Match Report - CLIFTON ST VINCENTS B TEAM - 18 Sep 2021

A very depleted squad started the day badly with 3 players turning up late and almost having to start with less than 11 men. Several new faces thrown into the starting lineup, people who have never played which each other or even been training before in Nicu's case! Despite all this, we gave a good account of ourselves in the first half, with a few chances from myself, jamie and Andy hitting the crossbar. But CSV scored first with a nice through ball and decent finish from an awkward angle. We struck back shortly after with a long freekick put into a very awkward area by Will, the defender got a header to it but flicked it past the keeper. Unfortunately we lost Ahmed to injury, which combined with Ben's injury we were playing with 10.5 men. As the first half wore on, they started to dominate possession and they got a goal right on the stroke off half time with a cross that crept in at the back post. With the score at 2-1 at half time I always felt we looked dangerous going forward so the game was not lost.

However, Rory fractured his shoulder early in the 2nd half which put us down to 10 men. The rest of the match was backs to the wall stuff. We couldnt keep possession and CSV put us under pressure. Jack had to make save after save to keep them at bay. The 10 men put a huge shift in and were covering every blade of grass. Late in the game Nicu tripped their forward in the box, penalty given. Their cocky long haired captain stepped up and struck it against the post! The ref ordered a retake for players encroaching in the box. This was Jack's chance to be the hero and he took it! Penalty saved! With only a few minutes remaining, could we go up the other end and nick a point? No. 2-1 final score. Decent result in the circumstances.

Tough game, on another day we would have battered them. The injury crisis continues but hopefully it doesn't cause us to drop many more points.