Match Report Saturday 3rd Febuary

City of London I vs. Natwest

Cancelled

Result 1 - 4

Scorer - Mikey Z

MoM - Danny

Fortress Eltham claimed another victim last weekend, unfortunately again it was the home side who got scalped, unceremoniously and deservedly dumped out of the cup by a keen Economicals XI.

With the game finally going ahead at the third time of asking, the away side can have had no problems finding the ground and they soon got into their stride from the first whistle, a few early passing moves giving warning signs of what was to come, with us still on the team bus.

We came back into it at times but were somewhat fortunate and indebted to Danny to go in at the half level pegging, although you felt that if we got enough quality ball into the box the away team might be vulnerable in the air and in nets. The closest came followed a Carl long throw flicked to the second post by Mikey Z which Swerve came close to bundling in at the back stick, the ball somehow avoiding both his despairing lunge and the defender's attempts to get himself into the og offenders register.

The second half started more brightly, with far more composure on the ball enhanced by some stomach for the scrap. Unfortunately the all important first notch went to the visitors, the infamous cross-cum-shot eluding the defence and Danny to be walloped home for a deserved advantage.

This was doubled when a fiercely struck shot took an unfortunate bobble past the otherwise exemplary Danny's despairing gloves to nestle in the corner. Time to roll the sleeves up.

Set pieces looked our best hope to get a foothold back in the game and so it proved, Carl swinging a booming free kick in, the defenders and the keeper playing a bit of after you claude and Mikey Z doing his best to stop the ball on the line before lashing it home with some gusto.

Yet again though, it was one step forward two back and in bombing forward rather than consolidating for a few minutes, Danny found himself exposed a neat (if verging on offside) finish redoubling the lead. Then they got a fourth.

It summed the game up well when we had some more pressure towards the end and their gk managed to save Simon K's goal bound effort from less than a yard having been virtually out of the frame a split second before, unreal.

So cup glory gone for another year, bread and butter of the league to concentrate on and back to the drawing board.

Is the new formation on the scrapheap? Who knows?

Result 0 - 1

Goals: Clyson

MOM: Mig

On the back of a good win the previous week, City went into this game in high spirits and with high hopes of another goal fest. However against a much improved and strengthened Meads side, we were made to battle extremely hard for these three points, although we were never really under much threat at the back. On a decent pitch, but with no referee, we kicked off into very strong sunlight which made it difficult for us to defend the high balls that were coming at us regularly. It took us a good 15 minutes before we were able to enjoy any decent spells of possession, but the Meads midfield were being very competitive and not allowing us any time or space on the ball, which we had enjoyed the previous week. With chances at a premium, it became clear as the half went on that one goal from either team could well prove enough for the win. Thankfully, with literally the last kick of the half, it fell to City. A deep cross from the right came to the head of the unmarked Clyson, who directed a downward header, which succeeded in nutmegging the keeper, and despite the efforts of the defender on the line, Clyson forced the ball home. HT 0-1

The second half was much of the same. We were definitely more in control of the ball, and we did create a few more chances, with Clyson firing over from close range, and Thomas clipped the outside of the post after being the first to the ball on the edge of the box. There were quite a few free kicks conceded as the game progressed, and the Meads central midfield duo were starting to kick more than just the ball out of frustration, but to be fair the game was played in a good spirit. Our defence was mainly untroubled throughout, led by Mig who played a blinder of a game and seemed to cover most of the pitch in the process. There was relief all round when the final whistle blew, but it was another win, another 3 points and another clean sheet. We will have to raise our tempo and efforts for the next game against Glynns which could determine the runners up spot in the league.