Match Report Saturday 10th March

City of London I

No Game

Result 0 - 0

MOM Mike z - assured display at the back

A game of chess is like a swordfight, you must think first before you move. the same could be said for this game, a real chess match and some contrast to the rollercoaster ride 6-4 played out in the reverse fixture earlier on in the season.

Kicking off in bright sunlight, the game was cagey from the start, the pattern developing which would continue for the whole game of OTs trying to unpick the home defence and having a bunch of possession, while we looked to hit on the counterattack.

With dazza restored to the centre of midfield the early skirmishes went our way, dazza and robbie combining well to set the latter up for a rasping early shot from distance that stung the keeper's hands. then it was ot's turn to test danny, getting round the back with pace and precision. the finish though didn't quite match the set up, all credit to danny for a quaity save. more ot pressure until half time punctuated with a moriety break and shot pushed round the corner by the keeper. again danny was helping the defence claiming various crosses and dominating the area.

Everything to play for then in the second half.

Same story really, a very physical game, intense OT pressure and possession, but danny carl and paricularly mikey z imperious at centre half, held firm. A lucky escape when a long throw found an unmarked OT striker in the box but the header looped into Danny's grateful gloves.

At the other end, dazza forced the keeper into a tip over the bar and andre was introduced to add some fresh legs to the forward line. as the 90 approached, it seemed that both sides had settled for the draw until a booming goal kick from danny avoided the ot centre halves, who had barely missed a trick beforehand. pg who had worked tirelessly all afternoon pulled the trigger and lashed in the shot but the visiting keeper who had also had a superb game, was able to scramble it away.

close to picking the visitor's pockets at the end then but an honourable draw probably the right result on a day when defences reigned. the first draw of the season, a point gained rather than two lost.

Result 3 - 1

COL played this ‘home’ game over in Cheam at the ground of Old Suttonians due to a pitch availability issues at Eltham. Due to a combination of last minute factors we only had 12 players, and one of those had to ref the game, but despite this, we still were able to field a pretty strong team. The conditions were perfect, and the pitch turned out to be a pretty decent surface given the stage of the season and the recent weather. Against an organised Sutts team who had caused us a few problems earlier this season, we started quite slowly and were somewhat subdued in the early exchanges. Both sides spent the first 15 minutes just checking each other out without really creating much in the way of clear cut chances. Gradually we started to take a grip on the game and eventually a few chances came our way. From a corner on the right, Rich headed well against the crossbar, but unfortunately the 2 players following up could not get the vital touch needed with the goal at their mercy. Another great chance went begging when Pont found himself in a 1 on 1 but was unable to find the target. Eventually the pressure told, and Clyson, breaking into the box on the right fired a right foot shot passed the keeper. In the last 5 minutes of the half Sutts had a spell of good possession and created a few chances. One shot was saved by me down low to my left, and another effort just went over the top, and we were able to withstand a couple of late corners. HT 1-0.

The second half saw Sutts start the stronger, creating a few chances and some attacking corners. The defence however stood firm and were unfortunate to concede the equaliser. The Sutts sub, ‘King of the Hill’, came on and caused us some problems with his dribbling and running off the ball, and it was he who scored, picking up a loose ball on the edge of the box a firing across me into the far corner. Thankfully this kicked COL back into action and within a few minutes we were back in front. Rich received the ball on the left edge of the box, he then turned a fired in a peach of a shot that flew over the keeper and curled into the top right hand corner. His celebration was understandable as it was his first goal of 2007. COL then started to really take control of the game from that point. We enjoyed lots of possession, especially in midfield and down both flanks and the shots started raining in on the opposition goal. Otis was chancing his arm from distance and we won several corners without converting. We did get the ball into the net after 20 mins, Matt tapping in after some good work from Rich, but the ref decided to disallow the goal for offside, but was unlucky not to notice the defender on the line – you can’t win them all Matt!!!. Sutts tried their best to get back on level terms but our defence stood firm as they had done for most of the game. We finally killed off the game with about 10 minutes to go. Rich battled hard on the edge of the box for a ball he had no right to win, fired in a shot that the keeper could only parry, and unsure as to whether it would go in or not, Nige made sure from a few inches, his first game in a year. We held firm for the rest of the game despite going down to 10 men as Pont went off with an ankle injury but we were not troubled.

A good 3 points against a hard working team who should be higher in the league than they are. With just 3 games left, all is still to play for. The next game is the big one against Glyns. A positive result against them is crucial if we do not want to rely on other results going our way to finish second. Sedcopians are breathing hard down our neck and did well to beat Clapham at the weekend, and we can look forward to facing them last game of the season.

Goals: Clyson, Rich, Nigel

Mom: John C and Rich F tied