10.04.05 - Maze - Chiesa Fall At The Final Fence

Maze 3 vs La Chiesa 0

La Chiesa were found wanting on Sunday, as the biggest match in their history ended in abject disappointment thanks to the lethal finishing of Maze hat trick hero Danny Steel.

As Sky Sports Spanish Football Correspondent, I was faced with a huge dilemma: Stay in Spain to cover 'El Classico', or fly to Thurrock and support the Hornchurch Rossoneri on their big day? After many sleepless nights I couldn't get away from the fact that there are two meetings between Real and Barca a season, but an Arthur Atkinson final is a once in a lifertime experience. Beckham, Owen, Ronaldo et al could wait - it was Williams, Trew, and Jeffers that I was eager to see...

A beautiful spring afternoon in front of three hundred and fifty expectant fans, conditions were perfect for football. A colour clash meant Chiesa were unable to sport their traditional red and black stripes, instead they took to the field in the 'Footballers Wives' navy blue away kit. Manager Samuel Knowles had the heartbreaking job of letting three of the squad down - Matt Gillham and Cy Taylor had been on the bench on many occasions this season, but the toughest call was naming vice captain John Riley as the third sub - a decision that had given Knowles several nights of unrest in the lead up to the match.

Chiesa kicked off the match to a deafening roar from the huge crowd, but the opening fifteen minutes were a scrappy affair, with neither team able to put their foot on the ball and pass it in the way they would have liked. Chiesa were looking nervy and hesitant, a shadow of the side that had been playing such outrageously sexy football back in the autumn. When the teams met at Coopers back in September, Chiesa had dominated the match but been undone by the outstanding

finishing of Steel, and although they were fully aware of the threat he posed, in the 19th minute a mix up between Warren Hardwick and Dennis Peck let him in on goal, and his powerful shot was too hot for Mark Harris to handle - 1-0 Maze. Of course the linesman was flagging for offside - one in three goals LC/DC have conceded this season have been flagged offside - but naturally, referee Rivett overuled his assistant (Corinthian League Handbook p12 Rule 13 (ii) - 'If player is adjudged offside vs La Chiesa Del Corno, ignore the assistant unless you got your end away last night - numerous goals this season have been given against the LC/DC in this fashion, but we are not bitter about it...)

So one down inside twenty minutes, it was time for Chiesa to get their act together. Knowles tried his luck from distance but was well off the mark, while Colin Williams had an opportunity from a free kick but blasted high and wide. Dennis Peck was forced off for treatment after a clash of heads (later confirmed to be a broken nose) as Chiesa were trying to edge their way back into the match. However they conceded a second on thirty five minutes, with some more sloppy defending to blame. A Harris goal kick was headed straight back by a Maze midfielder, and Steel was on to it in a flash, looking offside, he was in fact played on by a Chiesa defender slow to move up with play, and he tucked the ball past Harris with a minimum of fuss. Chiesa were heading towards a two goal deficit at the break.

If you were to visit Highbury in the late eighties, halfway through the first half an annoying old man would invariably shout 'Come on you rip roaring, goals scoring RRRREEEEDDDDSSS!' to which the rest of the ground replied 'SHHAAAAADDUPPP!'. This creature had seemingly metamorphasised into a Maze fan who, dressed in a dark overcoat and swigging pints of lager as he bellowed profanities, is no doubt beating off the ladies with a shitty stick in his local.

The second goal seemed to shock the Hornchurch side into action, and the last ten minutes of the half saw a sense of urgency that had been sadly missing in the previous thirty five. Despite this extra effort, it was 2-0 Maze at the half time interval. and Director of Football Dave Knowles read the riot act. Chiesa were lethargic - second to every 50/50, dithering before clearances, and hadn't strung three passes together all game - it was not the day to produce one of the worst performances of the season. Quality players like Iain Gay and Colin Williams were being starved of the ball out wide. But all that had gone before to be forgotten in the next forty five minutes if they were to stand any chance of getting their hands on the prestigious Atkinson Trophy.

LC/DC came out for the second half a different team, and for the opening twenty minutes of the half they created several chances that on another day would have seen them level. Darren Hodsoll was linking up well with the midfield and Colin Williams and Terry Soteriou combined well down the left. Dean Jordan crashed a shot just wide from Williams cutback, then tenacious play from Adam Jeffers forced goalkeeper Ashley into picking up a backpass ten yards from goal. The scene was set for Colin Williams legendary right foot to pull one back for Chiesa, but his shot cleared the bar as well as the stand behind the goal. Maze were on the backfoot and Chiesa sensed that if they scored the third goal of the match they had a great chance to go on and lift the trophy. The first yellow card of the game was shown on the hour, when Knowles was victim of a slightly reckless tackle from an opposing midfielder, and it was a shot from the Chiesa player - boss that led to Chiesa's best chance of the match. Linking well with Dean Jordan, Knowles let fly from twenty five yards, but his shot was weak and shouldn't have troubled the keeper. However, so little had the Maze custodian had to do, that he spilled the shot straight to Danny Trew who must have thought he had scored, but yet again the ball flew over the crossbar. It was the kind of chance that Danny normally puts away with his eyes closed, and when Colin Williams, who has consistently saved Chiesa's bacon with spectacular free kicks for two seasons now, just could not find his range from numerous attempts, the writing was on the wall for Chiesa.

