Old Whitgiftian AFC

Old Whitgiftian AFC 1-2 City of London

(Saturday, 12 January 2008)

Lakhani

MATCH REPORT
by Dale Quartey

Another Saturday and the now annual meeting of Whits and City of London took place at Croham Road .

Whits were pleased to welcome back Fran Bell back into the fold after his absence due to being on the Isle of Wight doing some nonsense and new player Will was making his debut after impressing when playing for the students against the first team in December. A long and intense warm was followed by a morale raising speech (similar to that of William Wallace) by manager Kieron Fisher proceeded the kick off.

TEAM LINE-UP
QUARTEY JEWELL - HIGGINS - TOBIAS - TARLTON BLADES - FUCILLA - McNAMARA - BELL COBBETT - LAKHANI Subs - Hawkins - Clarke C

The game started at a some what sedated pace considering it was a Whits, City of London tie with both teams probing at the other, testing out where any weakness may lie. Honours were fairly even over the first twenty minutes with neither goalkeeper being force into a meaningful save.

Mid way through the first half a surging run down the left drew a foul from a City of London defender, Lakhani picked up the ball and placed it on the penalty spot, only to be told by the referee that the decision was a free kick on the edge of the area. Lakhani, moved the ball to the desired spot and hit a beautiful curling free kick, up and the over the wall, just under the bar and into the back of the net. 1-0 Whits.

Click on the icon to watch a video of Kiran's free kick

The game ebb and flowed, again with both teams seeking the next strike, a Whits attack ended with an timid looking fool from Andy Blades. A bad reaction from a City of London defender, angered Blades and resulted in both players being shown the red card. Both teams held firm until the break with both sets of defence playing sensible and effective football.

Half time saw a slight tactical change with Lakhani and Cobbett being asked to fill in on the right winger for the missing Blades, a sort of 4-4-1-1 ish kind of formation. City of London opted to stick with a 3-4-2 formation. As the second half went on the game became more stretched with tired legs on both sides. Both keepers were being tested more and more with Quartey in the Whits goal making a number of good saves to help keep City of London at bay.

Mid way through the first half, some excellent defending from John Higgins, saw the ball go out for a throw which was mistakenly given as a corner. As the ball was swung in the referees whistle sounded and everyone stopped apart from the one City of London player who was in mid air. The ball was headed in to the top corner and much to the disappointment of Whits players and the surprise of the City of London players, the goal was allowed to stand. 1-1

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The rest of the game was played at a frantic pace, Whits saw chances go missing from the boots of McNamara and Lakhani, whilst Quartey made an excellent stop from a corner to keep the score at 1-1. As the minutes flew by, City of London launched a counter attack from a free kick that was not given, the ball was taken down the Whits left and crossed into the middle were a grateful attacker stretched to put the ball into the back of the net! 1-2 City of London .

Try as they might, Whits were unable to find the equaliser in the last five minutes and lost an entertaining game 1-2. Next week an away trip to Sutton and 3 points is must!

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