Match Report Saturday 24th Febuary

Glynn's Old Boys vs City of London I

Result 3 - 1

Scorer: Stig

MOM: Ben Lock

Despite a competent and well contested performance, City were bullied out of the game this week by a tough Glynn's Old Boys opposition.

The first half began and City's flowing football arrived in waves - at times creating some excellent chances. The first real opportunity was capitalised on in true City fashion as Stig volleyed effortlessly past a flailing Glynn's keeper from 10 yards. 1-0 and City completely in control.

The game progressed and Glynn's got agitated. Stig found himself on the receiving end of a facial stomp with one to the chest for good measure. Words were exchanged but the ref failed to take control. Glynns getting back in the game with some good possession and decent passing. Few attacks however troubled the City goal until half an hour had passed. Rob Cockburn made a great tackle on the edge of the area as the Glynn's right winger picked up the ball and approached at speed. Out of luck though, we watched in vain as the ball deflected kindly and bounced back into the opposition's path. A well taken finish and the scores level pegging.

The second half began and for the first twenty minutes City held strong as numerous Glynn's attacks were thwarted with ease. Then came the second goal from the home team. City didn't stand a chance.

Disappointed but not beaten, City threw everything into the last quarter trying in vain to get the elusive equaliser. Shouts for a stonewall penalty were waved off by a timid and incompetent official as Jay got tripped in the box.

Three minutes to go and City needed to gamble, up headed two of the three man defence for the long throw to the box. City won the header but it was quickly cleared for a Glynn's last ditch attack - a cross from the right was nicely controlled by the Oppo striker before sending a well taken volley into the top corner. 3-1 end of game and a kick up the arse for City.

Result 5 - 1

Scorers: PG, Kebabbe, Yappy, Ben Nwaeke, John Whitworth (...videprinter confirmation, yes John Whitworth)

MoM - Ben Nwaeke

A tricky game against Woking was negotiated on Saturday as shooting boots were well and truly located in a fighting win.

Reverting to a 4-4-2, the game was open from the start. The visitors looked sharp and dangerous coming forward forcing 5 corners in succession, Danny tipping one goal bound effort over the bar, a desparate last ditch tackle from Ben N saving a certain goal from another. That said, we were also forcing dangerous positions, a pleasing amount of wing-play between Kebabbe, PG and Ben who was enjoying a fair amount of success down the right hand side leading to a couple of top drawer saves from the oppo netminder.

After 20 minutes or so, with the game settling into a frantic pace, the opening goal came to the visitors and it was an absolute beauty. A ball knocked in to the centre forward was laid off first time and drilled into the roof of the net by his strike partner. No arguments there then.

The next goal was going to be the kicker and what a time to equalise, just before the break. A long freekick knocked into the box and the hitherto supreme keeper failed to lay a glove on it leaving yappy to lace it home.

Half time team talk duly altered, the wind was in our sails as the second half resumed and we started to exert some pressure, culminating with Paul hitting the bar with a chip. The breakthrough came and there followed a couple of quick goals to ease the worried home fans nerves, the first a beaut from ben who took the ball down on his chest and placed it in the corner with one easy movement. The third goal was all about PG who went on a mazy dribble and laced one home from just outside the box.

The pressure off, Kebbabe added a fourth before things took a surreal air. A sending off and injuries left us seeing out the final few minutes with 7 and a half men but there was still time for Johnny Whitworth who had gone up front given his near terminal injury to suddenly be miraculously healed when a through ball broke to him. With some previously unseen aplomb, he pirouetted round the keeper and slid the ball in from an acute angle. A surreal end indeed.

Result 3 - 3

On a heavy pitch in windy conditions, COL played one of their toughest matches so far this season against a well organised and hard working Old Seds team. COL started the game the stronger of the sides, creating a few early advances deep into the oppo territory, and it was no real surprise when the early pressure resulted in a goal after 5 mins. Andre received the ball on the right and cut inside before hitting a shot low across the static keeper into the bottom left hand corner. COL continued to apply the pressure and we earned a couple of good attacking corners, one of which saw the ball cannon around in the goal mouth and hit the crossbar, but we could not get the vital last touch. Seds got into the game more as the half progressed and their strong midfield started to cause us a few problems (not surprising as one of them was a first team player and another captain of a higher team). They won a corner which resulted in their central midfielder heading unchallenged towards the goal, but luckily my reflexes are not all retired yet, and I managed to throw myself across the goal to my left and keep the ball out. The rest of the half was quite even with neither side having any clear cut chances. HT 1-0

The second half was a much more open game, with 5 goals being scored in what became an end to end 45 minutes. Despite my best vocal efforts during the break, we conceded the equaliser within a few minutes of the restart. Their striker received the ball, turned and hit a shot that wrong footed me and I was helpless as the ball trundled into the left hand corner. At 1-1, Seds really got their tails up and were now enjoying the lion’s share of the possession, and within 15 mins we were behind. A break down our right saw their winger hit a strong cross cum shot, which when caught by the wind deceived me and dropped into the far corner of the net – a bit of a lucky goal but still disappointing to have conceded. Instead of giving up, the 10 outfield players upped their game and starting to get back onto the front foot again, and COL enjoyed a period where we looked like the side from the first 15 mins of the game.

The equaliser was a true testament to the hard running support that has become a strong feature of recent weeks. Rich Flint received a ball out on the right, and rather than reacting to the frantic offside calls from the oppo, he held his nerve and drilled a cross to the back post where Tom R was at full pelt and he beat his defender to the ball and it fired into the back of the net. A perfect example of how supporting your team mates can have a positive result. Unfortunately, our moment of delight was culled within a couple of minutes, when the Seds strikers combined to break through the middle and one of them just beat me to the ball and chipped it over me into the empty net. But once again I have to pay tribute to our team ethics of never giving up, and we did not panic, but continued to try and play our way out of trouble. With a few minutes left on the clock, Andre received the ball on the right edge of the box; he beat his man and was able to prod the ball passed the keeper to the great delight of the payers and the touchline, which was made up of most of the second team. The last couple of minutes provided a chance for each time to get the winner, Rich F coming close at one end, and then one of their players firing in a bullet strike which came through a mass of players but thankfully I was able to make the save.

I think that the draw was just about the right result on the day, with both teams capable of scoring when given the opportunity. I want to give a huge amount of credit to all COL players who battled hard for the entire game, and we never gave up at any stage, coming from behind twice to secure our first draw of the season. Fate has dictated that we face the same team again this weekend, and with 4 games left this season, where we finish is still entirely in our own hands.

Goals: Andre (2), Tom R

MOM: Andre