Chiesa scored four but failed to win for the second
week running, as AFC Dockside grabbed a point with the last kick of the game at Cottons Park this Sunday.
'Crisis Club Chiesa!' - that was the headline in the Romford
Recorder this week, following the Hornchurch Rossoneri's ignominious cup exit at St Augustines last Sunday. That defeat, coupled
with scandal surrounding the late night antics of Terry Soteriou, captured on CCTV entering a nightclub back room before the
pictures were blacked out for six minutes, and the rumours regarding the futures of Colin Williams and Dean Jordan, had led
to reports of internal conflict in the LC/DC dressing room. A positive result and performance were required to silence
the critics, Chiesa came close to delivering, but not close enough...
With a list of injuries, suspensions and couldn't be bothereds
as long as your arm, Chiesa gave debuts to midfielders Chris Young and Rob Smith. Iain Gay was back in an unfamiliar right
back role, while Dennis Peck continued to fill in at left back.
At 9.45am the game was in doubt as Dockside were struggling
to get enough players together to constitute a team. When they did arrive, all nine of them, the pitch was deemed safe enough
o play despite concerns from both sides, and the game was underway.
With one half of the pitch covered in ice, and only Dockside
only having one striker available, the majority of the play was in the visitors half for the opening thirty minutes. Debutant
Smith made his presence felt on the left hand side and tested the keeper with two early shots, while good work from Jeffers
almost presented Smith with an opportunity , but the ball rolled agonisingly behind him. Despite having a two man advantage,
Chiesa were not dominating as they should have been, with several players taking the opportunity to be casual in their passing,
and dithering in possession. The home side did eventual take the lead when the ball was cutback for Adam Jeffers to slot home
from eight yards.
Dockside almost came back into the game immediately. A twenty
five yard strike wrong footed Mark Harris but struck the foot of the post, and as the Chiesa keeper lay prostrate on the deck
it seemed certain to be one each, only for a Dockside striker to mis hit his shot wide of the gaping goal.
The visitors didn't have long to wait to be on level terms however,
when Iain Gays pass was intercepted, the ball fizzed pinball style around the area before being deflected past the helpless
Harris for one all.
Half time was all about where the home side had gone wrong.
Various changes to formations and personnel were mooted, but Manager Samuel Knowles insisted on sticking to the tried and
tested 4-4-2. It was down to the players to make the two man advantage count.
On the downside it was becoming obvious that Harris old injury
problems had returned, and he had to be sweet talked into taking to the pitch for the second half. Danny Trew was suffering
from the mother of all hangovers, and so maybe the two man advantage was more like one... or maybe a half. Nevertheless, Chiesa
started the second period with more spring in their step, and it was no more than they deserved when Rob Smith gave them the
lead on fifty minutes. Iain Gays right wing cross was laid off expertly by Jeffers to Smith, and he unleashed a superb volley
into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.
The icy conditions were still causing problems, and they were
responsible for the third LC/DC goal. The ball bounced awkwardly in front of a Dockside defender, and his instinct was to
stick out an arm - penalty to Chiesa... After much discussion on the merits of the award, Dennis Peck stepped up to hammer
home for twelve yards - his third goal in three games from full back!
AFC were still causing problems for Chiesa on the break, but
any fears of another slip up from the Church of the Horn appeared to be allayed when Smith was released on the left and tucked
the ball away coolly for his second and Chiesa's fourth. Danny Trew almost added a fifth but shot weakly at the keeper when
clean through, and Chiesa were made to pay for some wayward finishing in Docksides next attack as the ball found its way past
Harris with Chiesa still trying to get back and cover.
Their lead reduced to two but with only five minutes remaining,
surely even Chiesa couldn't throw this one away, but sure enough, with 88 minutes on the clock, it was 4-3... A strong run
from Dockside's number ten down the left ended in him firing past Harris after evading three challenges.
It was squeaky bum time for the LC/DC and no mistaking... Peck
headed off the line to prevent an equaliser and there were plenty of panicky moments around the Chiesa penalty area, but as
long as they kept the ball for the remaining couple of minutes, they would be sure of a morale boosting win. They managed
to do so for about a minute before Peck was robbed on the left just inside the Dockside half. A long cross field ball
was launched over the Chiesa defence and there was Docksides ten again to side foot past Harris, and grab a point for
the East London outfit that had seemed impossible not eight minutes ago.
The referee blew for time almost immediately after
Chiesa restarted the match and the home side were left to reflect on just how they had managed to throw certain
victory for the second game in a row. Positives to take from the match were impressive debuts for Chris Young and Robbie Smith
in midfield, but worryingly the prognosis on Harris injured leg is not good. Not a good time to be a La Chiesa fan, the rollercoaster
ride is having more downs than ups at the moment...
