Well hello one and all. Its match day Saturday and what a game we have installed for today. This is probably the biggest game of our season so far so today we welcome Bromsgrove Sporting to Sphinx Drive. This fixture is sure to test CUFC's title credentials as BSFC have been runners up in this division for the last two seasons and will be hell bent on succeeding on the third attempt.
CUFC manager Edwin Greaves still has his lengthy injury worries but will not use that as an excuse for whatever the result is at the end of the game. CUFC have a big squad and that's been used extensively over the last few weeks. All teams have this problem from time to time so we just have to get on with the job in hand and try and take the 3pts on offer. I would also just like to complement the Sphinx groundsman for working wonders with the pitch as last weekend it looked terrible but its looking a lot better this week.
The referee gets the game under way and its straight away CUFC show their intent when Pierre Moudime runs forward with the ball. He dribbles past three BSFC players before shooting tamely in the 2nd minute. Then in the 5th minute they win their first corner that's taken by Joshua O'Grady that in turn is easily dealt with.
It's not long before BSFC are flexing their muscles either when in the 8th minute they force a good save out of the keeper Richard Morris. Then they win a corner in the 13th minute that's taken by No7 Sam Wills that also sees keeper Richard Morris gather with ease. BSFC move forward again in the 15th minute when the No8 Reece Hewit races through down their right hand side. He runs to the edge of the area before letting fly with his shot that deflects up into the air and over the head of keeper Richard Morris before dropping into the empty net for the opening goal of the game.
CUFC 0 BSFC 1
The game restarts and once again CUFC find themselves behind to an early goal. This though is sure to be a much bigger mountain to climb. CUFC try for a quick reply in the 17th minute when they win another Joshua O'Grady corner that sees Brian Ndlovu head just wide of the target. The same combination arises again in the 19th minute that sees Brian Ndlovu shoot high and wide of the target this time.
Although the pitch is holding up well considering the amount of rain that's fallen on it this week, some players are finding it hard to stay on their feet. To the credit of both teams though they are still both trying to play football when they can. The next 11 minutes sees both teams win a set piece each that are both easily dealt with before in the 31st minute when BSFC press forward with purpose with the BSFC No10 Kyle Turner breaking through the defence and bearing down on goal. Richard Morris comes out to meet him and duly pulls off another great save to keep his team in the game.
The game moves into the 36th minute and after a tackle that sees Chris Cox accidently catch the BSFC No7 Sam Wills. To be fair it didn't look that bad at all but reactions from players from both sides sees Chris Cox get himself booked and a few other incidents occurred that the referee decided or didn't see went unpunished in my opinion.
Then both teams got back to playing football and in the 38th minute BSFC created another great chance from a free kick that sees the No10 Kyle Turner miss the target when it looked easier to score. In the 42nd minute after another player fracas, CUFC's Matthew Brown got himself booked for his part with the resulting free kick being wasted by the BSFC No3 Brendan Kelly.
The first half draws to a close as Pierre Moudime picks up the ball and runs down the right wing and heads towards the byline before sending a fine cross into the six yard box where Matthew brown is on hand to send his deft header into the corner of the net for the equaliser.
CUFC 1 BSFC 1
The game restarts but soon after the referee blows up for half time.
Half Time
CUFC 1 BSFC 1
Second Half
The second half gets under way and CUFC have made a half time substitution by taking off Steve Djedje and sending on Ben Vallance. BSFC start the second half strong when during the next 10 minutes they win 3 free kicks that are all easily dealt with. Then in the 58th minute they create another chance when they break through and the resulting shot brings out a good save from keeper Richard Morris but the ball still seems to be heading into the goal. Richard Morris manages to somehow hook the ball off the line and into safety when it looked like it might cross the line for a BSFC goal.
The game moves into the 70th minute and CUFC spring a counter attack down the left with Matthew Brown. He whips in a great cross which sees Brian Ndlovu shoot just wide of the target. The 73rd minute sees both sides make changes. BSFC take off No2 Aaron Roberts and send on No16 James McKeon and CUFC taking off Brian Ndlovu and sending on Gift Mussa.
In the 77th minute BSFC win a free kick that's taken by No3 Brendan Kelly that is easily dealt with before in the 78th minute when CUFC race up the other end and a bit of a goalmouth scramble ensues. The ball breaks loose in the area and Muziwandile Nduna pounces on it before smashing the ball into the back of the net with a fine finish and puts his team into the lead.
CUFC 2 BSFC 1
The game restarts and this game is being played like it's a cup tie with both sets of fans making themselves vocally heard. The game is now into the last 10 minutes and in the 81st minute the BSFC No15 Dale Edwards races clear but once again keeper Richard Morris comes to the rescue with another fine save. Two minutes later in the 83rd CUFC press forward again when Joshua O'Grady jinked his way into the area and is brought down and the referee points straight to the spot for a penalty. Joshua O'Grady brushes himself down and steps up to take it. Joshua makes no mistake and increases his goal tally and his teams lead.
CUFC 3 BSFC 1
The game restarts and surely now that should be the end of BSFC? BSFC decide to make a double substitution in the 84th minute when they take off Luke Dugmore and Brendan Kelly and send on No17 Ethan Hawks and No16 Dale Edwards. Then in the 85th minute CUFC make their final change of the afternoon when they take off Pierre Moudime and send on Martin Hutchcox.
The game is drawing to a close and in the 87th minute Joshua O'Grady is booked for supposedly diving and another fracas followed. The game is now into stoppage time and in the 90+1 minutes a mix up between CUFC's keeper Richard Morris and Macauleigh Richards sees BSFC's No9 Connor Collins left with a simple tap in for a gift of a goal that puts his team back in the game.
CUFC 3 BSFC 2
What a finish to a greatly contested game. Another fracas erupts at 90+2 and CUFC's Muzi gets himself booked for his part in it. Then in the 90+5th minute BSFC win a free kick in a dangerous area that sees the No5 Craig Jones head wide of the target just before the referee blows up for full time.
Full Time
CUFC 3 BSFC 2
In summing up this game, I've said it before but it's all about the points. This game was exactly what I expected and more. The game was more like a cup tie and the atmosphere around the ground more than added to that feel too. Both teams have aspirations of being in the mix come the end of the season and I'm sure both teams will be. Nothing was given and both teams fought hard throughout to try and gain the advantage. Once again CUFC found themselves go down to an early goal and they had to also once again be patient before they got themselves back into the game. There was pressure on this game for both teams as each team needed the victory and I for one would have been happy with a draw at the start of the game.
The conditions obviously hampered the ability to play flowing football but to their credit both teams at least tried to where possible. The conditions also played a part in some of the mistimed tackles that in turn ensued into petty fracas that I think (in my opinion) that if the referee had made his mark after the first one would have got across to the players that it had better not happen again.
This result for CUFC was massive, it showed their intent on where they want to be in this league and with all the injuries they have at the moment showed an abundance in character that spreads throughout the team. They should all be proud of themselves today for the effort they all put in to gain victory and the all important 3pts.
Players worthy of a mention today would have to be Ben Vallance when he came on for the second half. His quality was there for all to see, Chris cox and Thomas Glasscoe dug in for the midfield battle and didn't as usual let anybody down, Richard Morris made four top saves to keep his team in the game and just misses out on my man of the match that I give to Callum Burgess. Callum playing in a head guard from a deep cut that required stitches last week manfully stepped into the breach and played a blinder of a game. He has played well pretty much all season and as I've said before goes about his job mainly unnoticed. Today I don't think he lost a header which shows his courage and commitment to the cause and broke down many BSFC attacks with his tough precise tackling so very well played Callum Burgess. |