Despite half time orders to stay controlled in midfield and get it clear from the back as soon as possible, a very dodgy backpass let Woking claw one back 2 minutes after the break This only galvanized City who kept playing the better football and looked dangerous every time they went forward, unless Aaron was shooting.
Matty came off the bench and immediately crashed a 35 yard drive off the crossbar, then hit a speculative, powerless left foot volley that looped through the air straight into the arms of the keeper, who then proceeded to drop it into his own net. 4-2 and coasting before he got his second of the game with a much more powerful right foot half volley into the bottom corner. If he could head the ball properly a perfect hat-trick would have arrived courtesy of a fantastic cross from Jay, but it finished 5-2.
A good performance, almost marred by basic errors at the back, but the revival continues as we climb to 4th
Our persistence began to pay off, with some sexy link up play between Ricky, Jay and Troy causing havoc in the opposition defence. Finally, a free kick floated over by Karl scared the keeper into a weak punch which conveniently rolled out to David Yee who thumped it into the top corner (only after skimming the head of the opposition centre back). Following that, some chances missed by both teams saw us back on level terms going into half time. Between the sticks it was all change with Fouzi pulling on the gloves, allowing Lingan to partner Jay up front.
The second half was an even affair with both teams stringing together some good attacking play and coming close on a number of occasions. Lingan, sensing a much needed goal, latched onto a ball slipped through the middle by substitute Phil. Clear through on goal, he’s clattered by a combination of oncoming goalkeeper and rugby tackling defender, resulting in a penalty. Up steps Jay Patel, dimissing Lingan’s kicking requests with ‘You would’ve scored anyway mate, let me have it’. With his first chance to put City in the lead (there were more to come!) Jay hit the ball just too close to the keeper and alas no one could get on to the rebound to make it 2-1. Dorkinians saw the opportunity and came close to going ahead with some good play down the right wing, only thwarted by the powerhouse that is Kerwin. In arguably City’s best attack, David Yee dribbled inside from the left wing and knocked a pass up to Lingan, who casually took a couple of touches before slamming it into the bottom right corner of the net. ‘I do not believe it!’. Captain Karl was clearly happy. Confidence was high, City looked like their effort had paid off. However, after no more than five minutes of taking the lead, some missed clearances at the back meant the opposition’s midfield were allowed a free shot at goal. Even the crowd pleasing Fouzi could not reach this one as it hit the inside of the netting.
2-2 and the Christmas indulgence began to kick in, both teams looked tired. City looked the most likely to snatch the win, with some typically strong tackles from Aaron and great counter attacking from the whole team, but it wasn’t to be and the game ended a draw. All in all, a good performance considering the Christmas break and positively a very strong squad appears to be forming for the coming weeks. Unlike Manchester City, at least we can say, “City of London III: Unbeaten in 2012!”
We did not get started in the first half and played poorly for 45 minutes. Even so we managed to score first but go in 1 - 2 down. The second half was so much better. Better movement, closing the ball more quickly, forcing errors and not allowing the opposition time to play. Once we got the tempo up the passing game together and the ball started to move well from back to front. The opposition could not live with us. I watched a team not prepared to give in, not prepared to lose and there was only ever going to be one team to win it. We scored in the 72 minute and in the 87 minute to win the match. What a way to win - brilliant !
Another great match to watch and a third straight win.
After goals from Jay and a close range finish from a near post corner by Fouzi which put us 2-0 up within the 1st 15 minutes, we let them back in the game with a long ball over the top which was expertly chipped over our GK to make it 2-1. That goal woke us up and concerned that we would let another lead slip away at home, we upped our game and went in to the break 4-1 up following a goal of the season effort by Troy and a free kick from Matty which started out as a cross but soon had their GK back peddling into his net.
The 2nd half saw Jonas replaced by Nick Moore for his first game of the season and despite lookingly slightly suspect during the first 15 minutes of the second half where they threw everything they had left us, our defence held firm and our superior fitness saw us romp to a 7-1 win with a further 2 x goals for Jay and another for Troy.
Kerwin came on at left back and was solid and we could have scored 10 with Karl, Troy and Matty wasting good chances whilst limiting Dorkinians to long range efforts.
A hectic end to the game with a bit of a scuffle which failed to put a dampner on the performance of the season thus far.
I saw a great goal, some great saves and a great display of defending - defending from the front, putting pressure on their back four and keeper, pressure on their midfield and closing down their strikers. We stopped them creating anything dangerous.
