Clements Athletic 2 - 5 South Stifford (aet) (League Cup 1st round)

The score line is the most irrelevant piece of data relating to this match (in fact the official result says it was only 2-4), as every one of the Clements eleven could walk off the pitch at the end of the game with their heads held high, knowing that they had more than matched their opponents over the course of the match, and given 100% for their team.

The last thing you want after nearly a month without a game (and the Christmas turkey binge) is 120 minutes of football, against one of the best teams in the league, with only eleven players.  It could have been a lot worse if it hadn't been for the timely return of club legend Nathan Kerin, who was signed up just in time to make his first appearance since the end of last season some nine months ago.  I'm sure he was expecting to be eased back into the side gently, but instead got to play a full game plus 30 minutes at centre back.

Alec is having a pretty easy job of selecting the starting eleven at the moment, and chose to sort the players available into the following formation.

Clements really got the bit between their teeth in this match as they got stuck into their opposition all over the pitch.  We could have easily sat back and simply soaked up the pressure, but the formation that had more or less been forced upon us resulted in quite an attacking approach.  With 3 attack minded wingers in midfield there were lots of positive runs, with many of Clements' good moves coming through Sharpy as he acted as the link between midfield and attack.  This may have resulted in some last ditch defending but and us riding our luck at times, but from my view point it was a delight to see us try and play some of the good passing football that has been lacking at times despite it being well within our capability.  In particular it was great to see Chris growing in confidence on the wing and looking to use his pace and skill to take on the full back and really open up the game for us.

Despite our efforts we went behind in the first half when Stifford's striker squeezed the ball in at the near post through the legs of Niki, Eye-Ball and Conor.  However, our response was almost immediate as the ball found its way to Ryan, via Liam, in the box and he found a gap through a crowded area to but the ball in the back of the net.  Clements deserved to be at least level pegging at half time, but South Stifford scored again to take the lead going into the break 1-2.

It is amazing what a couple of weeks of playing with minimal (or fewer) players does for team moral, as despite being behind you could really tell that a really togetherness is starting to form in the team.  The half time talk was a positive one, and we believed that we could get back into the game.  This was evident in a gutsy second half display which we deservedly won thanks to a goal from Liam who was quickest to pounce on a loss ball from Dale's long throw.  Both teams had chances to win the game in the 90 minutes, but none were taken meaning another 30 minutes of hard graft.

With both teams running on empty the first goal in extra time would probably settle the game as turned out to be the case, with Stifford taking the lead in the first 15 minute period.  Clements gave it their all to the end, which inevitably led to gaps forming in defence which our opposition exploited to run out eventual 2-5 winners.

So we may have lost the match, but more importantly we lost it in the manner that we would want to play in any game regardless of the outcome.  Every one should have been proud of their performance and the attitude we showed was spot on - long may it continue.

Eye-Ball

Goal scoring chart:

Trojans 0 - 3 Clements Athletic (Ted Fairchild 3rd Round)

Playing a team from the league below in the cup should have been a perfect opportunity to regain some pride and belief following a thumping the week before.  How frustrating then to have room to swing multiple cats in the changing room with only ten bodies in there.  Still the ten of us who were present showed guts, determination and a team ethic that our opposition lacked to not only win comfortably but to keep a clean sheet as well.

It was vital that we take the lead to see how our opposition would react to going behind against ten men.  Liam very nearly came up trumps when he broke through the defence, but his strike was well saved.  It was inevitable that we would come under pressure at the other end, especially from corners.  We survived a couple of near misses, and Conor put in the kind of assured performance that we needed.

We did deservedly take the lead when Dale dribbled into the box on the right before turning inside and hitting the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot.  Some were claiming an own goal, but I think it would be harsh to deny Dale his 9th goal of the season: 0-1.

Trojans responded as we would have hoped; by pressing the self destruct button, as they became more interested in arguing with the ref and each other than playing football.  In particular, one angry red head seemed hell bent on dealing out retribution to anyone who came within a couple of feet (and he wasn't wearing a purple shirt!)

Trojans' manager took the interesting tactical decision of weakening the side for the second half, and despite it still being a hard slog (especially for the guys in midfield) we were finding more time and space on the ball.  We still had some hairy moments from set pieces that were conceded with far too much regularity, but we kept the lead and extended it when a corner was deflected by Rob into the path of Liam, who swiveled and slotted the ball into the bottom corner: 0-2.

The game was well and truly ended as a contest when Chris chipped a delightful ball over the nearest defender for Dale to run onto.  He then finished in style, lifting the ball over the keeper into the far corner: 0-3.  It was a nice way to start the Christmas celebrations that were due to continue in The Ship after the game, and the ten men of Clements deserved to let their hair down.

Eye-Ball

Goal scoring chart:

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