Clements Athletic 0 – 4 Pegasus Coryton

I hope you can forgive me for keeping this short and to the point, as there are lots of things I would rather be doing instead of dwelling on another defeat that brings to an end a miserable January (results wise).  Despite having a number of key players missing again we were genuinely in with a good chance of getting something from this game for 75 minutes.  In fact, we were only one nil down going into the last 15 minutes because of an early, and rare error from Robin when he headed the ball out of Liam’s hands (it’s OK, he was in goal) and into the grateful path of a waiting opposition player, despite a loud shout of “Keeper’s.” We therefore have to take our hats off to our opponents, who turned the screw and punished us for the smallest of errors in the last 15 minutes, despite having their keeper sent off.  As we faded due to the significant exertions in the opening three quarters of the match, they grew stronger and finished every half chance we presented – well played sirs, and I have to eat humble pie and say you deserved the victory.  Prior to the keeper being sent off we were on top and, as we know, Sharpy’s bets don’t always pay off, and he held his hand up to admit that the gamble he took in changing the formation following the sending off didn’t work.  Still we live and learn by our mistakes, and we still should have done better despite of this.

Today’s line up

Subs: Alex, Dale(2), Sharpy

It wasn’t all doom and gloom, as we created good chances, with the most memorable ones being H being denied by a brilliant save when latching on at the back post from Dale’s low cross, the through-ball from Dale(2) (who looks like a great addition to the squad) to Dale which lead to the keeper handling outside his area, and a neat interplay between Dale(2), Jake and Eye-Ball which lead to a cross from the left back that was headed over by Dale.

And despite the score line looking worse than last week, I would say we collectively played much better, with every player showing good moments during the game.  Therefore MoTM was widely contested with some of the players nominated including Johnny (a solid and composed display at right back), Foggy (was up and down the whole game as he tried to rally his troops), Dale (played the thankless role of loan striker superbly and without complaint), Liam (was outstanding in goal, and took one for the team in taking the gloves when Foggy turned up with a wrist injury) and Rob, who gave a masterclass in positioning and reading of the game at the back, with a few well timed and crunching tackles thrown into the mix.  In the end Rob just piped Foggy, but in honesty I could make an argument for all 14 players who took the field. 

Robin (going a little deaf in his old age) and Foggy (“wah! My wrist hurts”) received nominations for DoTD, but the award went to H for his vein popping reaction to the referee pulling him up for a (supposedly high foot).  Perhaps he just didn’t like you call him shit last time he refereed us H.

We all know this result puts a big dent in our chances of winning the league, but let’s now just take each game as it comes, enjoy ourselves, and keep the pressure on the other challengers so that they know we will be chomping at their heels should they slip up.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 1^st February – Away @ Lakeside.

Goal scoring chart

Pegasus Coryton 4 – 1 Clements Athletic

We were beaten as much by the conditions as the opposition in this top of the table clash, and it was encouraging to hear the boys talking confidently about our chances of overturning this defeat next week on our home turf.  We should definitely not be lacking in motivation, as we are still in a strong position with two games in hand on Pegasus.  Beat them next week and winning the league will still be under our control.  Lose and we will need to beat everyone else to keep the pressure on the other teams and hope that they slip up.

We know we have a small squad, and it could ultimately cost us as injuries meant Sharpy was forced to play people out of position, and was not able to replace as many tiring pairs of legs as would have been ideal.  Still, given where we were pre-season (not knowing if we’d even have enough for a team) it’s great that we’ve put out a team every week and I’m sure the level of commitment that everyone has shown will continue.

Subs: Neil, Rob

I’ve already mentioned the conditions, and there are multiple match reports you can read that talk of the huge pitches at the Pegasus Club.  However, as well as having to cover twice the distance as usual we were also having to run through porridge as the pitch was frankly in an awful state.  In the end our opposition (with their superior fitness and copious substitutes) coped with the conditions better than we did, and the last 30 minutes were pure agony.  Still I was particularly proud that, despite the game being lost at 4-1, we kept getting into the opposition box and forcing them to defend.

Against the odds we took the lead when Dale was put clear on the right by Robin, made it to the bye line and crossed low into the six yard box where ISP was on hand to slot home from 3 yards for his first goal of the season: 0-1.

Unfortunately before we had time to enjoy our lead we had lost it, as we were peeled open by  some good short passing and moving which was finished off with a smart finish into the corner of the net.  We were then soon the ones chasing the lead when we were once again surprised by the quality of Pegasus’s finishing, and definitely learned the hard way that we can’t afford to give these boys an eye at goal in and around the box: 2-1.

