Match Report Saturday 30th September

Clapham Third XI - v - City of London First XI – Away

Result 0 - 3

The First team took on a very solid Clapham team in their first league away fixture of the season. City started the better of the two teams with some intricate passing and movement. It wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken with some excellent work down the left hand side from Carlos. He cut into the middle and a lovely weighted pass to Stig saw him score from 12 yards for his second of the season. The goal seemed to wake the opposition and for the rest of the half Clapham dominated the play but the resolute defence stood firm with Clapham only having one real chance which was well saved by Tom in nets.

The second half saw Clapham change tactics by bringing on a centre forward who is always dangerous in the air. After the substitution is became an battle in the air with long balls being pumped up continuously. City needed a goal to kill the game and it came midway through the second half from the most unlikeliest of sources. City won a free kick 25 yards out. Up stepped Chris Boyd Leslie. He may tell you it was a shot (I personally think he was looking for me) but whatever his intentions the kick defied both me and the keeper to bag his first ever goal for City (4 years on!). With City 2.0 up we started to take control. The third goal came from nowhere. Super sub Chris Sinclair chased a nothing ball and his dogged determination (whether that was from wanting to keep the ball in play or to keep the first team shirt only he can say!) saw him win the ball on the goal line cut inside and his shot which was well saved by the keeper was followed up by Jay.

A great win and we stay unbeaten although we slip down to second place on goals scored.

A big thanks to Clapham for their hospitality which lasted 4 hours and 12 jugs of Stella later. A big thanks to the 8 players who stayed on in Clapham until the small hours of the morning. Apologies to Nigel Coppen for 3 players failing to turn up to play golf the next morning – it was the Rob Cockburn’s fault – he started buying the team shots!

MOM Chris Boyd Leslie

City Of London Third XI vs Old Guildfordians 6ths

Result 8-1

Goals: Piergiorgio 2, Clyson 2, Pont, Dave Buttery, Simon Kebbabe, Richard

The second league game of the season bought another well deserved 3 points for City of London 3rds. Despite the referee not showing up, Paul Andrews deputised admirably, and the game was played in a good spirit. With 3 absentees from last week, Adrian Tiley, Birko and Andy Marris made their debut, and all played well. COL started off like a train, making many quick accurate passes, and it was not long before the first of what would be many chances was created. We had to wait a while before we eventually broke the deadlock, PG breaking into the box on the left, and finishing well from a tight angle. The same player put the 3rds 2-0 up a few minutes later, and when Pont was denied his first goal of the season by a crude handball by the defender on the line, a third goal seemed inevitable, and up stepped Terry, the double penalty king from last week. The mortgages were being brokered in the market place, the Far East markets were experiencing a boom in activity, then up stepped Terry to place the softest of chips that even my 92 year old Grandma with her double hip transplant would have fancied her chances saving. A few more chances went astray and the half stayed 2-0.

Two changes at half time did nothing to alter the dominance of COL, and before long chances were flowing again. COL seemed to want to walk the ball into the net and it was starting to get frustrating that we had not added to the score. As soon as the next goal went in, the floodgates were bound to open – and so it proved. PG was causing the oppositions defence all sorts of trouble, and before long the third goal finally went in, a good strike from Pont into the roof of the net caused celebrations, that soon turned to boos for the skipper as the goalscorer was then substituted!! With all 3 subs on the pitch, the energy levels were just too much for the oppo, and the score ticked over quickly. Simon K added the fourth, a good run through the middle finished with a low shot into the left corner. Clyson got in on the act next, bundling the ball over the line to make it 5-0. Richard F then grabbed his moment in the spotlight to make it 6-0; the rout was well and truly under way. To their credit, the oppo did pull a goal back with a well taken strike passed yours truly, but another strike from Clyson, and then a final penalty tucked away by Dave Butts finished off the game. A very pleasing result that leaves us, for the time being, where we want to be, on top of the league. Well played all. Tough game next week away to Old Suttonians.

MOM : Piergiorgio