La Chiesa turned on the opening day style
as they swept past Romhill with a minimum of fuss at Hainault Rec. A side new to the Corinthian League, Romhill had earned
a creditable draw with Chiesa cup final conquerors Maze on their debut, but were blown away by a performance from the Hornchurch
Rossoneri that will send shockwaves through the rest of the Third Division.
With nominated referee Johnny Vaughan absent due to an prior
engagement to spout laddish banter at a Capital Radio shindig, it was left to the Romhill manager to take control of the game
once the palaver of finding a whistle was resolved. Chiesa kicked off minus four regulars from last season - Defenders Terry
Soteriou and Warren Hardwick who were unable to attend, suspended midfielder Samuel Knowles, and forward Danny Trew who could
be out for a further two months with a foot injury. All the same, the side had a solid look to it - the returning Danny Hardwick
and Jonny Gray more than making up for any absenteeism, whilst Mark Harris and Matt Gillham were champing at the bit on the
bench.
The opening quarter of an hour found the teams sparring with
each other, both sizing each other up like nervous teenagers on a first date, but once the guards were dropped, it was La
Chiesa that began to take the upper hand. Dean Jordan, Iain Gay and Jonny Gray were playing the easy on the eye short passing
game LC/DC fans love so much, while Dennis Peck and Adam Jeffers were effectively playing the 'big man little man'
partnership up front.
It was Jeffers that almost broke the deadlock on the half hour,
Peck turning his man and cutting back well, only for his diminutive sidekick's first time shot to be expertly tipped
round the post by the previously unemployed Romhill stopper. Peck had a header cleared off the line from the resulting corner,
and then miskicked from close range when put through by Gray. Chiesa looked certain to take the lead soon after, when Jeffers
was released by stand in left back Colin Williams, but he lobbed over the bar from just inside the box, a chance the Stringa
della Chiesa would normally put away in his sleep (although rumour has it he cant sit still long enough to sleep...)
The visitors almost paid for their profligacy in front of goal
when a twenty yard chip from a Romhill forward tested Hardwick's stretching ability, but The Chiesa player of the year 03/04
was equal to the task, tipping the ball over despite being in a stella induced malaise that necessitated his withdrawal
at half time.
Although Chiesa were yet to take the lead at t his stage, they
were well ahead on points, and this was down in no small part to the influence Dean Jordan was having on the game, and
he almost provided the breakthrough goal on the stroke of half time. A free flowing move down the right involving Jordan,
Gay and Hodsoll resulted in the skipper cutting the ball back to his cousin, whose shot came bouncing back off the post , and
with nobody available to follow in the rebound, Romhill were off the hook again.
Half time came with the score goalless and despite Chiesa being
in the ascendancy, doubts were lurking at the back of every red and black mind about the repercussions of the chances
that had gone to waste...
Harris replaced the suffering Hardwick for the second half,
but it was much the same story as the first and the opening goal came in the 57th minute. Dennis Peck released Cy Taylor on
the right side of midfield, and his low cross shot, that looked to be heading for the far corner was deflected in by Jeffers
- you can put that one down as a muggers snatch! Soon after it was two when Taylor and Jeffers combined again on the right
before AJ laid the ball off to Dean Jordan who rifled home his second goal for the club.
Taylor was simply going 'through' defenders as if they weren't
there - cutting an eerie, ghostly, presence as if possessed by the ghost of John Barnes, and his positive play was instrumental
in both of the opening goals. Iain Gay added a third, volleying home after good hold up play by Dennis Peck, who then
stunned the Hainault crowd by refusing to walk when his number was held up. Jeffers volunteered to sub for the all new Matt
Gillham, a player who had been accused of failing to live up to his potential in the past, but has now vowed to bury the 'Edson'
tag that he once adored so much.
Chiesa had the match wrapped up now and the time had come for
some skills. Before that though, a deserved mention for Steve McCarthy who gave an assured performance at centre half, along
side the steady presence of Johnny Riley. Colin Williams and Darren Hodsoll were similarly unemployed at full back, but did
all that was expected of them. Likewise Mark Harris who gave was his usual dependable self when thrown into the action.
Three-nil was more than Chiesa had hoped for before the match,
but their was still time for a fourth. Matt Gillham had already shown some great touches, and tested Romhills keeper on two
occasions before he picked the ball up twenty five yards from goal dummied past his man and unleashed a left foot rocket into
the top right corner of the Romhill net. Celebrated in typical nonchalant fashion, it was hopefully the first of many from
the Gillham boot this season.
The last ten minutes saw Skipper Darren Hodsoll limp off with a
leg injury, and more unusual signs of rebellion from Dennis 'Craig Bellamy' Peck, who followed his earlier disobedience by
refusing to cover the right of midfield when Taylor moved into defence in place of Hods. It will be interesting to see if
he is on the team sheet next week...
The final whistle blew to signal the end of a thoroughly enjoyable
morning for La Chiesa. Assured in defence, Creative in midfield, and deadly in front of goal, The Rossoneri gave a
performance that was all Manager Samuel Knowles could have asked for from them to start off 05/06.
LCDC; (4-4-2) Hardwick (Harris); Hodsoll, Riley, McCarthy,
Williams; Taylor, Jordan, Gay, Gray; Jeffers (M Gillham), Peck
Gols - Jeffers, Jordan, Gay, M Gillham
Arbitro - Romhills Manager!