We also demonstrated the strength in depth we now have at the club. During the match we lost two players to injury bringing us down to 10 men. I had to pull a substitute from the second team to play in the first team; Aviola Diko who did a great job for us for 60 minutes and almost scored a great goal but for a good save from their keeper.
Now I am looking forward to the remainder of the season.
Not a great start, defensive flib-flubbery losing possession, a speculative punt catching Jonas out, 0-1. More of the same 0-2. We then put together the first of various great spells of pressure during the game and capitalized, as Jai timed his run to perfection and stroked in to halve the deficit. More possession, a few chances, then a third on the stroke for Woke, great goal that, interplay in the box and a tucked-away finish giving Jonas no chance. Mountain to climb and tough love required from the skipper over the half-time oranges. No Cornish pasties this week, thankfully.
Harsh words duly exchanged, we set about reducing the deficit after the break in unorthodox fashion, conceding another goal immediately after the kick-off. Undaunted, we stuck to the task, reinforcements coming in the shape of Lingan, replacing Pont and Neil replacing Ricky after an encouraging debut at right mid, all-out attack the order of the day. It seemed to work as Wokes went a little bit wobbly, Alex glancing in a deft head and Jai blasting in off the stanchion from close range after a penalty area melée. Another one of those penalty area melee type-things gave the Sky pundits the main talking point of the game as a bit of pinball found the home keeper out of position, a surefire (ish) equaliser defied by what seemed to be ungloved hands in the box. Huge appeals waved away, penalty, red card, parity, one or dare I say perhaps even three away points down the glugger as the home side smeared insult butter all over our indignant bread, sticking a 5th goal into the onion bag.
Lots of positives to take, 3 away goals, lots of fluent attacking play, great game for the neutral, result the only and admittedly fairly important downside, roll on putting it right next Saturday at Fortress Beckenham.
MOM: Alex Smilie
Jack Retallack – 2
Ash – 1
Fitz – 1
It took a while to find the venue but eventually everyone turned up, the weather was perfect for football and the pitch was one of the best we have played on so far this season. After an inspiring pre-match speech from Karl we were raring to go.
The match kicked off and city were on the attack; chances being created all over the pitch but when the break through did come it was for the opposition. A free kick was conceded just in front of the half way line, their big centre half stepped up and put in a cross which unfortunately lobbed our improv goalie Paul who was outstanding throughout the whole game.
Even though city were one goal behind they kept the pressure on and they drew a goal back with Troy providing a through ball which jay finished off confidently. City kept attacking and the second goal came from a good free kick from the captain Karl.
Being a goal up city decided not to sit on the lead and that the best form of defence is to keep attacking. This theory paid off and shortly after Jay was put through once again to score his second goal of the match. City kept the momentum up after the break but the opposition scored their second and final goal of the match with a good strike from outside the box. Abi and Michael both came on as subs and the two combined to score the final goal of the match with Abi putting in a prefect cross from the left which Michael had no problem finishing off.
The whole team played great football and thoroughly deserved their first win of the season. If they continue in this way the results will be in their favour.
Scorers:
Jay Patel x2
Michael Cheers
Karl Ireland
The changing room having been located, in apparent attempt to psyche out a new look 3rd team, the oppo captain offers us our post match ‘hospitality’ (a couple of family sized bottles of diet coke and a few cold pasties in a cardboard box) prior to the game.......but little did he realise you have to get up early to get one over on new skipper for the day David Yee!
With the Jedi mind tricks out of the way it was time for the kick off. Kicking downhill on a small pitch in the first half we struggled to get the fluent passing of recent weeks established against a gritty oppo who managed to break down most of our moves. We became over reliant on stand in keeper Andy’s long kicks for Jay and Lingan to enthusiastically chase down and were on occasion guilty of bypassing the creativity of our midfield.
That said there were a few nice touches from debutants ‘fuzzy’ and Ravi in the midfield when we did manage to get the ball to them. The game continued to be a tight affair until a well worked move saw the oppo string a few passed together through the centre and the striker finished well to take the goal.
The team thought finally this is our chance to push forward for victory, having led in 5 previous matches only to let it slip. However, in the second half sadly this was not to come to fruition, with both defences holding firm, with the odd keystone cops routine acted out by messers Birko and Pont, a long shot from Jay went narrowly wide and some fine crosses from skipper David were sadly not converted. In the latter part of the game a strong penalty shout as Jay appeared to be tripped on the edge of the area went against us.
