Strollers FC 1 - 2 Clissold Park

11 October 2006

This blustery afternoon saw the return of Calum ‘the cat’ Land back between the posts for what proved to be eventful game of football.

A re-shuffle on the left saw Toussaint playing left back replacing the injured Bailey, he was joined by Tear and Blackburn in the middle with Stroud on the right. McNaught in front with Muhsin and O’Brien in the centre with Wozika playing left midfield. Barrett and Kinery shared the attacking duties.

The joint record attendance of the season (three) saw the Strollers almost snatch an early lead with Toussaint running down the left wing to float a cross over to Kinery, he controlled and took a step to his right but fired the ball over, this was followed by attack down the right which saw O’Brien direct a header across the edge of the penalty area, Kinery shielded the ball to allow Barrett a shot on goal which was easily saved by the Tornadoes keeper.

Clissold had their two usual forwards, Fat Frank Lampard (FFL) and Steve who used his pace to latch onto a ball over the top. Tear was bearing down on him but Land rushed to the edge of the box to claim the ball before a shot could be dispatched.

After another of the many midfield tussles a ball was played to the left for Toussaint who hit a cross field ball to Kinery, he knocked down to Barrett whose shot was deflected by the keeper, O’Brien picked up the loose ball and slotted neatly a pass back to Barrett who had stepped off side.

The action returned to the Strollers end with Land making a stretching dive down to the feet of a Clissold attack. This was closely followed by a brave sliding tackle by Tear on FFL, the loose ball was hit by a midfielder into a crowd of players, there was a half clearance to a Clissold midfielder whose long range effect took a deflection off Stroud’s foot which left everyone watching the ball sail just wide of the right post.

There were two more attacks by the Strollers before half time, Kinery outpaced the outsized CPT centre backs to see his shot saved by the on form keeper, the second was a great run by Tear who adopted the classic ‘give and go’ tactic by bringing the ball out of defence and exchanged passes with Toussaint and Wozika to then send Barrett though to see his shot hit the side netting.

Half time

Stroud got stuck in quickly in the second half with a succession of strong tackles against the increasingly frustrated FFL, the ball broke and Barrett latched onto it to see his shot zip wide of the post.

FFL received a booking for arguing with the referee but shortly after his fortune changed by being gifted a tap in. A free kick from the left was chipped into the box, and then flicked on to catch the strong Strollers defence back-pedalling; a pass across the goal was easily knocked in by the unopposed attacker.

An attack by the Strollers almost saw a quick reply. Kinery linked a pass through to Barrett who saw another shot saved but out for a corner. Barrett sent the corner into the box to see O’Brien with an effort down low to the keepers’ right. The keepers’ quick reactions again denied the Strollers of a goal.

The Strollers conceded another, the defence playing the offside trap were caught out, FFL must have thought he was offside as he casually ran on goal rounding Land and tapping home.

Mike came on for Wosika and O’Flynn for McNaught. Mike had an early opportunity which saw him turning the CPT defence, but again the keeper saved.

With time running out and tempers rising Strollers won a penalty after Barrett was bought down on the edge of the box, he dusted himself of to blast the ball into the back of the net with a few minutes to go.

The last opportunity of the game fell to O’Flynn whose shot just edged over the bar.

2-1 to Clissold Park Tornadoes. Both teams battled hard and The Strollers had the opportunities but the excellent Clissold keeper had a fine game.

Each section of the team had good games but was unlucky on day.

Match Details

MoM: Toussant

4-4-2 (first half)
Land – Stroud, Tear, Blackburn, Toussant – McNaught, O’Brien, Muhsin, Wosika – Barrett, Keniry

4-4-2 (second half)
Land – Stroud, Tear, Blackburn, Toussant – McNaught (O’Flynn, O’Brien, Muhsin, Wosika (Thomas) – Barrett, Keniry