La Chiesa made it nine wins from ten matches this Sunday when they disposed of lowly Digital
Line in front of a record crowd at Fortress Coopers.
Although it was a game that Chiesa were expected to win, the visitors having lost all eleven
matches so far this season, Digital had given the Hornchurch Rossonieri a fright back in December, and with the
pressure at the top of the table mounting, they could ill afford to treat their opponents with anything but the
utmost respect. With centre halves John Riley and Warren Hardwick unavailable, and striker Adam Jeffers rested, Matt
Gillham started up front, while Steve McCarthy returned for his first game since November alongside skipper Darren Hodsell at the back. Player Manager Samuel Knowles was also back in the centre of midfield.
Once Chiesa had finished warming up, putting themselves through the rigorous series
of stretches and shuttle runs that has become the pre match norm, they noticed that something appeared to be missing.... the
nets were up, the corner flags were in place, Digital Line were ambling on to the pitch, and the die hard LC/DC fans were
in attendance, naturally. Suddenly it hit them... there was no referee! Frantic phone calls were made to no avail to the man
in black, as well as to the powers that be at the Corinthian League, but no replacement could be found. It was agreed
that Chiesa should provide the official and they did so in the shape of centre forward Dennis Peck. Some people will play
anywhere in order to get ninety minutes! We will be fining the league for their sloppiness, of course...
Chiesa started brightly, and had several early chances to take the lead. Left back Terry Soteriou
was eager to get his name on the scoresheet and almost did so in the opening minutes, but his right foot shot was blocked,
Cy Taylor fizzed a cross shot just wide from the edge of the area, while Gillham had possibly the best chance of the lot when
he outpaced the Digital defence, cleverly dummied the keeper, but sidefooted wide when it seemed easier to score. When Danny
Trew saw a bullet header superbly turned behind for a corner, suspicions that it may be a frustrating day for La Chiesa
were beginning to fester, but their fears proved to be unfounded when they took the lead with their very next attack.
Last weeks goalscoring hero Colin Williams beat his man and raced to the byline before cutting the ball back for Trew
to fire home at the near post. Five minutes later the same two players combined to double the lead - Williams whipping in
a corner that he had won himself and Trew sneaking in at the back stick to head home his eighth goal of the season.
Though Digital Line were showing some excellent control and short passing in the centre
of midfield, Chiesa seldom found themselves under any kind of pressure, the back four enjoying a good deal of possession,
Iain Gay in particular seemingly available whenever LC/DC had the ball. Gillham had another chance to extend the lead but
saw his left foot strike fly over the bar, while Dean Jordan shimmied his way through a couple of challenges before shooting
just wide before Williams treated the crowd to another goal out of the very top draw. Receiving the ball thirty yards from
goal in the inside left channel, Chiesa's answer to the Cannonball Kid unleashed a spectacular left foot effort
that seared into the top corner past the despairing keeper. Rumours are emerging from the Santiago Bernabeu that
Roberto Carlos wears Colin Williams' boots. LC/DC made it four just before the break when Cy
Taylor was released inside the area and unselfishly set up Sam Knowles - not for nothing is Taylor known as the Soul
Provider.
A four goal lead was sufficient to soothe any Chiesa nerves, and at the interval the home team
knew that, although they could be more ruthless in front of goal, the game was won, and they could concentrate on improving
their goal difference in the remaining forty five. Referee Peck was having possibly his best match since joining Chiesa in
the summer, and decided to delay the pre match plan to replace Trew by fifteen minutes in order to allow DT the chance
of completing his hat trick.
Terry Soteriou came agonisingly close to opening his Chiesa account when his acrobatic scissors
kick produced a fantastic save from the keeper at the start of the half, but as is often the
case when a team holds a convincing lead, the tendency to overplay crept in at times in the second period. Rather than
concentrating on racking up a cricket score against demoralised opposition, Chiesa opted for the spectacular rather than the
simple on several occasions which proved frustrating for all concerned. One piece of skill that did have an end product provided
the fifth for the home side, and a deserved goal for Matt Gillham. Quicker out of the blocks than his marker, Maggsy showed
great technique to flick the ball over the defenders outstretched foot, and let fly with a left foot volley
that dipped into the bottom corner for his third goal of the season. Trew had one final opportunity to nab a third goal for
himself, but saw his shot blocked, and swapped places with Peck for the final twenty five minutes - the crowd being
treated to the unusual sight of the referee playing up front for the remainder of the match!
Chiesa mixed up periods of good passing with some lacklustre stuff in the final quarter of the
match. Knowles came close to adding a sixth when he crashed shot against the crossbar only to see Taylor do likewise from
the rebound, while Peck saw a header disallowed for offside. Taylor was once again denied by the woodwork when his shot
with the outside of his boot clipped the crossbar, and it seemed as though Chiesa were going to settle for five.
Skipper Hodsell was doing his best to keep the boys going, but Chiesa seemed to be going through
the motions, until Knowles volleyed in his second of the match in the dying moments after good work from Gay and Peck on the
right. There was still time for Peck to have another 'goal' ruled out for offside before the final whistle blew but Chiesa
had to be content with six in the end.
Positives from the match were some good build up play from the back, an impressive comeback from
Steve McCarthy after a long lay off, and another clean sheet for Mark Harris between the posts. That Chiesa are not satisfied
with a six goal thumping of the opposition shows how far they have progressed in the last twelve months. Their destiny is
in their own hands now thanks to five straight wins and nine victories from their last ten matches. Throw in a possible cup
final appearance, and these really are exciting times for La Chiesa Del Corno fans.