The spirit in the side was good as we pushed for the equaliser, but ultimately we left disappointed not to have really tested their keeper throughout the two halves. Alas David’s pre-match 100% captaincy record was in ruins.
The only decision of the day remaining was whether Birko was to deliver the untouched ‘hospitality’ package to the tramp waiting at the train station or eat it himself.........needless to say the tramp went hungry!
As is now becoming all too familiar, we couldn't hold onto the lead and Wandsworth were allowed to come more and more into the game. Tyrell failed to get back into his area before picking the ball up and they made their superior height count from the resulting free kick. Minutes later Wandsworth took the lead when we failed to clear and the ball broke to their midfielder who rifled it into the bottom corner. No chance for Tyrell and it was a quality finish.
At half time we spoke about upping our work rate and using the wind advantage in the 2nd half to put their back line under more pressure. We started to control the game and began to play some excellent passing against a tiring Wandsworth team and it seemed inevitable that we would get the equaliser eventually. Dan come off for Alberto to make his debut and we were seeing increasing joy down the right hand side with Aaron continuing to overlap and get forward. We had 3 or 4 freekicks and numerous corner kicks but to be fair to Wandsworth they defended well and against the run of play their tall centre back powered a corner into the net to make it 3-1 with 15 minutes left.
To be fair, we never really gave up and were given a glimmer of hope with 10 minutes left when Troy held the ball up on the edge of the area and poked the ball through to Karl who was challenged by their defender who made contact and that was enough for Karl to hit the deck and Mig didn't hesitate to give his boys a penalty. Jay stepped up confidently to make it 3-2 and make it 4 goals in as many games for him.
We created a couple more chances, Lingan and Ricky came on late, Alberto hit a goal bound shot against Karl's head and Jun and Jay had opportunities snuffed out by Wandsworth.
All in all we were unlucky to come away with nothing but this is becoming a all too familiar story. We need to eradicate our defensive errors and become more consistent and the results are bound to come if the team continues to grow as it is currently.
With the pitch in perfect condition City of London controlled the first half and looked dangerous from the off with Jay chasing down everything and putting pressure on what appeared to be a vulnerable Mickleham defence.
Eventually, City of London broke the deadlock as Abi played a lovely weighted through ball to Jay who calmly lobbed the on rushing Mickleham keeper. Continuing to press City claimed a second as it was this time Troy who turned provider for Jay who this time cleverly rounded the keeper before finding the net for his second of the game. City refused to sit back on their lead and with their tails up almost went three up as David provided a perfectly weighted cross for Jay to get inside his marker only to see his diving header narrowly go the wrong side of the post.
As the first half drew to a close it would be two contentious refereeing decisions that would prove pivotal in the scheme of things to come. The first occurred well inside the Mickleham penalty area, where the captain Karl Ireland had his legs taken from beneath him only to find his and his team’s claims waived away by the referee. In one of the final plays of the half Matty was able to set Jay through once again and as he got to the ball first the Mickleham keeper came crashing into him in what was no doubt a last man foul and appeared to be a penalty. After having a long think about his decision the referee decided not to punish the keeper for the goal denying foul and subsequently awarded a free kick on the edge of the area.
The second half proved a different story as the Mickleham team appeared to have been inspired after half time. With City now appearing to protect their lead, they conceded an early goal which gave the Mickleham team even more belief that they could grab something from a game which only ever looked to be going one way. With City offering less and less of an attacking threat the equaliser and eventual winner both came in the last ten minutes of the game.
The result will no doubt leave the City of London team stunned however will have provided a valuable lesson that no lead is safe and that the best form of defence for this newly formed City side, is to attack!
Facts: Errol had zero saves to make in 90 minutes, we had two good goals disallowed and missed a penalty. Also several good chances not converted.
After all that we finished at 0 - 0. All 13 players without exception played well and contributed to a strong performance. What we need is to score more consistently, more confidence and composure in front of goal, take simple chances and pass when a player is in a better position.
Good debuts from Dave Morgan (midfield) and Sean Howson (left back).
It is only a matter of time before we start to win matches.
The biggest problem we have is mine. I can call on 19 players all capable of first team football. A 'nice' problem to have, apparently, but it does mean every player needs to 'play for the club' and be prepared to be substitute, substituted or play in the second team if asked.
Man of the Match
Ashley Brannan.