Clements Athletic 4 - 0 Greyhound

At last, a win!  2015 has been pretty miserable so far, and it felt great to finally get a win under our belts.  OK, so Greyhound were the weakest side we have played since the turn of the year, but this was a controlled and composed performance in which the confidence which had been so severely missing in recent weeks gradually returned, until we were nearly back to our old selves by the time the referee blew up at the end of the game.

Sharpy only had 12 players to choose from, and with Webby still injured Foggy ‘took one for the team’ by going in goal.  This he did despite suffering with a sprained wrist, but fortunately he got through the game without any damage being done, and it meant Liam could continue his good partnership with Dale up front.

Subs: Chris

It was clear early on that we should be good enough to beat Greyhound, with the only risk being the awful condition of the pitch, which made up in mud what it was lacking in grass.  We took the lead when Dale came close to scoring himself, but in the end took the next best option when his shot was blocked, by poking the ball into the path of Liam, who scored from 7 yards.  Foggy can claim an indirect assist, as I’m not sure if Liam would have made it into this goal scoring position if he had been in goal (although he came close when he rushed out to miss the ball last time out!): 1-0.

A one goal lead wasn’t enough to settle our nerves, but despite our best efforts we weren’t able to extend our lead in the first half.  This was in part due to some fine saves from Greyhound’s keeper, one of which denied lil’ Ryan of his first Clements goal when he unleashed a fierce shot from just inside the box.

It wasn’t all one way traffic, and with the sun in our eyes defending against Greyhound’s long ball was not easy, and at times we didn’t look comfortable.  However, Foggy wasn’t in the mood to be beaten, and when the ball fell to a Greyhound player in the box our skipper was out quickly to block the shot with his leg and keep us in the lead at the half way mark.

The second half was much more one way traffic, as our midfield gradually took control and Greyhound’s defence continued to struggle with Liam and Dale’s movement.  It was the movement of Dale on the left which led to a vital second goal.  You can’t really say that Ryan spotted his run, but Dale was hollering so loudly at his brother to play the reverse pass through the gap that the ball could have been played blindfolded.  As you would expect, the ball was perfect, as was Dale’s finish across the keeper: 2-0.

Dale tried to claim a second goal, but although the ball ended up in the net, there were no flies on the referee who gave a goal kick when Dale’s throw in sailed into the goal without further intervention.

Clements are a different side when they are a couple of goals in front, and we were now playing with swagger and energy, and suddenly everyone wanted the ball.  More goals were inevitable, and for the second time this season Luke mugged a Kenyon. However, his run from the right deserved something, and a slight deflection on Ryan’s shot as it flew into the corner of the net from 20 yards meant Luke’s reward was the goal whilst Ryan had to settle for his second assist of the game.  Still that is what he is in the team for! 3-0.

Ryan didn’t have to wait long to deservedly get on the score sheet, and it was his name sake who provided the cross from the right for Ryan to head towards goal.  His connection was much better than last time he had a headed chance, and the keeper had no chance of keeping the ball out on this occasion: 4-0.

So at last we did it, and a clean sheet was the icing on the cake.  There were nominations all over the pitch for MoTM, including Alex who got the balance between stepping up and dropping off just right to play the sweeping role superbly.  In midfield lil’Ryan was influential in a rare 90 minute performance, and Jake’s composure gave the rest of the attacking players the time to get into good positions to receive the ball.  However, the award rightly went to Harry, who was back to his old self as he tackled hard, tracked back, got forward, and on numerous occasions was the catalyst for our attacks as a sharp turn or burst of pace took more than one Greyhound player out of the game at once. DoTD was a little more difficult, as nobody did anything to put either themselves or the team to shame.  In the end a new criteria had to be created, and Robin received the award purely based on the fact that he had not had it so far, and is probably the one least likely to do so through the regular route.

So well done boys, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and let’s make sure we experience the feeling of winning again next week.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 1^st March @ Home v Mossops

Goal scoring chart

Clements Athletic 2 – 2 Mustang

This might not have been the result we wanted, but given our recent run a point is a step in the right direction!  We won’t be sorry to see the back of Mustang, and cup ties and the usual farce of league re-arrangements aside, we shouldn’t need to play them for at least one more season.

