Match Report Saturday 27th January

Coutts vs. City of London I

Result 0 - 1

Scorers: Tim Dart

MoM: Bayo

A hungover City team arrived in Catford on Saturday a little worse for wear and not in Champion form.

With a first half spent running off the night before, Coutts tried their hardest to take advantage. A choice selection of comedy City mishaps saw pass back passes and clearances heading directly to oncoming Oppo players, giving the firsts a few awkward first half moments! Lucky to survive though, City kept battling and produced a few chances of their own. Stig watched a clever freekick go slightly wide. Capo came close with a few trademark headers. Bayo seeing a few shots from the edge of the area sail over. City slowly starting to warm up.

The second half started and tempers started to flare... JK, after already having been booked in the first half, saw red at an opponent's tackle and squared up to him with anger in his blooodshot eyes! The senior members of the team intervened just in time though and an understanding ref let JK get subbed rather than producing a second yellow. City stayed on the park with 11.

On comes the Dartmeister to spearhead the attack with Dazza. Almost immediately came a break... Bayo battling tirelessly on the right wing, managed to keep hold of the ball with "dogged determination" and some excellent tackling before floating the ball over the keeper and to the backpost. Timmy arrived in the box for his first touch and bulleted the ball in with his head. Keeper didn't stand a chance... 1-0.

City weren't in the clear yet though as the oncoming Coutts 11 pinned the away team back. Dazza provided some respite upfront with a few "Dazz"ling* runs but it wasn't enough for their marauding number 10 who was running the show for Coutts. Another good dribble down the left with City on the backfoot saw him lose the ball and lunge recklessly at various members of City's band of brothers in an attempt to get it back. Atop shouts of 'who f*cking stamped on me?', he stood up and aimed a headbutt at the innocent and pure Rob Cockburn... connection was made as Rob stood firm and the City and Coutt's players rushed to the scene of the crime... a bit of pushing, a bit of shouting, red card for number 10... Coutts down to 10 men.

The rest of the game played out with City taking a fortunate three points. City Firsts now reaching the hallowed ground of a phenomenal 10 clean sheets this season but with the door closed at full time, Capo resisted the temptation to get the hair dryer out but enough was said and the players know that this was one that nearly got away - improvement is required for next week!

Result 0 - 3

Scorers: Paul A, Simon K, Sage

MoM - Andy Pamphilon

40 minutes before kick off, everyone in the changing room, must be a big game. The visit to newly top of the table old broms was always going to be a crunch game, with us still smarting from the 2-0 reverse at well hall road.

The 3-5-2 stayed in place, Andy Pamphilon coming into the holding role with a return for Carl in midfield. We came out of the blocks like dervishes, kebabbe crossing for pg to test the home keeper in the first couple of minutes.

The next 20 were cagey with both sides having pressure in decent areas but the remainder of the half (with one notable exception) was definitely Bromley's. Apart from a few chances to cross round the back though the two main efforts on goal were from distance, one troubling the post, the other the subject of a clawing save from Danny which defies superlatives. Crucial in the context of the game, particularly when we won a free kick in a decent position. The big man came up form the back and were frustrated as the ball was rolled to Paul in space in the box. Time seemed to stand still as he took aim and passed a sublime shot into the corner of the net, beyond the despairing clutches of the netminder.

1-0 at the half and Sgt Sage demanded an increase in energy levels.

His rousing words were rewarded early in the second half as PG and Kebabbe combined to put Simon through and his finish was clinical. A two goal cushion but a long time to go.

There followed a catalogue of chances to wrap the game up but with them spurned one after one and the Broms keeper performing heroics the table leaders were still in the hunt. In an incident packed match, another crucial incident followed as Danny decided to liven his game up with a bit of dribbling in the cornder flag. The resulting throw saw a quick cross which according to the Broms players came back from the stanchion within the goal. Crucially though the referee thought otherwise and ruled no goal. The writer couldn't possibly comment and the Sky replays were indecisive.

