Purfleet Old Boys 7 - 1 Clements Athletic

It may be tempting to pretend this game never happened, but for the completeness of our records, and the fact that one person in particular would be disappointed if one incident wasn't mentioned, I'll briefly summarise.

Subs: Sharpy, Parker

Clements went behind when Eye-Ball's valiant effort to block a shot on the line resulted in the ball striking his arm as he slid in on the ground.  The resulting penalty was converted, although Conor did well to get a hand on the ball.

Clements didn't let their head go down despite the omens not being good against a side averaging over 5 goals a game.  Foggy has been making the headlines over the last few weeks for incredible misses from close range, so when H laid the ball off and Foggy hit the ball towards goal from 30 yards, you can imagine our astonishment to see it hit the top corner of the net.  It was an awesome strike, and gave Clements a real lift: 1-1.

Unfortunately, things didn't get any better and despite H working tirelessly upfront on his own, Purfleet gradually wore us down.  Matters weren't helped by a bad injury to Bunny midway through the second half, up to which point the score had been kept respectable at 3-1.  They say that boxing is a cruel sport, but at least you have the option of throwing in the towel when your man is well and truly beaten.  Although the referee's watch kept ticking, once the 4th goal went in Clements gave up and the flood gates opened.

The hurt and frustration at being humiliated in such a way was evident after the fine whistle, and hopefully this will be incentive enough to not let it happen again.

Eye-Ball

Lakeside Reserves 1 - 4 Clements Athletic

This was a strange game, in which the full compliment of 22 players was only present for about 5 minutes.  Clements started with eleven, but Lakeside were only able to field a starting ten.  Alec chose to shake the team up a little, with Tapsell starting at centre back, Rob at right back and Liam out on the left wing.

Subs: Harry, Browne

Clements started brightly as they looked to capitalise on the one man advantage.  The lead came early when some good link up play between Eye-Ball, Liam and Dale on the left resulted in a corner.  Ryan swung the ball in and Liam glanced his header into the far corner: 0-1

The lead was soon doubled when Dale picked up the ball on the left and played a delightful ball into the space on the right for brother Ryan.  He controlled the ball first time and finished superbly across the keeper with the outside of the right boot: 0-2.

Lakeside's eleventh man had turned up by this point, but was undertaking an extended warm up on the sideline.  Clements should really have been four up by the time he came on, with Foggy and Niki coming close to scoring.  If there was a prize for miss of the season we could have awarded it to Foggy at half time in this match, as when the ball was played into the middle across the line Foggy somehow managed to lift it over the bar from 0.0001 yards out.  Now Foggy and Dale had been discussing Foggy's baron goal scoring record before the game, but I would have put it down to lack of opportunities in front of goal for a player who usually plays at the back.  However, I now believe he must be cursed as no one can be this unlucky!  Niki's chance wasn't as clear cut, but as he charged into the box from the back the sound referee's whistle harshly judging him offside must have led to him scuffing his shot.

The game was briefly contested between 2 teams of 11 players, but only for about ten minutes before both sides were reduced to ten men, with Lakeside's late arrival also leaving early for a much needed warm down.

The game was now a very open affair, with lots of space and increasingly tired legs.  Clements defended well and restricted Lakeside to speculative efforts from outside the box, mainly from their nippy midfielder who was determined to dribble past our whole team single handed.

Foggy had more chances to break his curse, but the force-field in front of goal remained as his efforts hit everything apart from the back of the net.  Foggy shouldn't feel too frustrated at still not having broken his duck for Clements.  Some like Niki have been waiting an awful lot longer to make a dent in the goal scoring chart.  45 games without a goal or assist was el-capitano's record before this game, so when he hooked a ball back into the mix from a corner, and Rob pounced to prod the ball into the net you would have thought Niki had scored the winning goal in a cup final: 0-3.

The three points should have been well and truly in the bag by the time Lakeside spoiled our attempt at a clean sheet, but their keeper was having an absolute blinder.  Liam - who definitely deserved another goal for his constant lung bursting runs - was one of many Clements players to be denied by the flying shot stopper.

Any fears of Lakeside causing an upset were alleviated when Tapsell put H through on goal and he finished first time from a tight angle.  His goal celebration wasn't one of his finest moments, but if it made him feel better (and he can afford it) then why not: 1-4.

It's a shame we weren't able to put one over on Lakeside in a proper game, as we have always narrowly missed out on three points to them in the past, which should have made victory feel that bit sweeter.  Still, three points is three points at the end of the day and hopefully the outcome (if not the circumstances) will be the same next time.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 8th December - Away v Purfleet Old Boys @ Belhus Park

Clements Athletic 0 - 3 Purfleet Old Boys

Sharpy delivered one of his inspirational pre-match speeches before this game, which went something along the lines of, 'Let's really put it up them and give them a game; we're going to lose but lets put it up them.'  Truly inspiring as always.

