17.04.05 - Chiesa Are Party Poopers

Woodford Hammers 3 vs La Chiesa 3

The drinks are on Ladzio this week, as La Chiesa Del Corno handed them the Corinthian League Division Three title by gaining a hard earned point at Avondale Drive.

The situation for Woodford Hammers was simple - they must match Ladzio's result against Bryant in order to lift the coveted Corinthian Crown, and with Bryant having gained just eight points all season, they could afford nothing less than a victory against a Chiesa side that had nothing more than pride to play for. However, there had been bad blood between the two sides in their previous four meetings, and the fact that Woodford had come out on top on every occasion rankled with LC/DC,. With echoes of West ham vs Man Utd in 94/95, they were in no mood to lay down and hand the Championship to the opposition.

However, the Hornchurch Rossoneri were hit hard by injury, work commitments, holiday, golf and retirement - OUT were Danny Hardwick, Darren Hodsoll, Terry Soteriou, Steve McCarthy, Dean Jordan, Adam Jeffers and Matt Gillham, IN came Jonny Gray and veteran full back Benny Lee - no subs for the visitors today as opposed to five in last weeks cup final - quel suprise! Chiesa were down to the bare bones, but often their best performances come under such circumstances - the 5-3 defeat of Ladzio springs to mind.

Having resolved to pass their way to success, Chiesa started the game brightly, playing some good football and not panicking in tight situations in their own third. Woodford started slightly nervously as you might expect of a team that had everything to lose, although they did have the best chances of the opening minutes; a cross shot that flew wide of Harris' goal, while a strike from the edge of the area clipped the outside of his near post. Dennis Peck saw a left foot volley fly narrowly over after good work from Danny Trew, while Chiesa free kick specialist Colin Willams got the chance to atone for his uncharacteristic wastefulness in last weeks Arthur Atkinson Cup Final when Iain Gay was tripped on the edge of the area, and it took a full stretch save from the Woodford keeper to deny him. Soon after though, Woodford took the lead. In the manner that is becoming increasingly familiar, a ball as slipped through the Chiesa backline, and while they stood and appealed in vain for offside, a Woodford striker played to the whistle and tucked the ball past Harris for 1-0 with twenty five minutes played.

Player Manager Knowles looked as though he was about to start crying as he beat the ground in anger at the sixth consecutive goal that Chiesa had conceded in the same fashion, but the red mist was not to last for long. When he was tripped on the edge of the area Williams again took aim, this time his thunderous shot crashed against the bar, and within minutes Chiesa were level. Jonny Gray's battling style of play has been sorely missed this season, and it was a typical of his doggedness when he won the ball on the left and lobbed the ball over the top where Cy Taylor was running into space. Cy's finishing has had it's critics this year, but on this occasion he made no mistake, firing the ball into the far corner in style to level things up for the Rossoneri.

With just seven minutes on the clock until the the interval, it was Chiesa's intention to sit back and hold on for half time parity, but they were handed the opportunity to take the lead on a plate in the 40th minute. A free kick on the halfway line was clipped in by Williams, and Knowles was shoved in the back as he was about to control the ball by Matthew Jones - Referee Watts had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Williams sent the keeper the wrong way from twelve yards to give Chiesa a half time lead that they would not have thought possible ten minutes earlier.

While the Hammers were squabbling, and almost coming to blows with each other, Chiesa spent the half time break basking in the East London sun, safe in the knowledge that the pressure was all on Woodford, and that the more the home side attacked, the more opportunities for classic Chiesa counter attacks there would be.

The Hammers indeed came out for the second half with all guns blazing, and Chiesa were made to defend like men possessed to keep their lead intact. Lee, Hardwick and Williams were tackling and blocking as though their lives depended on it, with Iain Gay increasingly becoming a fifth defender as the pressure piled on, while the reassuring presence of Riley organising the Chiesa rearguard left Knowles wondering if he had made a mistake in last weeks cup final selection. Woodford eventually hauled themselves level with half an hour remaining, and of course, Chiesa were less than pleased that the goal was allowed to stand. What seemed like five minutes of mayhem in the visitors penalty area ended with a cross being clipped to the far post and somehow being bundled in, with Chiesa appeals for a foul on Harris falling on deaf ears. Woodford were on the front foot now, and who wouldn't be, being cheered on by two dozen

teenage female fans on the sidelines (although they probably only turned up when they heard the Chiesa boats were sailing into town).