Sharpy was able to keep his jeans on this week, as he had 15 other players to choose from including the welcome return of Webby.  He mixed it up a bit, resting Robin and Jake whilst Liam was restored to his favourite position up front alongside Dale.

Subs: Chris, Robin, Jake, lil ‘Ryan

On a perfect Sunny Winter morning, Clements started brightly in attack, and Mustang’s scruffy defending gave us early hope that we could get our own back following the shocking result in the reverse fixture.  Unfortunately we weren’t as bright at the back, and got caught napping as a long ball over the top saw the striker race clear.  Webby came out well to make the initial save, and Rob blocked from the first rebound.  Unfortunately the ball just kept falling to Mustang players, and eventually it was fired into the roof of the empty net: 0-1.

It was pleasing to see that we didn’t panic despite going behind early again, and we were soon back on level terms.  We all know that Webby has a booming right foot, but his groin injury meant that he needed to avoid kicking from hand or on the ground wherever possible.  His first test of the groin produced a visible grimace (and a telling off from Alex), but it was worth the pain as his clearance beat the Mustang defence and Dale smashed the ball high on the bounce into the top of the net, handing Webby his second assist of the season: 1-1.

Not soon after it was necessary for Robin to replace Rob, who was the victim of a disgraceful assault by Mustang’s cretin of a striker.  The pair had just had a strong exchange of words following a tussle for the ball, and then when Rob played the ball out to Eye-Ball on the left, the two footed tackle from behind was so late that the argument that he went for the ball was frankly laughable.  To make matters worse the weak referee (who was a very unfortunate assignment for this fixture) felt a yellow card was sufficient punishment – I’d love to see how he manages to justify that one in his write up.   No one (including the opposition manager who couldn’t apologise enough) agreed with his evaluation.  I just hope that no lasting damage has been done, and I’m grateful that we don’t have any cowards like that in our team who would hide behind the excuse that they are just “playing the game” when purposefully going out to cripple an opponent.

This incident didn’t stop Mustang making up for their lack of ability by throwing themselves recklessly into tackles, and we received no protection at all.  To make matters worse we went behind again following a long ball over the top.  This time Eye-Ball got across to make the tackle on the edge of the area, but the ball fell kindly again for a Mustang player who found time and space to slot home:  1-2.

Dale’s three game scoring drought had already been ended with the first goal of this game, and it seemed this had reset his radar, as he collected the ball from Harry in a crowded area before moving the ball onto his right and firing with the outside of his boot into the far corner – a sublime finish that was even better than the first: 2-2.

With Foggy getting stuck into the challenges, Harry was starting find space to control the game, and he could have had a second assist if the player whose run he picked out down the left wasn’t Eye-Ball.  Still, side netting has to be considered a pretty good outcome given our left back’s goal to game ratio, but it was never going to give us the lead.

The second half brought no goals, but plenty of chances for Clements.  Mustang’s were rarer and included an early shout for a penalty when Eye-Ball brought down the striker on his route the goal.  A penalty (and possibly a red card) would have been the decision according to the letter of the law, however the corner the referee awarded seemed the more just result given that the striker shouldn’t have even been on the pitch, and the fact that two strong shouts for penalties following fouls on Luke and Dale had been similarly waved away in the first half.  The only other chance of note for our opposition produced a fine save from Webby at his near post.

Clements’s best chances included a thunderous pile driver from Foggy from 30 yards.  He hit it so sweetly that it seemed to be goal-bound from the moment it left his foot, but unfortunately the underside of the crossbar (which I’m surprised stayed attached to the posts) came to the rescue for our opposition.  Dale also attempted to reshape the woodwork when, in search of his hat-trick, he shot across the keeper and hit the far post from a tight angle.  Jake had another good effort of note, but his controlled up-and-down effort came down a little too quickly to trouble the keeper.

Mustang retreated further and further into their own half, and we found it increasingly difficult to find any space in behind them.  Even Ryan’s quick feet couldn’t create space, as every time he turned there was another man in his way.  In the end we had to settle for the draw, which didn’t quite feel like a defeat considering we had never led in this game, but nonetheless we knew we should be beating sides like Mustang comfortably.