Alec had a few more options this week (but not many), and with Conor nursing a bad back Foggy stepped up to stand between the sticks.

I think this was the team, but my memory is a little hazy:

Sub: Sharpy

Against a team who are running away with the league, it is perhaps not surprising that the star man for Clements was Foggy in goal.  As if he wasn't going to have enough to do, he decided to bring down Purfleet's front man for a clear cut penalty.  He quickly redeemed himself by saving the penalty and smothering the rebound.

Despite the odds being stacked against us, our best chance of the game would have given us the lead when H found himself clear through on goal.  Unfortunately his composure deserted him, and the keeper pounced to block the ball with his legs.

Clements then conceded three goals in the first half from various angles, and went in at half time with many heads hanging.  A passionate rant from the manager then ensued, with the main point being to show some balls and play as a team.

This seemed to have an impact, as we had a much better second half.  We kept a clean sheet, and arguably had the better chances to score, with Tapsell and Ryan having good efforts on goal.  In the end we were able to walk off with our heads held high, and hopefully have all grown stronger as a team by the experience.

Eye-Ball

Clements Athletic 2 - 2 Mossops

Me and my big mouth.  Just a week after praising a fantastic turn out, Clements just about scrapped a team together, with 5 central midfielders and 2 strikers missing for various reasons.  There is no doubt that with a full squad we would have turned over this side, but the guys who were there - and especially those who played out of position - should be proud of the way we battled to the end and supported all those in a purple shirt (and the one bloke in a green one).  A special mention for Parker and Gollum, who turn up most weeks to support the team without getting a look in, and stand out as an example to all of us of what being a part of this club should mean.

Subs: Gollum

Despite only having twelve men to choose from, Alec still managed to annoy someone.  Gollum was distraught that Parker and been given the nod in front of him, and if Alec thought he was going to run the line he had another thing coming.

Clements started really well, with Sharpy having the biggest influence on the game.  By dropping off Liam he acted as a target from which to play others into space, and he time and again showed good awareness and neat touches to move the ball out wide to Chris or infield to Ryan, both of whom were finding space.  It was Chris who broke the deadlock with a goal of the season contender.  Liam whipped in a cross from the right which was headed goal wards by Sharpy.  The keeper was beaten but the defender did well to head the ball clear.  Unfortunately for him, it fell to Chris on the right hand side of the box, and he blasted the ball into the far top corner for his first goal in Clements colours: 1-0.

Chris then had a great chance to double his tally for the season when Tapsell played him in.  He again struck the ball well, but this time the cross bar came to Mossop's rescue.

We were looking pretty comfortable up to this point, and it took a slice (literally) of luck to bring Mossops level.  A free kick from the half way line was mis-controlled on the edge of the box, which turned into a perfect through ball for the winger whose cross come shot floated over Conor and into the goal: 1-1.

Clements weren't about to let their heads drop, and retook the lead when Rob played the ball high into the box from a free kick.  No one picked up Sharpy, and he flicked then ball over his head from a standing start to elude the keeper, who was slow off his line: 2-1.

Frustratingly the lead only lasted a matter of minutes, as the Mossops lone striker broke free.  With Niki, Rob and Eye-Ball rushing for a pre-arranged meeting of the Defender's Union on the goal line, there wasn't enough room left for Eye-Ball's attempted clearance to avoid his comrades, and the ball ricocheted into the net.  The striker was pretty desperate to claim the goal, so I've decided to let him have it (I'm nice like that): 2-2.

I'm going to keep the description of the second half brief, as most of the football was too awful to be worthy of a mention.  Both sides had a couple of chances to snatch all three points; Sharpy had the best one for Clements when a diagonal ball across the box from Liam found him in space at the far post with just the keeper to beat.  Unfortunately Sharpy didn't know how much time he had, and snatched at the chance with his left foot when a right boot back across the keeper was what was required.  Liam also had a chance when Parker played a delightful ball into the box, however the defenders were equal to it on this occasion and cleared the danger.  Mossops had a penalty shout turned down (good job for Eye-Ball as that would have been three in four weeks), and when their striker had his one clear cut chance, he lifted it over Conor but wide of the target.

The performance may not have been pretty, but all twelve of us were able to walk off with our heads held high, knowing we had given our all for the team and each other.  Tapsell epitomised this, as he seemed to be all over the pitch at times, throwing himself into tackles and fighting for every ball.  Next week is going to be a much tougher match, even with a stronger side, but we want Purfleet Old Boys to know they have had a game, and that they are going to have to fight for the three points if they want them.

Eye-Ball

Next match: Sunday 24th November @ HOME (that's Blackshots Conor) v Purfleet Old Boys.