Cue the frittering of further chances particularly by the eventual all action MoM Pamphilon who was surely distracted by a combination of both the shout of 'Go on Andy, this is your big moment' from the sideline together with the thought of picking up a few quid form yours truly shooting tamely at the keeper with the infamous 'right spade' when clean through. Kebabbe rattled the post with a humdinger before in the final throes, PG belted a shot which beat the Broms keeper but not the defender on the line who pulled off a great save. Unfortunately his cry of 'change keepers' was ruled invalid by the ref who duly pointed to the spot. Sage who had come off the bench to expertly shore up the midfield for the last 35 strode up, plonked the ball on the spot and spanked it past the keeper.

3-0 and 3 crucial points.

Result 7 - 0

Goals: Terry, Clyson (3), Matt (3)

MOM - Matt

This was not so much a game of 2 halves, more a game of 2 hatricks against the team who inflicted our first defeat of the season back in November. Playing in an unfamiliar red strip, we dominated this game from whistle to whistle, and it was a bit of a mismatch to be honest. A late kick off did not deter us in making a fast start, and the thoughts of retribution were fresh in the mind following the prematch team talk. A strong looking team allowed us to take control of the ball from the off, and it was evident that our attacking players were going to enjoy this game. We attacked at will down both flanks from the off, and Matt and Tom were also enjoying lots of possession in the middle of the park, with Andre offering constant options by dropping deep. The first goal came courtesy of an unusual source, Terry, playing centre half surged forward down the left centre, and in acres of space, floated in a lovely 30 yard left footed cross, that proceeded to evade everyone, including a back peddling keeper and the ball dropped into the back of the net. Rather than sitting back and consolidating, we just upped the pace and went on wave after wave of attack. Matt was enjoying plenty of the ball and was shooting at will, although unfortunately he was a little wayward from distance early on.

Andre had a difficult opportunity, running onto a good defensive header from Dave O, lobbing the ball over the advancing keeper from a tight angle but seeing the ball just drift wide. The second goal came from an attack out wide on the right, Matt running onto a pass that took him past the last man with only the keeper to beat, however at the point of pulling the trigger, he stumbled and the ball ended up in the path of a grateful Clyson, who buried the ball from 6 yards. The same players combined for the third goal, another cross from the flank was headed back across goal by Matt to Clyson, who again made no mistake from close range. We continued to attack, and were unlucky not to add to the score, with the post denying us in the closing stages of the half. HT was 3-0, and the talk was more of the same, not one of my hardest to deliver!!

The second half, with the slope in our favour, was more of the same. The defence was water tight and enjoying plenty of the ball, and Dave O and Andy were very much the attacking fullbacks. The fourth goal came after only a few minutes, and it finished off a very good performance by Clyson. He received the ball on the right edge of the box, drove towards the goal, and then in what can only be described as a moment to make Tierry Henry proud, he teed himself up from right boot to left, then chipped the ball over the keeper to complete his hatrick. Matt had obviously found the batteries to his sat nav during the interval, and so he went on the rampage securing himself a 20 minute second half hatrick. The first goal was very a tidy finish across the keeper from the left side of the area and into the bottom right hand corner. The second came from a through ball down the middle which he ran onto and coolly slotted passed the advancing keeper, although it must be mentioned for the record that Chappers bust a gut trying to knock the ball over the line from 1 yard to claim a goal, but he was too slow !. Matt saved his best finish for his third, and our 7th, hitting a screamer from outside the right edge of the box into the top left hand corner to complete his hatrick. Chappers did have a gilt edged opportunity to get himself of the score sheet, but somehow missed a close range header when completely unmarked 6 yards out. This was an excellent performance from all players involved, and the perfect way to bounce back from the disappointment of the previous game. With 7 games remaining this season, it is entirely in our hands as to where we finish, but I expect nothing less than 21 points !

Good performance this week, more of the same next week.