Terry Sorteriou waas almost punished for somer hesitant play on the edge of his eighteen yard box but for once Maze were off target, while 'Hornchurch Hatchet' Warre nHardwick found his way into the referees notebook forclipping the heels of Steel, before Riley and Taylor replaced Peck and Soteriou with half an hour on the clock. Matt Gillham came on for Hardwick with quarter of an hour remaining as Knowles gambled on a 3-4-3 formation to try and get the goal that would set up a grandstand finish but it was Maze who were to score the third goal, and inevitably it was Steel again. Chiesa again tried to play offside, and again got it wrong leaving the Chadwell Heath goal machine a clear run on goal, and he cheekily toe poked the ball past the despairing dive of Harris. Although apportioning blame does nobody any favours, it must be pointed out that Chiesa knew exactly what Maze were going to throw at them - and playing the offside trap was not the way they had talked about stopping it.

Pride was all there was left to play for in the final minutes, and Chiesa almost grabbed a late consolation in the dying moments. A third booking of the match for a chest high tackle on Knowles was shown, before Matt Gillham trickery set the Chiesa number seven up just six yards out, but true to form, he blasted well over the bar. It was just not meant to be...

Chiesa were put out of their misery soon after, as the final whistle blew, and handshakes were exchanged. The better team on the day were victorious, although the three goal margin was rather flattering - it was a case of Maze taking their chances while Chiesa missed theirs, but when you consider that the hat trick goal was Steel's forty fifth of the season, the difference between the two sides is evident. And there was me thinking Daniel Steel just wrote soppy books for birds!

Chiesa cup dreams over for another season then, but an enjoyable day out for all was just beginning, as wives, girlfriends, fans, and former players got together for a drink back in Hx. Over in Madrid, Los Galacticos were hammering Barcelona 4-2 in one of the La Liga's games of the season, but the experience of an Arthur Atkinson Fina, albeit a losing one, is one I would not have missed for all the tea in China.

LCDC; (4-4-2) Harris; Hodsoll, W Hardwick (M Gillham), Peck (Riley), Soteriou (Taylor); Gay, Knowles, Jordan, Williams; Jeffers, Trew

Tarjeta Amarilla - W Hardwick

Arbitro - D Rivett


				*lachiesa.co.uk* 10.04.05 - Maze - Chiesa Fall At The Final Fence



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		Chiesa's Quest For Glory Ends In Tears... writes Guillem Balague Click here for an alternative report and more pics