The equaliser seemed to inspire Chiesa as an attacking force, however. No doubt feeling they were unlikely to keep a clean sheet for the rest of the game, a third goal was required to help their Italian cousins Lazio in their quest for the title. Danny Trew had an opportunity in the inside right channel but missed his kick and was left beating the turf Knowles-style, but soon after Chiesa were amazingly back in front. Again it was fine work from Gray to earn his side a corner, and when Iain Gay produced an impressive delivery from the right, there was Dennis Peck to nonchalantly sidefoot volley the Hx Red and Blacks back into the lead. Not a bad finish for a centre half!

Woodford threw on substitute Andrew Stylianou and converted one of their centre backs into a centre forward for the fifteen minutes that remained, and their pressure paid off when a fierce half volley from just inside the eighteen yard box flew past Harris to set up a grandstand finish in the last ten minutes, but if anything it was Chiesa that had the better chances to take all three points. First Jonny Gray's cross was missed by Knowles and Peck but fell to Taylor who blazed high and wide from just inside the area, then when Woodfords keeper gambled on winning the ball thirty yards from goal and was beaten to it by Peck, Taylor set up Knowles to clinch a famous victory, but his chip agonisingly failed to dip in time, and Woodford were still in with a shot at the title. The last three minutes were almost exclusively played in the Chiesa half, but Woodford could not find a way through, and LC/DC held on for a point. The Hammers were inconsolable at the final whistle, but little did they know that at this point, it looked as though the title was theirs. On the other side of the Chigwell Lane, plucky Bryant were holding Ladzio to a 1-1 draw at the Bank of England Ground, only for the home side to snatch a last minute winner that was to win them the title as the fat lady was about to start singing.

Chiesa are still to beat their old enemy Woodford then, and with the Hammers gaining promotion , if not as champs, they will have to wait until at least 06/07 for another crack. This draw also means that they have won just once in seven league games since late January, but make no bones about it, this point was worth three to all in red and black this week. Ladzio - we'll see you for that drink on the 29th - Cheers!

LCDC; (4-4-2) Harris; Lee, W Hardwick, Riley, Williams; Taylor, Knowles, Gay, Gray; Peck, Trew

Gols - Taylor Williams (pen) Peck

Arbitro - P Watts


				*lachiesa.co.uk* 17.04.05 - Chiesa Are Party Poopers



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		Hammers Denied By The Return Of The LC/DC... writes Guillem Balague