South Stifford 3 - 5 Clements Althletic

Clements continued their week on week improvement with a hard thought victory against one of the top sides in the league.  Our opposition may not have been at full strength (and played the first ten minutes with ten men), but that should take nothing away from a performance in which we showed the character and team spirit the manager has been asking for, as we lost the lead twice and came from behind once to win.  Dale has been so prolific in front of goal since joining last season that seeing him score two or three goals in a game isn't unusual.  In fact, in twenty-nine games he had scored four hat-tricks and found the net more than once on ten occasions.  He again gave a finishing master class to score an incredible five goals in today's game (O.K. Sharpy, we know you still hold the record of six), and move himself above Ryan in the goal scoring chart (I wonder if that was an incentive) and Clements up to fifth in the table.

Alec and Widge may take some credit for Dale's goals, as they moved him from the wing to up front partnering Liam.  Ben S filled the hole on the right wing, and Browne returned having now fully recovered from last week's hangover.  It was fantastic to see such a great turn out, but just a shame that you know from the start that not everyone can be involved in the action.

Subs: Sharpy, H, Ben A, Chris, Bunny, Parker, Gollum

With South Stifford's eleventh man on the way it was vital that Clements made the most of the one man advantage, and the team started brightly and created some good chances to take the lead.  Liam was unlucky not to score when his powerful header from a cross flew straight at the keeper who made a smart save.  Tapsell then found space in the midfield to break and play a perfectly weighted pass to Ben S who was overlapping on the right wing.  He kept his (milk) bottle to avoid two lunging tackles but then shot tamely at the keeper.  The pressure was building to secure a lead when Ben S decided to (milk) float a ball down the channel into the box.  Dale anticipated  the defender missing it a slotted the ball passed the keeper: 1-0.

The eleventh man arrived just as play was re-starting, and it did make a difference as some of the space down the wings disappeared.  Stifford started coming more into the game, and Eye-Ball had to be on hand twice to deny them an equaliser. First there was a clearance off the line after Conor had been beaten by a shot across the goal, and then Eye-Ball put the big striker under just enough pressure under the bar for him to miss a header into an open goal.  Stifford's deliveries from their left side were superb, as they looked for their heavyweight front man, who unsurprisingly chose to go up against Clements' welterweight left back.  A second attempt to win the ball from a cross was more successful for the striker, as he powered the ball - and Eye-Ball - into the back of the net: 1-1.

Eye-Ball continued to be as involved at one end as Dale was at the other, and got his own back on the Stifford Striker as he slid in just in time to block the shot before we were made to pay for a terrible offside line.  Eye-Ball was then the prime candidate for the conceding of a dubious penalty, as he stuck a leg out to intercept a throw only for an opposition player to fall over him from behind.  The penalty was dispatched into the top corner to give Stifford the lead: 2-1.

Going behind at this stage was a big test for our resolve, and we rose to the challenge to get back into the game before half time.  Liam challenged for the ball on the edge of the box and was fouled, allowing Dale to drive the ball into the far corner from the free-kick, leaving the keeper routed to the spot: 2-2.

The half time team talk was mainly positive, but we knew we needed to be better organised across the pitch.  One change was made, with Ben S moving to right back, and H coming on for Browne on the right wing.

H's introduction definitely made an impact, as he made a real nuisance of himself; battling for every ball and linking up well on the right with Ben S.  Last time we played Stifford it was evident that we were the team who tired, having spent most of the game chasing the ball.  On this occasion our improved possession stats and energy off the ball seemed to have the opposite effect, with Tapsell and Foggy finding themselves with more time on the ball and dominating the midfield.

Clements took the lead when a ball was played over the top (assist up for grabs here as I missed the pass), and the defender made a hash of clearing the ball to leave Dale with the simple (unless your Foggy) task of slotting the ball passed the keeper: 2-3.

It took a rare error from Rob to get Stifford back in the game as he scuffed an attempted back pass, which put Niki's brother clear through on goal.  He still had work to do, but showed who got the striker genes as he powered an unstoppable shot across Conor: 3-3.

There was yet another opportunity for Eye-Ball to make a goal line clearance before the lead was once again reclaimed by Clements as Ryan cut in from the left and dribbled into the box.  A rash tackle saw the ball ricochet into Dale's path for another tap in: 3-4.

A big moment of controversy then followed as Clements pushed out from a corner.  The ball was played back over the top and Joe Law ran through on goal, round Conor and slotted the ball home.  Ben A had already raised the flag as there were players in offside positions, and the referee immediately blew his whistle.  Joe was convinced he had run in from an onside position, and protested vehemently (I won't repeat what he actually said to preserve the Law family's good name).  The ref's big mistake was blowing up immediately instead of letting play go on before consulting his linesman.  What followed was a long delay and lots of arguing with the ref that tarnished a good contest.  Fortunately the ref finally did the only thing he really could do (without turning Clements on him as well) which was to stick to his decision and give the offside.

Clements regrouped, and put the game beyond doubt thanks to an unstoppable penalty into the top corner from Dale, who had been scythed down in the box: 3-5.

So Clements secured the three points, and Niki secured bragging rights (at least until we play Stifford again in the cup).

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 17th November @ Home v Mossops

Goal scoring chart