Despite being hit for six by these two quick goals, a key decision before half time denied us going into half time with the momentum and lift that a late goal in the half would have provided.*  An out-swinging cross from a free kick on the right was attacked by ISP in the box, who came from behind his man and planted a magnificent looping header into the far corner from about 12 yards out.  The referee pointed to the centre circle, we started to celebrate and the opposition started to get back in position to restart from the middle.  However, the linesman had his flag up and following a consultation with the referee, the goal was ruled out for offside.  The argument being that ISP had started from an offside position, and only came back onside after the ball had been played in.  This was hotly disputed, but we lost this particular argument.

We never really recovered from this and although the effort in the second half can’t be faulted, we became increasingly ragged, and let Pegasus stretch us thin across the pitch and exploit the space this created.  Despite ISP continuing to make good runs, we struggled to create any clear cut chances, and to make matters worse our injury problems deepened when Webby pulled up lame with a groin injury.  Fortunately we were able to convince Brian that putting him down wasn’t, on this occasion, the most humane solution and instead he was given the linesman flag and replaced in the goal by Foggy.

The last two goals came late, and simply rubbed salt into our gaping wounds.  The first came despite Eye-Ball arriving first when the ball rebounded off the cross bar.  His tired attempt at clearing whilst facing goal made it over the striker, who swivelled and hit the ball at the top of the bounce, back over his head and Foggy into the top corner: 3-1.

Three became four and the game was finished when a cross from the left was somehow guided from the front post to the back despite the arriving player having Eye-Ball in close attendance: 4-1.

We may have lost this battle, but that doesn’t have to mean that we lose the war and next week have the chance to put things right.  The awarding of MoTM was a somewhat unenthusiastic event, and I don’t know for sure why Eye-Ball received the most votes (we did lose so it sort of makes sense).  Perhaps the free reign he gave himself to get up and down the pitch when defending became a pointless past-time was noted, and might encourage him to be more adventurous in future.  DoTD rather harshly went to Foggy, who voted for himself and was not overruled.  His reasoning was for giving the ball away in the build up to the second goal we conceded, but there were a lot of tackles that should have been made before the ball ended up in the net.  He may have deserved a nomination anyway for attempting to have a democratic debate with a referee who would start an argument with himself if left alone in a dark room.

Anyway what is done is done, and all we can do is give all we have got next week, and we can only do that if we approach the game with positivity and believe (as we should) that we can win.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 25^th January @ Home v Pegasus.

Goal scoring chart

*Correction:  I have been reliably informed that our second goal would have put us 2-1 up.  Still, the impact was still as described.

Valley Green 3 – 2 Clements Athletic (aet) (Essex cup 4th round)

We may have been knocked out of two cups in two weeks, but there are still plenty of positives we can take from these games:

1. We’re a very tough team to beat over 90 minutes.

2. League games are only 90 minutes long.

3. We avoided a 70 mile round trip thanks to the game being moved to our ground.

4. Which meant we got to go to The Ship Inn and enjoy wraps, sweets AND sausage rolls.

5. We got to try out the new pegs – thanks Alex, they’re fab!

6. We’ve scored some really good goals over the two games.

7. 240 minutes of football should help our fitness.

8. For the second game running the DOTD award found a worthy winner, rather than it going to a      misfortunate and committed defender who unfortunately conceded a penalty.

9. Our small squad is starting to creak at the seams, so a few less games won’t do us any harm.

10. We can concentrate on the league (you’ve got to love a cliché)!

Pretty much the whole squad turned out for this match, but the problem was that three of them – Ryan (shins), Luke (appendix) and Alex (what is it about players called Alex and ingrowing toenails?) – were injured.  Still, Sharpy could still name a strong team, and solved the problem of missing Ryan on the left - and trying to accommodate three first choice central midfielders – by playing Liam on the left and partnering Dale and Harry up top.  Joe earned a promotion to right back, having impressed there in the second half against Lakeside.

Subs: Johnny, Rob, lil’ Ryan, Ryan

Before the game started both sets of players and supporters impeccably observed a minutes silence to pay their respects to Bradley Arthur, whose life recently came to a tragic and premature end.  The Clements players wore black ribbons to show that our thoughts are with the families and friends (some of whom are our team mates) who have suffered this cruel loss.

Our opponents from Witham were a young and confident group of lads, which was evident from the fact that one of them boasting that he would score a hat-trick inside 10 minutes.  To be fair to them, this confidence translated into an assured and technically proficient performance on the pitch.  However, they had obviously not heard of Clements’s famous grit and dogged determination, as although Valley enjoyed a lot of the early possession, some clattering challenges from Robin and Brian reflected the general attitude that we weren’t about to be rolled over by these young pups.

