Match Report
Match Report - 11 Jan 2015, Clapham Rovers Clapham Rovers beat Accrington Stanley Bowles
Rovers!
The big games come thick and fast. This Sunday sees us up against the old foe, Real Northern A.
Sunday was a great way to ease back in against a side who offered us a decent test but who we should beat. Sunday is a much trickier proposition.
Rovers 3 – 1 Accrington Stanley Bowles
Sunday saw us finally don the new kit after 6 months of effort and finally put to bed a disappointing opening day draw vs ASB.
We deservedly secured the 3 points after making most of the play and creating the most chances. The biggest threat to us in the game was our own sloppiness and the mistakes we made. Thankfully only one was punished by a goal.
The opening goal was from Godders playing on the left hand side in place of an injured Rich. He followed the ball in well after Smudger was denied as he had a shot from the edge of the 6 yard box after cutting in from the right.
At 1-0 up I kicked off the inexplicable mistakes. In the right back position level with our penalty area I threw the ball back to Horse who was standing on the edge of the box. It barely made him and put the Horse under pressure as their attacker nipped in for a shot which luckily was cleared.
ASB then scored a rather cheap goal. Sheva fouled their right mid, almost on the left hand byline. Their free kick was swung in, low and bobbling. A few Rovers made some token efforts to clear the ball but before we knew it, the ball could only be bundled in by Bunman on the goal line.
We were still making all the chances but unfortunately, we then made another error which almost ASB undeservedly take the lead. The ball was played back to Horse who tried to get it out of his feet but fell over backwards. Their striker bore down on goal but pressure from G and a great save from Sheva, saw the ball go out of danger. Out of danger but too close for comfort.
ASB always seem to be tricky, obstinate customers for us. We always seem to break them down despite the pressure we put them under. This was the talk at half time. I didn’t want this to be a repeat where we regretted not getting the 3 points.
Godders was on hand to put us 2-1 up on approximately 65mins. He received the ball just inside the box on the left handside. Calmly and very deliberately, he got his head up and placed the ball into the far corner of the net. It was a beauty.
By this point in the match I had become nervous that we weren’t going to get the win. Horse had seen yellow for a tackle which was so late it reminded me of Vinnie Jones on Steve McMahon in the 1988 FA Cup Final. Joe had also gone off with a cut to the eye and bled all over the new kit. Sheva had also pulled off a wonder save from a shot which ultimately was ruled offside but he didn’t know that at the time.
With our noses in front there was still the threat that we might concede from ASB lobbing the ball into the box. We were still taking the game to ASB though. Godders was obviously in his element showing off some silky footwork and Matt Wright was running the field. I must also give a big nod of appreciation to Charlie and Moley who came on as substitutes and made a big impression. Both Moley and Charlie got forward well from the fullback positions. JD also came on and kept it nice and simple. If we are going to achieve anything this year, the entire squad will need to contribute with big performances.
With 10 mins to go we finally sealed the match from a collectors’ item; Godders scored direct from a corner. He swung the ball in with his right foot from the left hand side and the defender at the back post couldn’t keep it out.
MOM. It was a close run thing because Matt Wright put in a remarkable performance after a week on the booze in the Alps but Godders with a hat trick deservedly took it.
10 Teams Games
Played Games
Won Games
Drawn Games
Lost Goals
For Goals
Against Goal
Difference Points
London St George
Follow
8 7 0 1 47 13 +34 21
Clapham Rovers
Follow
8 6 1 1 32 12 +20 19
Kings United
Follow
9 5 2 2 24 18 +6 17
Real Northern 'A'
Follow
9 5 1 3 18 18 +0 16
FC Selchp
Follow
6 4 0 2 30 11 +19 12
Accrington Stanley Bowles
Follow
8 2 2 4 13 19 -6 8
Cool Oak Rangers
Follow
5 2 0 3 10 16 -6 6
Parthenope
Follow
7 1 0 6 9 47 -38 3
FC Lonsdale
Follow
5 0 1 4 8 17 -9 1
Lokomotiv Londres
Follow
7 0 1 6 10 30 -20 1
Gladys Perry Challenge Cup
2 2 014 Real Northern 'B' v Cool Oak Rangers [ Round 3 - Second Leg ] [ Home Win on penalties ]
Riverside Lands W4 2SX
Agg 3-3: Real Northern won 4-3 on penalties
2 6 016 Athletico Finesse v FC Selchp [ Round 3 - Second Leg ]
King's House (Civil Service) SG W4 2RZ
Agg 2 - 17
Ron Halfacre Challenge Cup
4 4 003 Orange County v FC Lonsdale [ Round 2 - Second Leg ]
Hurlingham Park SW6 3RQ
Agg 7-8
Senior Amateur Division
3 1 Clapham Rovers v Accrington Stanley Bowles
Westminster Schools CR4 1DE
2 1 Kings United v Real Northern 'A'
King's House (Civil Service) SG W4 2RZ
3 4 Lokomotiv Londres v Parthenope
Riverside Lands W4 2SX
Senior Amateur Division
Accrington Stanley Bowles v Cool Oak Rangers
Riverside Lands W4 2SX
Lokomotiv Londres v Kings United
King's House (Civil Service) SG W4 2RZ
Parthenope v FC Lonsdale
Westminster Schools CR4 1DE
Real Northern 'A' v Clapham Rovers
Westminster Schools CR4 1DE
Clapham Rovers Clapham Rovers 3 - 1 Accrington Stanley Bowles ()