Match Report Saturday 31st March

Chiselhurst vs. City of London I

Result 2 - 5

Scorers: Stig 2, Bayo 2, Fitzy 1

MoM: Ben Lock

Saturday was a game that could bring the City 1st team their best season ever under Capo's steely, XX year rule.

Things started in a manner typical of the 2nd half of the season with COL taking a while to settle in. Not even 10 minutes had passed before a strong Chislehurst team had put City 1 - 0 down. With typical steely reserve, City didn't even falter. Straight into an attack and City won themselves a corner. Tim Dart stepped up to launch the leather direct into the mixer for a scrambling Chislehurst defence to fail at getting in a clearance. The ball fell to Stig's trusty left peg, Bosh, Back of the net. 1-1.

With an equal share of possesion so far, this was end to end stuff. A few minutes after Stig's goal, the Chisles headed up the away team end and won a throw in City's final third. Their pacey striker received it well to feet and showed great skill with a sudden burst of pace to turn his marker. A powerful strike from the edge of the area and City were back to chasing the game.

Not for long though with Stig there to save the day for the second time in 20 minutes. Another corner from Dart, this time a Stig header and City were back to level pegging. Not satisfied with heading into half time with a draw though, City kept piling on the pressure. Fitzy spotting a Bayo run in the final third left a defence standing still. Bayo played a snappy 1-2 off the keeper and slotted home a third goal for the greens.

The second half started with City dominating. Defence and midfield running the show. 30 minutes in and both sides had had a few chances. It wasn't until a slick passing move starting from deep in defence and flowing through midfield right up to attack that a breakthrough was made. Bayo raced through to find himself one on one with the keeper, after rounding him with ease, he slotted the ball home. 4-2.

The final goal came courtesy of Fitzgerald but it was JD that did the work. Taking advantage of a weakened opposition defence, he rounded the Chislehurst left back and paced toward goal. With just the keeper to beat, he switched the ball to his left as the keepr flailed in vain... Fitzy waiting there to tap the ball in. 5-2. Another three points and City crowned champions for the first time in XX years!

Congratulations to all involved in City's best season for a long, long time.

Result

COLFC 1 Centymca 1

Scorer - Kebabbe

MoM - tbc

The last home game of the season saw us pit our wits against local rivals Centymca. Windy and bright with a bobbly pitch to shackle, conditions were difficult but made light of in the first 20 minutes when we could have been out of sight. Andre had a great chance close in and rattled the crossbar with a ferocious drive, then Kebabbe and Keano combined to set Paul up who could only find the keeper with a rasper of a strike.

As ever, the visitors gained heart from riding the storm and started getting parity in midfield. A quiet passage of play was livened up when we fell behind, the lively Centymca striker driving to the byline and, with nothing on, hitting a Van Basten-esque strike which swerved in the air and squirmed past Danny's clutches. A goal down, becoming a familiar story.

Hearteningly, again we fought straight back and a great combination between Andre and Kebabbe saw the ball pulled back by the by the former for the latter to bury in the corner.

Then a let-off before the break, the dangerous visitors striker skipping down the left and striking a dangerous shot which Danny did excellently to spread and clear with his knee.

Half time and 1-1. All to play for.

The second half was a strange affair, we had the wind in our favour and dominated possession but frustratingly couldnt create a clear chance. Ben rose to head a ball that was tipped over well by the visitors keeper, and then almost got on the end of a dangerous ball into the box. The closest we came though was when Mikey met a corner full on the volley, from outside of the box, which flicked off the head of an opponent and rattled the cross bar.

We were also indebted to a combination of Danny (again) and Carl in the last few minutes of injury time to preserve the point. An attack down our right hand side saw a one on one which was first denied by a crunching tackle from Carl, then another sprawling save from Danny.

After 7 minutes of injury time, the final whistle brought the curtain down on the game - whether a point gained or two lost only time will tell.

No Game