		Woodford Hammers 3 vs La Chiesa 3 The drinks are on Ladzio this week, as La Chiesa Del Corno handed them the Corinthian League Division Three title by gaining a hard earned point at Avondale Drive. The situation for Woodford Hammers was simple - they must match Ladzio's result against Bryant in order to lift the coveted Corinthian Crown, and with Bryant having gained just eight points all season, they could afford nothing less than a victory against a Chiesa side that had nothing more than pride to play for. However, there had been bad blood between the two sides in their previous four meetings, and the fact that Woodford had come out on top on every occasion rankled with LC/DC,. With echoes of West ham vs Man Utd in 94/95, they were in no mood to lay down and hand the Championship to the opposition. However, the Hornchurch Rossoneri were hit hard by injury, work commitments, holiday, golf and retirement - OUT were Danny Hardwick, Darren Hodsoll, Terry Soteriou, Steve McCarthy, Dean Jordan, Adam Jeffers and Matt Gillham, IN came Jonny Gray and veteran full back Benny Lee - no subs for the visitors today as opposed to five in last weeks cup final - quel suprise! Chiesa were down to the bare bones, but often their best performances come under such circumstances - the 5-3 defeat of Ladzio springs to mind. Having resolved to pass their way to success, Chiesa started the game brightly, playing some good football and not panicking in tight situations in their own third. Woodford started slightly nervously as you might expect of a team that had everything to lose, although they did have the best chances of the opening minutes; a cross shot that flew wide of Harris' goal, while a strike from the edge of the area clipped the outside of his near post. Dennis Peck saw a left foot volley fly narrowly over after good work from Danny Trew, while Chiesa free kick specialist Colin Willams got the chance to atone for his uncharacteristic wastefulness in last weeks Arthur Atkinson Cup Final when Iain Gay was tripped on the edge of the area, and it took a full stretch save from the Woodford keeper to deny him. Soon after though, Woodford took the lead. In the manner that is becoming increasingly familiar, a ball as slipped through the Chiesa backline, and while they stood and appealed in vain for offside, a Woodford striker played to the whistle and tucked the ball past Harris for 1-0 with twenty five minutes played. Player Manager Knowles looked as though he was about to start crying as he beat the ground in anger at the sixth consecutive goal that Chiesa had conceded in the same fashion, but the red mist was not to last for long. When he was tripped on the edge of the area Williams again took aim, this time his thunderous shot crashed against the bar, and within minutes Chiesa were level. Jonny Gray's battling style of play has been sorely missed this season, and it was a typical of his doggedness when he won the ball on the left and lobbed the ball over the top where Cy Taylor was running into space. Cy's finishing has had it's critics this year, but on this occasion he made no mistake, firing the ball into the far corner in style to level things up for the Rossoneri. With just seven minutes on the clock until the the interval, it was Chiesa's intention to sit back and hold on for half time parity, but they were handed the opportunity to take the lead on a plate in the 40th minute. A free kick on the halfway line was clipped in by Williams, and Knowles was shoved in the back as he was about to control the ball by Matthew Jones - Referee Watts had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Williams sent the keeper the wrong way from twelve yards to give Chiesa a half time lead that they would not have thought possible ten minutes earlier. While the Hammers were squabbling, and almost coming to blows with each other, Chiesa spent the half time break basking in the East London sun, safe in the knowledge that the pressure was all on Woodford, and that the more the home side attacked, the more opportunities for classic Chiesa counter attacks there would be. The Hammers indeed came out for the second half with all guns blazing, and Chiesa were made to defend like men possessed to keep their lead intact. Lee, Hardwick and Williams were tackling and blocking as though their lives depended on it, with Iain Gay increasingly becoming a fifth defender as the pressure piled on, while the reassuring presence of Riley organising the Chiesa rearguard left Knowles wondering if he had made a mistake in last weeks cup final selection. Woodford eventually hauled themselves level with half an hour remaining, and of course, Chiesa were less than pleased that the goal was allowed to stand. What seemed like five minutes of mayhem in the visitors penalty area ended with a cross being clipped to the far post and somehow being bundled in, with Chiesa appeals for a foul on Harris falling on deaf ears. Woodford were on the front foot now, and who wouldn't be, being cheered on by two dozen teenage female fans on the sidelines (although they probably only turned up when they heard the Chiesa boats were sailing into town). The equaliser seemed to inspire Chiesa as an attacking force, however. No doubt feeling they were unlikely to keep a clean sheet for the rest of the game, a third goal was required to help their Italian cousins Lazio in their quest for the title. Danny Trew had an opportunity in the inside right channel but missed his kick and was left beating the turf Knowles-style, but soon after Chiesa were amazingly back in front. Again it was fine work from Gray to earn his side a corner, and when Iain Gay produced an impressive delivery from the right, there was Dennis Peck to nonchalantly sidefoot volley the Hx Red and Blacks back into the lead. Not a bad finish for a centre half! Woodford threw on substitute Andrew Stylianou and converted one of their centre backs into a centre forward for the fifteen minutes that remained, and their pressure paid off when a fierce half volley from just inside the eighteen yard box flew past Harris to set up a grandstand finish in the last ten minutes, but if anything it was Chiesa that had the better chances to take all three points. First Jonny Gray's cross was missed by Knowles and Peck but fell to Taylor who blazed high and wide from just inside the area, then when Woodfords keeper gambled on winning the ball thirty yards from goal and was beaten to it by Peck, Taylor set up Knowles to clinch a famous victory, but his chip agonisingly failed to dip in time, and Woodford were still in with a shot at the title. The last three minutes were almost exclusively played in the Chiesa half, but Woodford could not find a way through, and LC/DC held on for a point. The Hammers were inconsolable at the final whistle, but little did they know that at this point, it looked as though the title was theirs. On the other side of the Chigwell Lane, plucky Bryant were holding Ladzio to a 1-1 draw at the Bank of England Ground, only for the home side to snatch a last minute winner that was to win them the title as the fat lady was about to start singing. Chiesa are still to beat their old enemy Woodford then, and with the Hammers gaining promotion , if not as champs, they will have to wait until at least 06/07 for another crack. This draw also means that they have won just once in seven league games since late January, but make no bones about it, this point was worth three to all in red and black this week. Ladzio - we'll see you for that drink on the 29th - Cheers! LCDC; (4-4-2) Harris; Lee, W Hardwick, Riley, Williams; Taylor, Knowles, Gay, Gray; Peck, Trew Gols - Taylor Williams (pen) Peck Arbitro - P Watts