La Chiesa go into the Winter break on the crest of a wave following a third consecutive
Corinthian League victory in icy conditions at Cottons Park this Sunday.
Two second half goals from striker Adam Jeffers were enough to see off Romhill, in a
game that was only played due to the persuasive manner of Dennis Peck as he accompanied referee Mark Goddard in
his pre match pitch inspection. Several players from either side were reluctant to play on the icy surface, and the conditions
did not help the flow of a stop start game.
Chiesa made just one change from last weeks victory at Bryant - skipper Darren Hodsoll
replacing Colin Williams, victim of a recurring ankle problem, at right back. The continuity in selection helped LC/DC
keep the upper hand in a scrappy game in which they had to dig deep to break down a determined opposition.
Chances were few and far between in the first half, reduced to thirty five minutes due
to late kick off. The home side were winning plenty of corners but struggled to turn possession into goal attempts, Samuel
Knowles trying his luck from distance but his shot clearing the bar by some way. Romhill, who appeared to have Kenny Rogers
at right back, thought they had taken the lead after twenty minutes only for the linesman's flag to come to the home
sides rescue, while Dennis Peck saw a low free kick turned around the near post by Romhill
goalkeeper. Most of the more entertaining moments of the half came from Chiesa sub/linesman Cy Taylors
antics on the sideline, including an attempt to climb an enormous tree to retrieve a football that had all twenty two
players and referee shaking their heads in disbelief.
Half time came with the scoreline still goalless. Neither team can say they deserved
to be in the lead, conditions not conducive to the sexy football that the Hornchurch Rossoneri like to play.
Romhill saw another goal ruled out, this time for handball, and two yellow cards were
brandished, one for each side, both for dissent, before Chiesa finally took the lead. Matt Gillham showed fantastic control
to trap a kick from goalkeeper Iain Gay before releasing Peck. Chiesa's number nine showed almost as much persistence
in robbing Romhills keeper of the ball as he did to get the game played, before laying the ball on a plate for Jeffers to
stab the ball home from two yards.
Romhill soon had another goal disallowed for offside, and shortly afterwards it was two
nil Chiesa. Jonny Gray scored a classic free kick in the seven-three win against Digital Line in Chiesa's last home match,
and he produced another fine delivery for Peck to flick on this time. Romhill's keeper fumbled, and Jeffers was on hand
again to finish from just a yard out... altogether now, another muggers snatch for La Stringa della Chiesa.
Peck saw a free kick saved well and referee Goddard called time on a game that Chiesa
will feel glad to have triumphed in a game that did not see them at their best. Chris Young was once again impressive in midfield,
while Chiesa's defensive partnership of Warren Hardwick and Steve McCarthy are benefiting from an extended run of games
together. Terry Soteriou failed to keep up his 100% scoring record this season, but was rock solid as ever at left back,
while it was good to see Hodsoll back on the right. Deputy keeper Iain Gay produced a couple of good saves at the death
to ensure the points stayed at home, and he deserves to be bought a drink or two by the rest of the team for sacrificing
his midfield role for the cause.
Times they are changing at La Chiesa, with some old faces not having been sighted for
a while, but the new look team are beginning to find their feet after a rough start, and confidence is growing around the
camp that the holy grail of promotion is achievable this time around.
LC/DC (4-4-2) - Gay; Hodsoll, W Hardwick, McCarthy, Soteriou; Gray, Knowles, Young,
M Gillham; Peck, Jeffers
Gols - Jeffers 2
Tarjeta Amarilla - McCarthy
Arbitro - M Goddard
