Match Report Saturday 13th January

City of London I vs. Whitgiftians

Result 5 - 2

Scorers: Fitzy 2, Carlos 2, JK 1

MOM: Boydy

City's old rivals Whitgifs drew the short straw this weekend when they found themselves playing at Fortress Eltham. But they were brave, brave little soldiers.... and if they were troubled by arriving at the cauldron of fear, they hid it well and came ready to fight!!

In what was probably our hardest game yet this season against a strong Whitgifs team, City had their work cut out with the effects of a prolonged Christmas break taking their toll. A very pacey Oppo striker and some good players throughout the spine of the team made for a challenging 90 minutes.

It was City though who broke the deadlock after 10 or so minutes, courtesy of Carlos Sanchez... arriving in the box and picking up a poorly defended throw, the skilful midfielder jinked his way to the goalmouth and with the deftest of touches, dinked it past the keeper. 1-0. The second arrived shortly afterwards... Another throw troubled the defence with Fitzy ready to pounce. Whitgifs failed to clear, Fitzy jostled and found the ball at his feet. A rapid shot and City went 2 up... Fitzy's shot megging the keeper.

It was then that disaster struck, a good through ball downhill to the speedy Whitgifs striker saw the City keeper facing a one on one... a good low finish and the oppo get one back before half time. City headed into the break leading without having settled in to their usual footballing game. If it wasn't for some heroic match-saving tackles by the double-barrelled Boyd-Leslie, things may have been very different!

The second half began and Whitgifs clearly feeling the adrenaline from their pre-break goal... a tireless midfield chased down City all over the park. With the wind against them but the run of the hill, City started to settle in and get back to some nice passing football... a few moves down the left hand side almost provided a third goal but it was Fitzy who started proceedings off after he picked up a rebound off the keeper and volleyed with his weaker foot into the bottom left corner.

Not a minute had passed and Whitgifs had got one back through a great individual effort that saw their number 8 go past two defenders and hammer the ball home... a good goal but City could have done better. Desperate to get the equalizer they needed, Whitgifs then changed formation to a more attacking three at the back... unfortunately for them, this allowed City's midfield to get more of the ball and start to cause problems themselves. Carlos and Josh starting to dominate down the left.

Every so often an attack came back at City with with pace though and Mr Reuter in goal was called upon to make some acrobatic saves from some Whitgifs long shots! Throwing himself across the goal with no fear for his own personal safety or the fact that his bandana may fall off, Danny blocked them left and right. Match of the Day stuff... Reuter making saves for the camera. No one took a photo though... waste of film.

JK got the fourth as City's attacking proved too much... some good work down the left, Carlos to Fitzy, a Fitzy cross to JK and JK with a delicious finish. Clearly ecstatic, Curly Kay jigged with glee at the goal but forgot his well-prepared celebration move when caught up in the moment!! A happy but slightly disappointed crowd of three, all there to see his signature scoring move, looked upset! Maybe next week Kayfans/Jayfans/Gayfans.

The game was killed shortly after with a second goal from The Talented Mr Sanchez... some dazzling dribbling on the left and a beautifully curled shot carressed into the far right-hand reaches of the goal meant City finished 5-2 up. Keeper didn't stand a chance! Game over.

Result 0 - 2

Scorers: PG and OG

MoM - Robbie Elliott

City ground out an important win in the undulating mudbaths of Guildford on Saturday, which at least keeps us in the hunt, albeit still with a mountain to climb.

Lining up in the getting-familiar 3-5-2 with Moriarty stepping in to make his first appearance of the season at right wingback and Swerve pushing up to a more familiar left wingback berth, we started brightly, with the two of them finding plenty of space on the flanks. Ball retention was the name of the game and there were spells of passing in the midfield which really did bode well for the rest of the season, one sweeping passing move culminating in a chance for Mikey Z who tested the keeper with a looping shot. At the other end, Hibby looked assured in the damp conditions showing some exemplary handling and Whitworth looked back to his dominant best, ably supported by the ice cold Yappy.

Domination in midfield led to plenty of promising positions and having looked dangerous at corners all half the breakthrough came, the ball headed down at the back post, a scramble and PG simultaneously going down claiming a penalty and hooking the ball into the roof of the net to notch his first for the 2's, admitting in the bar afterwards that he knew little about it.

Only a goal to the good after the half, the lead was still precarious but with Robbie inspired in midfield, chances for the oppo were few and far between. It was Robbie who forced the free kick that led to the second goal, Swerve clipping a peach of a ball into the middle that the home team's centre-half could only slice into his own net.

From then on, we were content to sit back and do our best to survive the pressure, looking to hit the third on the break. The chances kept coming, Sage and PG playing after you Claude in the box, Moriarty arriving late driving just wide, Paul blazing just the wrong side of the post and Keano, on as sub for Swerve smashing a goal bound shot into a grateful defenders midships. Inviting teams on though always has its risks and OG had a chance or two to make it a very nervy last few minutes. Thanks then to Hibby for some safe hands and Moriarty for a fantastic goal-line clearance five minutes from time to preserve the clean sheet and the three points.

Great chilli for tea and Sage won the sweepstake.

Cancelled