		Maze 3 vs La Chiesa 0 La Chiesa were found wanting on Sunday, as the biggest match in their history ended in abject disappointment thanks to the lethal finishing of Maze hat trick hero Danny Steel. As Sky Sports Spanish Football Correspondent, I was faced with a huge dilemma: Stay in Spain to cover 'El Classico', or fly to Thurrock and support the Hornchurch Rossoneri on their big day? After many sleepless nights I couldn't get away from the fact that there are two meetings between Real and Barca a season, but an Arthur Atkinson final is a once in a lifertime experience. Beckham, Owen, Ronaldo et al could wait - it was Williams, Trew, and Jeffers that I was eager to see... A beautiful spring afternoon in front of three hundred and fifty expectant fans, conditions were perfect for football. A colour clash meant Chiesa were unable to sport their traditional red and black stripes, instead they took to the field in the 'Footballers Wives' navy blue away kit. Manager Samuel Knowles had the heartbreaking job of letting three of the squad down - Matt Gillham and Cy Taylor had been on the bench on many occasions this season, but the toughest call was naming vice captain John Riley as the third sub - a decision that had given Knowles several nights of unrest in the lead up to the match. Chiesa kicked off the match to a deafening roar from the huge crowd, but the opening fifteen minutes were a scrappy affair, with neither team able to put their foot on the ball and pass it in the way they would have liked. Chiesa were looking nervy and hesitant, a shadow of the side that had been playing such outrageously sexy football back in the autumn. When the teams met at Coopers back in September, Chiesa had dominated the match but been undone by the outstanding finishing of Steel, and although they were fully aware of the threat he posed, in the 19th minute a mix up between Warren Hardwick and Dennis Peck let him in on goal, and his powerful shot was too hot for Mark Harris to handle - 1-0 Maze. Of course the linesman was flagging for offside - one in three goals LC/DC have conceded this season have been flagged offside - but naturally, referee Rivett overuled his assistant (Corinthian League Handbook p12 Rule 13 (ii) - 'If player is adjudged offside vs La Chiesa Del Corno, ignore the assistant unless you got your end away last night - numerous goals this season have been given against the LC/DC in this fashion, but we are not bitter about it...) So one down inside twenty minutes, it was time for Chiesa to get their act together. Knowles tried his luck from distance but was well off the mark, while Colin Williams had an opportunity from a free kick but blasted high and wide. Dennis Peck was forced off for treatment after a clash of heads (later confirmed to be a broken nose) as Chiesa were trying to edge their way back into the match. However they conceded a second on thirty five minutes, with some more sloppy defending to blame. A Harris goal kick was headed straight back by a Maze midfielder, and Steel was on to it in a flash, looking offside, he was in fact played on by a Chiesa defender slow to move up with play, and he tucked the ball past Harris with a minimum of fuss. Chiesa were heading towards a two goal deficit at the break. If you were to visit Highbury in the late eighties, halfway through the first half an annoying old man would invariably shout 'Come on you rip roaring, goals scoring RRRREEEEDDDDSSS!' to which the rest of the ground replied 'SHHAAAAADDUPPP!'. This creature had seemingly metamorphasised into a Maze fan who, dressed in a dark overcoat and swigging pints of lager as he bellowed profanities, is no doubt beating off the ladies with a shitty stick in his local. The second goal seemed to shock the Hornchurch side into action, and the last ten minutes of the half saw a sense of urgency that had been sadly missing in the previous thirty five. Despite this extra effort, it was 2-0 Maze at the half time interval. and Director of Football Dave Knowles read the riot act. Chiesa were lethargic - second to every 50/50, dithering before clearances, and hadn't strung three passes together all game - it was not the day to produce one of the worst performances of the season. Quality players like Iain Gay and Colin Williams were being starved of the ball out wide. But all that had gone before to be forgotten in the next forty five minutes if they were to stand any chance of getting their hands on the prestigious Atkinson Trophy. LC/DC came out for the second half a different team, and for the opening twenty minutes of the half they created several chances that on another day would have seen them level. Darren Hodsoll was linking up well with the midfield and Colin Williams and Terry Soteriou combined well down the left. Dean Jordan crashed a shot just wide from Williams cutback, then tenacious play from Adam Jeffers forced goalkeeper Ashley into picking up a backpass ten yards from goal. The scene was set for Colin Williams legendary right foot to pull one back for Chiesa, but his shot cleared the bar as well as the stand behind the goal. Maze were on the backfoot and Chiesa sensed that if they scored the third goal of the match they had a great chance to go on and lift the trophy. The first yellow card of the game was shown on the hour, when Knowles was victim of a slightly reckless tackle from an opposing midfielder, and it was a shot from the Chiesa player - boss that led to Chiesa's best chance of the match. Linking well with Dean Jordan, Knowles let fly from twenty five yards, but his shot was weak and shouldn't have troubled the keeper. However, so little had the Maze custodian had to do, that he spilled the shot straight to Danny Trew who must have thought he had scored, but yet again the ball flew over the crossbar. It was the kind of chance that Danny normally puts away with his eyes closed, and when Colin Williams, who has consistently saved Chiesa's bacon with spectacular free kicks for two seasons now, just could not find his range from numerous attempts, the writing was on the wall for Chiesa. Terry Sorteriou waas almost punished for somer hesitant play on the edge of his eighteen yard box but for once Maze were off target, while 'Hornchurch Hatchet' Warre nHardwick found his way into the referees notebook forclipping the heels of Steel, before Riley and Taylor replaced Peck and Soteriou with half an hour on the clock. Matt Gillham came on for Hardwick with quarter of an hour remaining as Knowles gambled on a 3-4-3 formation to try and get the goal that would set up a grandstand finish but it was Maze who were to score the third goal, and inevitably it was Steel again. Chiesa again tried to play offside, and again got it wrong leaving the Chadwell Heath goal machine a clear run on goal, and he cheekily toe poked the ball past the despairing dive of Harris. Although apportioning blame does nobody any favours, it must be pointed out that Chiesa knew exactly what Maze were going to throw at them - and playing the offside trap was not the way they had talked about stopping it. Pride was all there was left to play for in the final minutes, and Chiesa almost grabbed a late consolation in the dying moments. A third booking of the match for a chest high tackle on Knowles was shown, before Matt Gillham trickery set the Chiesa number seven up just six yards out, but true to form, he blasted well over the bar. It was just not meant to be... Chiesa were put out of their misery soon after, as the final whistle blew, and handshakes were exchanged. The better team on the day were victorious, although the three goal margin was rather flattering - it was a case of Maze taking their chances while Chiesa missed theirs, but when you consider that the hat trick goal was Steel's forty fifth of the season, the difference between the two sides is evident. And there was me thinking Daniel Steel just wrote soppy books for birds! Chiesa cup dreams over for another season then, but an enjoyable day out for all was just beginning, as wives, girlfriends, fans, and former players got together for a drink back in Hx. Over in Madrid, Los Galacticos were hammering Barcelona 4-2 in one of the La Liga's games of the season, but the experience of an Arthur Atkinson Fina, albeit a losing one, is one I would not have missed for all the tea in China. LCDC; (4-4-2) Harris; Hodsoll, W Hardwick (M Gillham), Peck (Riley), Soteriou (Taylor); Gay, Knowles, Jordan, Williams; Jeffers, Trew Tarjeta Amarilla - W Hardwick Arbitro - D Rivett