Match Report Saturday 21st October

City Of London I v. Bromlians

Result 0 - 5

London Old Boys Cup Game

Well the wheels well and truly came off this weekend. City brimming with confidence from a great start to the season were playing a team who were a league above although apart from one player that ran the show you would not have realised it despite the scoreline.

I wont go through each goal as quite frankly with the number of comical errors it would take too long. Needless to say the defence were appalling, We were second best in every department and the opposition seemed to want to progress through to the next round unlike City who seemed to have been of the opinion that a cup run was a distraction from the league. Well we have our wish as we only have one more competition left and that is the league.

We need to improve on Saturday as we play the undefeated Nat West. Cut out the long balls (no-one can claim to be Glenn Hoddle) and stick to short 5 yard passing and we will bounce back. Play like we did on Saturday and it is going to be a long season.

MOM Tim Dart – The only player who came out of the game with any sort of praise – tireless running and pace that would trouble any defender.

Result 1 - 3

Bouncebackability was the name of the game this weekas the 2's notched a crucial 3 points with a 3-1scoreline over local rivals centymca.

A good start was essential and despite a late arrival king juan-carlos was soon setting the pace with dazzain midfield, deft touches and bone-crunching challenges asserting early domination which was only to be threatened late in the piece.

Enjoying the lion's share of possession, the only thing missing from the best half of football of theseason so far was a reward, some fantastic build-up play lacking the deserved clincial finish and carlo's blistering free-kick denied by the keeper's acrobatics. a pre-game discussion about set-pieces though brought its reward as the deadlock was broken when swerve's corner was met expertly on the full by andy keane, bisecting the fullback and keeper with a rifled volley.

Learning from last weeks mishaps, the intensity was maintained at the start of the second half and carlo got the goal his performance deserved with a blistering low shot, driven low to the keeper's right. by now it was when rather than if more goals would come with keane and yappy running riot down the wings and after seeing a waspish drive denied by the crossbar and the keeper getting down well to a lowheader, third time lucky andrews sealed the win with a predatory tap-infollowing a too hot to handle yapp cross-shot.

All that remained then was to kill the game and improve the goal difference...until an aberration from the captain, failing to control a seemingly straight forward ball gave the pacy home striker a run at goal, which not even a despairing challenge from the otherwise assured whitworth could deny. there followed a jittery last 15 and a relieved writer at the full time whistle. thanks also to mig, safe hands deputising in nets.

mom - andy keane - all action display and the opening goal.

Result 1 -4

London Old Boys Cup

Saturday's game saw us against tough opposition: two leagues above us, and top of the table. However, we are also top of our league and went into the match full of confidence.

That said, it didn't start well - Baggy a rock and strong contender for MOM - fell asleep in the first minute (at least that's how Terry put it) to let them through on goal. Terry made a great one-on-one save though and kept the scores level. In a fairly low key first half, the referee was a comical highlight, disallowing a rocket free kick from Graeme because of offside (yeah we didn't understand it either!). Much of the first half was played out in midfield: which didn't suit Wesley as it made for a busy first half for him - and he hadn't slept since Thursday night! Nevertheless we was solid in front of the defence and ensured nothing got through.

It was the second half where the game came to life. Playing uphill and into the sun, it looked like it would prove a hard half for City. Terry made a great couple of saves as Reigate pushed on. Reigate then scored a dubious goal (offside), but to be honest it was the best thing that had happened to us all game. The goal spurred us into action, we played the ball into feet, had runner's everywhere and looked on top. It was no surprise ten minutes later when we equalised with a goal from yours truly, as Paul may have remarked "look what happens when you shoot after only beating two people!" Again we pushed on, PG giving us a hint of what to come with a shot 6 inches wide. It then became the PG show: a good ball into PG, with his back to goal, his first touch was majestic, with his second touch he scored! Lovely goal from about eighteen yards - into the top left hand corner. Within two minutes PG had scored again, leaving the defender for dead and slotting it past the keeper.

At 3-1, with Reigate thoroughly shell shocked, the game was effectively over. They pressed a little but realised the game was out of their grasp. The next fifteen minutes passed with plenty of opportunities to score for City as Reigate opened up - one of which Pont (as always in the 90th minute) gratefully took: a cracking header into the top right hand corner. All in all a great game and a superb win for City! Silverware beckons for us this season!!

MOM: loads of contenders, Baggy was a rock, PG scored his usual two goals, but the MOM goes to Will: who previously unmentioned in the match report, played in central defence and dominated their 9 foot 7 centre forward. (note this is my decision as we forgot to vote!!)

Scores: Flinty, PG x 2 and Pont