Having survived a couple of early scares (with Webby’s good form continuing), we found that the key to Valley’s defence could easily be picked by exploiting the space they were leaving behind their back four.  Having two master locksmiths in the centre of midfield helps, and Foggy and Jake would have been leaping up the assists charts if a combination of last ditch tackles and superb goal keeping hadn’t denied our attacking four of Liam, Dale, H and Chris.  Dale had the best chance to give us the lead, and did most of the creating himself as he latched onto a through ball before slaloming his way across from the right and into the six yard box, before being foiled by the keeper’s legs –maybe Liam could impart some advice about scoring from 6 yards.

The game was well poised by this point, and it was Clements who made the first breakthrough with by far the best goal of the match.  Chris was sent clear on the right, and he supplied the type of quality cross that we are coming to expect every time the ball leaves his boot.  The cross went deep, and Liam went deeper as he peeled away from his marker before opting to volley – rather than head – the ball back across the keeper an into the far corner: 0-1.

Chris was involved again in our best chance to extend the lead before the break, when he went in hot pursuit of a through ball into the box, but got to the ball at the same time as the outrushing goal keeper.  Both players bravely contested the ball, but the keeper won this particular battle.

The second half was always going to be difficult for Clements’s defence, with the Sun and wind definitely not acting in our favour.  It was the run of the ball rather than the conditions that levelled the score, when an attempted through ball on the edge of the box was blocked, but bounced up nicely for Valley’s midfielder to slot into the net: 1-1.

The score line did not stay like this for long, with the referee awarding the first of two debatable penalties.  Foggy slid the ball through for Liam to chase into the area, and there was no doubt that his cross struck the arm of the full back, who was about four yards away.  The attacking team will always argue that it’s a penalty because the player’s arm is away from his body and has significantly altered the ball’s path.  The defending team will argue that the player had no chance of getting his arm out of the way, and that the handball wasn’t deliberate.  Both arguments seem valid, but the referee went with the attacking team on this occasion, and Dale showed great character to step up and score the spot kick despite having missed in the penalty shoot-out the previous week (a fact that the opposition were somehow aware of and took great pleasure in reminding him): 1-2.

Now believe it or not, referees are human, and I can’t help but think that Valley may have sewed seeds of doubt in our young whistle blower over his decision to award a penalty to Clements.  Therefore, when a Valley player threw himself to the ground after coming into close contact with Brian, you can’t help but think that the opportunity to ‘even things up’ and restore the previous equilibrium made the decision to blow the whistle and point to the spot all too easy. The penalty was dispatched, and with neither team able to find a way to finish the game in normal time, for the second week running we were heading for extra time: 2-2.

Whilst physical fatigue is bound to set in as the clock ticks past the 90 minutes mark, mental tiredness was also an issue as passes became sloppy, players failed to react as quickly as they might to the movement of the opposition and our positional awareness was pretty much non-existent.  Players were also becoming increasingly irritable, and with a referee who was a master of irritation this lead to some angry words and confrontations. H was particularly lucky to avoid seeing red as, towards the end of extra time he threw all his toys out of the pram in a manner that was reminiscent of Sharpy in his heyday.  This complete loss of self-control earned Harry the DoTD award.

Unfortunately the only goal of the additional thirty minutes was scored by Valley.  We obviously have some weaknesses as a team – if we didn’t we wouldn’t be dodging dog shit at Blackshots playing field in front of a crowd of 7.  One that is becoming increasingly apparent is an inability to attack the second ball from corners, as again this was our undoing as a Valley midfielder reacted quickest to poke the ball in from 6 yards.  You could obviously question our marking, and argue that players aren’t sticking with their man.  However, I think you can’t rely on one man in this situation and others need to take a gamble by leaving their men to throw themselves in the direction of the ball, wherever it happens to be.  We just seem to be a bit static in these situations, and it cost us again on this occasion: 3-2.

We may not have managed to take the game to penalties, but this wasn’t through the lack of chances that we created.  Johnny, who had replaced Jake towards the end of the second half, hit a couple of the sweetest strikes you will see.  One went narrowly wide, and the second was well saved by Valley’s excellent goal keeper.  Lil’ Ryan (who had replaced Chris) also had a great chance to open his Clements account when he met the ball in the air at the back post, but couldn’t direct it on target from a tight angle.  Even Eye-Ball should have had a possible assist for the equalising goal, as he was felled in the area when attempting to bring down a high ball. Well, all the Clements players who were nearby thought it was in the area, but vitally the referee didn't agree and awarded a free kick right on the edge of the box.

