05 November 2005 - League
Darkside 1 - Claygate Royals 3
Team: Adrian, Alan, Ant, Ben E, Ben S, Chris K, Craig, Dan B, Dan S, Errol, Mark, Mike, Phill
Goals: Mike / Assists: Alan / MOTM: Craig / MM: Alan

Claygate were expected to have improved since their 4-2 loss the first time round. An expectation that was found to be true. However, what was not so expected, was the total loss of form of a Darkside team who have now suffered 3 league defeats on the trot. A run which leaves their promotion prospects in turmoil.

The formation was 4-5-1 with Kidwell assigned the task of protecting the defence at all cost. Unfortunately he is but one man and the Great Wall of China couldn’t have protected the defence in a mad spell of 10 minutes that saw the home team crumble to 0-2 behind. Players were slipping, balls were being missed and the ball was going over their usually reliable heads. Not a good set of features when, considering Claygate’s very capable no. 10 was combining pace and skill to great effect.

All of this followed what was a promising opening for DSFC. Boyd hitting the post from a Fletcher corner – he should have done better. At this stage however the importance seemed slight and the boys were encouraged by the opportunity.

So it came to 20 minutes gone and the team were 0-2 down. A subtle tactical change of switching the full backs coincided with the defence getting their act together and successfully shutting the door until half time. During this period the standard of football being played by the home side dramatically improved with Kingston and Swain pulling the strings in the middle of the park. Masuku notched up his 10th of the season feeding off Fletcher’s offerings. This got the boys back in the game and optimism was high at half time with so much time left in the game and DSFC in the ascendancy. Tanna was refereeing which meant that captain Kingston issued the half time instructions and the usual mini conferences took place.

What took place in the second half was shameful. The more the defence attempted to deal with Claygate's long ball, the more tired they got. Again balls were going over the top and putting the speedy Claygates’s forwards one on one with a brace Exley in goal. In such a circumstance, Claygate extended their lead to 1-3 effectively killing off the home side.

Before this, Fletcher had the best chance - through on goal with just the keeper to beat who did very well in denying him. Swain also saw a cracking long range effort go just over the top. Patton came on to good effect on the right wing and won a free kick in a good position. MOTM Kingston’s cross was headed over by Boyd and the match was gone.

Fletcher earned monkey moment for scything down a Claygate opponent in an incident that would have been more severely punished another day! This incident was only rivalled by Neill’s post match admission that he had missed at least 3 balls; he wasn’t the only one. The Greek chef also put in a last minute claim by taking over an hour to produce a bowl of chips, bring back the Colonel!

At the end Masuku was speechless with disappointment; or maybe he was just missing the grappling hands of Claygate’s giant centre half. Fletcher called it the worst performance he had ever seen. Perhaps slightly harsh, but certainly major improvements will be needed if this “blip” is to be turned around – we don't want to become a “Cup side”. Just at the moment chances are going begging that were being taken earlier in the season. Balls don’t seam to be dropping for the boys and confidence is a bit low.

Match report by: Adrian