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karthoarse · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject: Otford fall at the school

Back at the School Saturday, for a cup game against Otford, and as it always is between these two sides, a tight, competitive game ensued. The early chances went to City, Royston Gough was the first to go close from a Dave Read cross, Read then himself headed over from a corner, then Ben Smith shot wide. The play was being broken up by plenty of free kicks and fouls for both teams, but City took the lead around the half hour mark. A giant throw from Michael Seagers was flicked on by Read and Gough headed home. Almost immediately, a Read header could have made it 2-0 and then Gough had a chance for a header but the ball seemed to skim off his forehead and go wide. Otford were making some chances and should have equalised, after a break down the left to the City byline the ball was superbly pulled back but the oncoming attacker shot well wide. Otford often looked vulnerable in the air at the back and Read won many headers and flicks for City to feed off. City had further chances before half time, Read again from another almighty Seagers throw and Callum McGeehan had a shot charged down. Otford too had their openings before half-time, a free-kick was blasted against the City wall (no, not the one by the Dane John!) and they headed over from a needlessly given away corner.
Second half, McGeehan off target wiith a couple of free kicks, one over and one wide, Seagers lucky not to get booked for a block on an Otford attacker and a flying superb one handed save from Danny Wrench prevented the Otford equaliser. The game was becoming a tough midfield battle and City took a 2-0 lead when after some good interplay Gough set up Matt Jackson to poke the ball home from close range. City seemed to have the game sewn up, but soon after, a penalty was conceded and Otford got a foothold in the match at 2-1. This seemd to give them some belief and as the game opened up as they sought the equaliser, there were chances at both ends, before deep into injury time, Otford won a corner and with the goalkeeper coming up to cause some confusion, they headed in to send the tie into extra time. At this stage you felt that City had missed an opportunity to win the tie, and perhaps more importantly save us all from another half hour in the cold!

So to extra-time, City soon got here noses in front at 3-2 when Scott Lawford scored after being set up by Read. Had to get the scorer form the official report as couldn't make out who it was in the gloom, having failed to bring my long range, night vision glasses, to the game!, and also unable to see through the dugouts and lines of substitutes and officials near the touch line from my vantage point - sorry disadvantage point, behind the fence along the track!!

In the second half of extra-time a Lawford corner was headed onto the bar via the keeper and as the ball went back in, a second save saw the keeper injure his shoulder against the post. City seeing he had been incapacitated, then had their best attacking spell of the game, Read looped a header over, he aslo had a shot deflected wide. Direct from the resulting corner Lawford hit the bar, then McGeehan fired over as did Smith, Tony Jackson had a long range effort saved and a further Read effort was ruled offside.

3-2 to City then and without doubt the Men of the Match were Tony Jackson and Michael Seagers who were both outstanding at the full back positions, closely followed by the rest of the back five Wrench, Luke Lockhart and Ian Hossick, between them they snuffed out most of Otford's attacking play and were superb as a unit. Read, yet again had a great game, winning loads in the air and creating chances.

A tough, close fought game that City deserved to edge.

socksy · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 137

I know what you mean about the extra half hour. As it got towards the end of a second half that seemed to last forever, I was getting colder and colder and more desperate to jump into my car, head for home via the Tesco beer aisle and get home in time for TV Burp. Sadly, it wasn't to be. It would be a bit unfair to say we made it hard work for ourselves, but although Otford are a good side, City had done the hard work, made the game safe, then they put us through that. After Otford made it 2:2, I thought there'd only be one winner, so well done City for proving me and any other doubters wrong.

I'm not a big fan of chopping and changing our home venue and although at least the toilets were more easily accessible than at Bridge, we have to stand so far from the pitch to watch the game, it just doesn't feel right. Do the players like playing at Hooker?

karthoarse · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:33 am Post subject:

I have to agree with your comments about the school. The viewing is severely restricted - any reason those dugouts and associated paraphernalia can't be sited on the far side of the pitch instead? It obviously has the better facilities, when they're open!! Parking is easier etc but they're not the reasons we go there. Presumably it is costing the club money for both pitch hire and loss of programme and refreshment revenue?

Somehow it just doesn't feel right, it has all the atmosphere of an empty fridge, until the lights come on, then it has all the atmosphere of an empty fridge with the light on!

corpse · Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Posts: 51

Yes, Bridge is the much better venue for atmosphere and that traditional football feeling! It is easier for spectators to bait the officials and players at Bridge and to feel part of the match. At Canterbury High, nice though the facility is, it just feels empty!

socksy · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 137

The reserves I spoke to on Saturday said they played at Bridge and the pitch was ok at the start, but a mess after. We desperately need a bit of decent weather, that's for sure.

The Hooker set up is a bit like the miserable days at Kingsmead. The facilities are great, but not footballish. The bar's like an episode of Friends. Probably called 'The One Where Nobody Particularly Enjoyed The Game'. I'm just a miserable git, but you certainly feel more a part of the game at Bridge and that makes the games more enjoyable to watch.

I wonder what the players prefer? Come on lads, some of you must read this stuff?

madhatter · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3

were we at the same game?
What is going on with City? . A lucky win but an inept display. Against Staplehurst we played the wrong formation with players in the wrong positions but escaped with a very fortunate draw but we didn't learn and did the same again. Dave Read is a very good player but never a forward. His best position by far is as a driving midfielder. What must Wayne think? What has happened to our over-lapping full-backs? Baker not even getting off the bench again. (How is he going to get his best form and fitness back) ok he might not be the best defender at City but as an attacking full-back that makes things happen he's best by a long way. What are we talking about here, favourites in the team whether they're playing well or not. Let's get back to the formation and team that played so well last season and at the beginning of this. It will certainly be needed as the better cup and league sides come along. If we don't we will start losing games and possibly good players. Or perhaps it's one way of reducing the very large squad

ps: is the possible pitch for next season, as mentioned by the Chairman, the one being used by Premier?

socksy · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 137

I agree with your Read comment. He's not a forward and it doesn't make sense while Fittal's on the bench. Is there any sensible reason why he never starts? Royston's a great goalscorer for City too. Does Dave think they can't play together cos they inhibit each other's progress and he thinks we're more dangerous when they're split up?

corpse · Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Posts: 51

What do the players prefer....I think they enjoy the pitch at Hooker but the atmosphere at Bridge.

Madhatter, I agree with you about the Staplehurst game: it was a poor performance but that said we were 1-0 up and should not have let the opposition back into the game. The same can be said about last Saturday's game in as much as we were 2-0 up and it should have been game over despite it being a really scrappy performance. As for formation, we played 4-3-3 at the start of the season and for the most part continued with that right up to and including the Staplehurst game on Dec 20. We played 4-4-2 against Otford. The full-backs are encouraged to get forward and to overlap whenever the opportunity arises and hopefully they will start doing so more often as the season progresses. The 'who plays up front' debate is also an interesting one.