ryan being given the job of filling H’s boots in midfield.
Subs: lil’ Ryan, Rob, Alex
Prior to this game Staines had the best defensive record in
the league, having conceded just 6 goals in 7 matches. It was therefore surprising to see how easy
Dale was finding it cut through their defence, and our top scorer should have
added two or three to his impressive tally in the opening 15 minutes. Staines seemed to be in shock to come up
against a team with so much pace and excellent movement up top.
Dale’s performance in the opening quarter would have made
him a front runner for MoTM in any other game, but on this occasion he was
outdone by the younger Kenyon, whose performance in a less familiar central
midfield role was the best by any Clements player this season. Ryan just seemed to have the ball stuck to
his feet, and made the opposition players look silly on countless occasions as
he turned them inside out. His
distribution was also superb, and his assist for the opening goal was a key
element in making it a contender for goal of the season. Ryan made himself available to receive the
ball from Eye-Ball on the left. He then
ran with the ball diagonally to the right side of the pitch, but instead of playing
the obvious ball to Chris, who was running down the flank and dragging out the
fullback, Ryan played a perfectly weighted reverse ball into the gap that had
now been created. Dale pounced on this early Christmas present and drove the
ball past the keeper into the far corner: 1-0.
This goal gave us a massive confidence boost, whilst rash
challenges and petulant behaviour off the ball by Staines were obvious signs
that Clements’ defence was as dominate as our attack. It wasn’t long before our excellent play was
rewarded with another superb goal. This
time Chris was the provider, as he did really well to keep the ball in play on
the right before driving to the bye line and delivering a low cross into the
danger area between penalty spot and six yard box. Liam had timed his run superbly, and bravely
stooped to head the ball under pressure into the far corner: 2-0.
The only way Staines looked like they might score was from
dead balls, and in general we defended corners well, with Foggy attacking the
ball aggressively. However on one
occasion he got it completely wrong and threw himself forward whilst the ball
sailed well above his head. It says
something about how well we played, and the high standards we set, that a
stand-in keeper should receive DoTD for this misjudgement. To be fair, if Foggy
hadn’t received the award for this he would have been nominated for slipping
over every time he took a goal kick, and subsequently shouting at himself for
doing so.
We didn’t manage to add to our tally or goals in the first
half despite creating some excellent chances, including one for Joe (who is yet
another hard working quality winger in the Clements squad) who fluffed his
lines in front of goal and could only shoot tamely at the keeper from 10 yards.
We continued to threaten in the second half, and whilst the
third goal was the obvious way to put the result beyond doubt, we were actually
helped to do this by the opposition midfielder, who reacted to a reducing
tackle from Jake by throwing a headbutt.
Sharpy might not know the laws of the game inside out, but he knows from
plenty of personal experience that you can’t react like that, especially when
the referee is the Chair of the Thurrock Sunday League. Staines were reduced to ten men, and although
Jake was punished for his tackle he should get credit (as indeed should the
rest of the team) for not reacting and letting the referee do his job.
The game lost a little of its intensity as a result of this
sending off, and despite creating plenty of chances, including a good header
from Joe that hit the bar, Staines keeper was in fine form and denied us on a
number of occasion. However, he could do
nothing to stop Jake’s first goal for Clements as Chris laid the ball back to
him following a corner and the big man curled the ball into the top corner from
20 yards. His corner flag celebration
received a DoTD nomination (probably from Foggy): 3-0.
Such is the strength of the Clements squad that a completely
new centre back partnership of Alex and Rob was able to slot in with Eye-Ball
and Luke seamlessly to preserve the clean sheet, that the defence and Foggy
richly deserved for throwing themselves in the way of everything Staines threw
at them. Rob also popped up at the far post from a corner, but was unable to keep his header down.
Lil’Ryan was the other substitution
made by Sharpy, and he nearly made an immediate impact when he broke into the
area with the ball. Unfortunately it
bounced kindly for the defender who was able to clear before Ryan could unleash
a shot on goal.
You really couldn’t ask for a better Christmas present than
3 goals, a clean sheet and 3 points against the unbeaten league leaders. Everyone can now enjoyed a well-earned
Christmas break, before we return well rested and eager for our first round
match in the league two cup – one we are definitely capable of winning.
Eye-Ball
Next game: Sunday 4th January @ home v Lakeside
(Div 2 cup round 1)
Goal Scoring Chart
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