You had to be proud of the way the boys kept going right until the final whistle, and you have to take Valley’s ridiculous attempts at time wasting by holding up the ball in the corner with over 10 minutes still to go as a sign that they doubted their ability to hold on to the lead against us.  It is a shame that not all the subs got a run out, but Sharpy openly admitted that he was struggling for ideas of how to turn the game around (and the option of roll-on roll-off subs didn’t make his life any easier).  However, this didn’t stop all the squad getting involved in supporting the team and I know Sharpy goes out of his way to explain his reasoning to individuals, and will be as fair as he can be over the course of the season.

Despite the defeat there were still plenty of outstanding performers throughout the team, but the MoTM award was unanimously awarded to Joe ‘Petal’ Flower (make sure H buys you a drink).  With so many purist defenders in the squad, Luke’s absence had robed us of a significant attacking option when looking to build up from the back.  However, Joe showed in this game that he is more than capable of meeting this requirement, and relished the opportunity to get forward and link up with Chris on the right, whilst also fulfilling his defence responsibilities superbly.  It’s just a shame we will be losing him very soon to his studies – although hopefully he will consider joining up with us again if the opportunity arises.

We naturally felt a bit down at being knocked out of our second cup in as many weeks, but we need to pick ourselves up for next week, as there is once again a new league leader who we need to displace.  We’ve raised our game every time we have come up against a team who would have been eyeing up the title, and I have now doubt that we will do it again.  However, if you do feel a little low having read this report, and feel the need to reach for an extra sheet of toilet paper to dry your eyes, just scroll (or swipe) back to the top of the page and read the ten reasons to be cheerful again, and also reflect on how fortunate we are to have the freedom and ability to choose to spend our Sundays playing football in the company of friends.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 18^th January – Away v Pegasus @ The Pegasus Club.

Goal scoring chart

Lakeside F.C. 4 – 4 Clements Athletic (4-2 pens) (Div 2 league cup round 1)

Losing this game hurt, as we rightly felt we had a good chance of going all the way to the final of the league cup.  Unfortunately, as those who were roped into playing the drinking games at the Christmas booze up will testify to, there is always a risk that the coin of chance will land on tails when you called heads, and you’ll end up necking a dirty pint of awfulness that leaves you feeling sick.

The problem with a cup defeat is that it is all too easy to remember the key negative moments that leave individuals feeling somehow culpable for the loss.  However, there was no finger pointing either during or at the end of the game, as we all knew that everyone had contributed so much to the team effort that made this such a hard fought and competitive match.  We probably would have won the game in normal time, if it hadn’t been for Eye-Ball conceding a penalty in the last five minutes.  We definitely would have won 4-3 in extra time if Webby hadn’t made his only misjudgement of the match in coming off his line from the free kick which was the very last kick of extra time.  Maybe we would have won the penalty shoot-out if the two Kenyons hadn’t missed the target with their spot kicks.  However, none of these moments would have meant anything, as the game would almost certainly have been lost before they occurred if it hadn’t been for the contribution of these players: the numerous well timed tackles and interceptions from Eye-Ball (including one that was not to referee’s liking, who needed to be informed that Greg Rutherford no longer plays for us); the colossal display from Webby who repelled numerous one-on-one chances and caught everything that came anywhere near the six yard box; and the assists and finishing of the Kenyons which lead to all of our four goals.  People have rightly said that we need to forget this game and move on, but you only really get a sense of the strength of a squad when you lose, and I have been really impressed with how we have reacted to the two defeats we have suffered so far.

Three of the squad were missing this week, but only two because of work.  Luke was rushed into hospital for an emergency appendix operation during the week.  We wish him a swift recovery and hope to see him charging up and down the right wing again soon (and supplying us we sweets).

Subs: Chris, Johnny, lil’ Ryan

Dale commented at half time that we should take great heart from being two nil up despite not playing very well, and he was right that we had struggled to find the rhythm and cutting edge that had been so evident at the end of 2014.  Credit must go to the opposition, who pressed us hard, and played our front two better than most have this season, by giving them little time and space to turn and run at their defence.

We took the lead against the run of play midway through the first half, with the fact that the scores had remained level being thanks in no small part to some great saves – including a tip over the bar from a rasping shot – by Webby.  Foggy is making a habit of popping up in the six yards box at the right time, and was perfectly placed to tap home following good work on the bye line by Ryan to keep the ball in play and lift it into the area, and a brave challenge on the keeper by Liam, whose header fell kindly for el Capitano: 0-1.