After weeks of being Clement’s top scorer and assist provider Dale finally earned a unanimous vote for MoTM.  If it hadn’t been for his excellent finishing we probably would have lost this match, and it’s just a shame he didn’t get the hat-trick his performance deserved.  As opposition players can’t win the DoTD award, it was handed to Jake who followed up his customary “reducer” with some unnecessary afters which saw him formally acquainted with the referee within 5 minutes of being on the pitch.

After a tough January (which included two 120 minute games), we have a week off to recharge the batteries and reflect on what we need to do individually and collectively to gain that elusive first victory of 2015.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 22^nd February @ Home v Greyhound

Goal scoring chart

Lakeside 2 – 1 Clements Athletic

 This was a game we would be happy to forget, but unfortunately for me a sore pair of man balloons (following a collision with Liam), a snapped shin pad (following a collision with Sharpy and half the Lakeside defence) and the requirement to maintain an up to date record of our encounters (be they good or bad) means that I have to think back to last Sunday’s lacklustre performance and commit some words to the digital history of Clements Athletic.  I’m sure you can forgive me for being brief.

The positive was that two key players (Ryan and Luke) were available following lengthy injuries, but this was somewhat neutralised by the absence of our captain (Milton Keynes of all places!) and an ankle injury suffered by Johnny during the game which could keep him out for the rest of the season.  This was especially cruel as the team were wearing black bands to remember Johnny’s brother, who died at this time nine years ago.  Even the guys who were playing were not all in tip top conditions, with both Jake and Harry being ill.  Harry particularly seemed to be suffering rather badly from 30 odd days without the taste of alcohol.  Credit to them both though for dragging themselves off their sick beds to play in freezing cold, windy conditions.

Subs: Sharpy, Dale(2), Brian

Not even the fact that Lakeside played the first 15 minutes with 10 men seemed able to galvanise us, and throughout the match it seemed that we lacked the cohesion and desire to take the game to our opponents and try to win the game.  It’s hard to be critical, as it has been a tough five weeks, and losing can become as much of a habit as winning.  We’ve lost some of that swagger and confidence that first appeared when we came from two down to beat Deportivo in the opening game of the season.  We have six games left this season, and with a lot of heart (and maybe a spot of luck) I’m sure we will still have plenty of reasons to hold our heads up high.

This game was goalless for about 65 minutes, with the best Clements chances I remember being individual efforts from Jake.  Firstly when he fired just over the bar from 25 yards out, and then when a free kick from 45 yards almost deceived the keeper, who had to tip the ball over the bar.

When the keeper saved well from Dale, Ryan showed us what we had been missing when he was first to react and calmly slotted the rebound into the net: 0-1.

Our lead was short lived when our defence was sliced open by a through ball, and despite Chris’s best effort, he couldn’t prevent the ball from rolling over the line: 1-1.

A point would still probably have flattered us, but we nearly got one nonetheless.  However, with five minutes to go Sharpy was caught offside – being the only player in the opposition half – and on this occasion Liam was probably off his line a little too quickly, and was left stranded as the ball was headed over him and into the net to hand Lakeside the victory: 2-1.

One man who definitely didn’t deserve to be on the losing side was Big Rob, was once again gave a masterclass in defending.  Even when it seemed the strikers had left him for dead, you would find him resurrected in the penalty area and making a perfectly timed (and eye-wateringly heavy) challenge or block.  The only problem was the Bambi on Ice moments caused by footwear that was inappropriate for the muddy conditions – still at least it gave the opposition a bit of a chance.  It was no surprise that he was voted MoTM for the second week running.  DoTD was more fiercely contested, but in the end Harry’s angry outburst (he really was a lot calmer when turning up pissed) was beaten by the hilarious sight of Sharpy realising that the best course of action was to pass the ball out to Ryan on the left, but realising that this would mean using the pointless appendage attached to his right leg.  He finally decided to try it regardless, and could only watch in horror as the ball spooned off in the opposite direction to that intended.  Still, 10 out of 10 for effort.

I’m sure we won’t be stupid enough to think that next week’s game against bottom of the table Mustang will be a walk in the park, as we all remember what happened last time.  They will be going into the match following a win, which on one hand makes me happy that I no longer have to look at the table and be reminded where their only three points came from, but on the other hand means they will be thinking they can repeat the feat against us.  It’s time for revenge, and to return to winning ways – game faces on everyone!

Eye-Ball

Next match: Sunday 8th February @ home v Mustang

Goal scoring chart