The goal that extended our lead was another one for the scrap book.  Liam broke on the counter from our corner, and sent the ball forward where it was won by Dale on the right.  He then put in a deep cross to his brother who was about 16 yards out and on the angle.   Ryan chested the ball and then caressed it with the inside of his right foot over the keeper, off the underside of the bar and into the net: 0-2.

The luck may have been on our side in the first half, but it dramatically flipped in the second as you could argue that, on another day, none of Lakeside’s four goals would have ended up in the back of the net.

They got back in the game when Eye-Ball instinctively threw a leg in the way of a well driven low shot, but his effort to block it only resulted in the ball deflected away from Webby’s dive and into the back of the net: 1-2.

Our two goal cushion was restored when Dale and Ryan combined on the left, with Ryan dropping more than one shoulder to get past his man before drilling the ball low into the six yard box.  With Clements players waiting to pounce, the defender had to intercept, but could only help the ball into the net: 1-3.

Lakeside had us really under the cosh for the last 15 minutes, and post-Christmas tiredness started to set in as we lost our shape, but more importantly our discipline; giving away far too many free kicks around the area.  Lakeside’s second goal came as a result of our bad shape, as two players broke into the box behind our back line.  Eye-Ball did manage to get back to make a tackle, but the ball rebounded up to the other player who somehow found a way past Webby: 2-3.

Eye-Ball can feel a bit unlucky for conceding a penalty in the manor he did (and I can say that because I’m writing the report).  He had read the through ball, but was beaten to the challenge by Foggy, who cannot be criticised for putting in the effort to help out his defence.  Unfortunately his tackle turned into a second through ball, and as Eye-Ball turned to poke the ball away a Lakeside player came charging past, got his foot caught under Eye-Ball’s and went to ground.  Foggy was aggrieved at the manner in which the player threw himself to the deck, but there was contact so the decision couldn’t be disputed.  The spot kick was calmly slotted home, and we were going to extra time: 3-3.

Sharpy claimed the assist for the goal that gave us an early lead in extra time, which we were to hold right up to the final kick of the game.  With an attacking corner won, Sharpy halted Johnny’s attempt to sneak into the box ‘Robin Lawrence Style’, and instead told Brian to get himself in there.  This Brian duly did, and stooped to head home Ryan’s in-swinging corner from 8 yards.

Both teams wasted chances to score in the 25 minutes that followed, and we were the ones to be punished.  Discipline has rarely been a problem this season, and although we found plenty of reasons to moan at the referee in this game, we should thank him for being relatively lenient.  We did have to play the last 5 minutes with ten men, but there were a couple of other instances which could have had a more significant impact earlier in the game, if the referee had been more willing to reach for his notebook.  Corners and free kicks around the box had been so well dealt with by Webby throughout the match, that when a foul was committed 25 yards out we felt confident that we could defend it.  However, Webby was a little too keen to claim the ball and misjudged the flight.  Eye-Ball was standing closest to him, and could tell it was going end badly by the look on his face which screamed “oh shit” without a word being spoken.  The referee let us get back into position and kick off before instantly blowing his whistle for full time: 4-4.

We all know how the penalty shoot-out ended, and it’s no surprise that the team who would have felt Christmas had just come again, won out against the team who just found out that the fat bloke in the red suit, kissing mummy under the mistletoe, was in fact their Uncle Derek.  We should praise the five blokes who put their hands up to take a kick: well done to Chris and Joe for scoring theirs; commiserations to Ryan and Dale (at least they were stylish misses), and don’t forget the unsung hero Liam, who turned up to the party in his best frock only to find everyone had gone home (except Uncle Derek).  

There was no need for a vote to decide Man of the Match, although ironically his one mistake possible sealed it, as a solid performance at right back and centre back, and your first goal for the club also being the winning goal in extra time may have given the sentimental vote to Brian.  As it was Brian’s contribution was forgotten and, in an unprecedented turn of events, Webby walked away with both MoTM and DoTD awards.  We don’t need to explain what the latter was for.  So, Webby, get yourself a drink on…yourself.

There is no more to say really, other than it’s really good that no-one fell out, especially as we’ve got a long drive to Witham in the Essex Cup next week.  It’s going to be tough, but let’s enjoy it and give it our best shot.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 11^th January, AWAY @ Bramston Sports Ground, Witham v Valley Green.

 Goal scoring chart