A vast crowd were treated to an extravaganza of goals at Goodmayes Extension this Sunday, as the
net bulged no less than EIGHTEEN times in the game between Digital Line and La Chiesa Del Corno.
Chiesa came into the game as overwhelming favourites. Unbeaten in seven and up against a side that had
yet to record a victory in thirty Corinthian League matches, they were an unbackable 100-1 ON to win the match, and FIVE goal
favourites on the various goal handicap coupons. But Digital had stuck three past the Rossoneri when the teams met in December,
and they were not to be taken lightly...
With a squad of fourteen to choose from, and everybody wanting to in attack, La Chiesa abandoned their
4-5-1 formation to pair Danny Trew and Adam Jeffers up front. One of the usual midfield three had to play in defence,
and it was Samuel Knowles who fancied himself as Paolo Maldini lining up alongside 'Hornchurch Hatchet' Warren Hardwick...
Within ten minutes that particular experiment had failed. In attempting to impersonate the legendary
Milan BOAT, Knowles lost his footing and miskicked a back pass towards Mark Harris. A Digital forward was onto it in a flash
to fire past the Chiesa keeper from 25 yards, and give the home side an unexpected lead. How incredibly embarrassing...
Chiesa skipper Darren Hodsoll almost doubled the lead when his attempted clearance swerved viciously
in the air and dipped fractionally over the bar with Harris stranded. Chiesa were all over the place, and it was time for
Chris Young to step into the back four to add some stability.
Trew had the chance to equalise when Peck and Jeffers combined to leave him with an open goal, only
for the man in orthopaedic boots to slice wide, before Iain Gays cross from the right was turned in by Dennis Peck to make
it one-one in the 25th minute. That goal was the cue for Chiesa to stamp their authority on the game and three further goals
in the following ten minutes gave them breathing space. Cy Taylor made it two when he bundled in a lob from Jeffers, Trew
tapped in from close range from a Peck cross to give Chiesa a two goal cushion, while Jeffers was sent clear by a one two
on the halfway line and he slipped the ball under the keeper for four one. There was even time for a Jeffers effort
to be disallowed for offside as he tapped in after good work from strike pard'ner Trew.
The visitors were all over the hosts by now but were caught cold by a counter attack in the final minute
of the half, a cross from the Digital left swept past Harris from close range to make the half time score line 4-2 Chiesa.
Nevertheless, LC/DC were confident of improving their meagre goal difference in the second half against a team that looked
dangerous at times going forward, but were constantly exposed at the back.
If Digitals half time talk had been about not conceding an early goal, then it went out of the window
in the first minute of the half. Peck was released on the left, and he flicked the ball over the Digital right back before
beating the keeper low at his near post. Knowles then slipped Peck through for his hat trick to make it six, before
Digital pulled one back on a rare foray forward, Harris beaten at the near post after being a virtual spectator for the rest
of the half.
Straight from the kick off Jeffers restored Chiesa's four goal advantage straight from kick off after
Cy Taylors shot was fumbled by the Digital keeper, who was then rounded by Peck as Chiesa equalled their record goals for
in a game, Eight-Three and still over twenty minutes remaining.
Jeffers and Taylor were replaced by Jonny Gray and Matt Pallett as Chiesa reverted to 4-5-1, but soon
the score was 8-4, Chrissie Young penalised for handball in the area, and the penalty being despatched despite Harris getting
his hand to it.
The referee was having trouble keeping up with all these goals, and he had another to write in his notepad
straight from kick off when Gray's shot was parried to Peck who side footed home four 9-4. Gray was the supplier again
for Pecks double hat trick as his right wing cross was turned in at the near post to make Dennis the clubs leading
scorer this season with thirteen.
Unchartered territory for Chiesa, they were now into double figures, and every one wanted to get on
the score sheet. Gay was replaced by new signing Terry Kerley and Peck had a goal disallowed, before
Gray was fouled in the box for the games second penalty...Danny Trew stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way for
his second of the match.
Warren Hardwick was livid at not being on penalties, and decided to hang around the Digital box until
he got his goal. After ballooning over the bar from less than a yard out he was on the verge of being ordered back to defensive
duties, but it was not long before he was happy as Larry after side footing home from Grays low corner. The lesser spotted
left back that is Terry Soteriou popped up for his fourth goal in five starts this season, volleying home to make it 13-4,
before Knowles atoned for his earlier rickett by turning in from close range in the last minute... FOURTEEN FOUR!!!
Hard on Digital Line who gave it their best shot and are not as bad as the league table shows. It must
be hard to take getting hammered on a weekly basis and they deserve credit for perseverance alone. Here's hoping they get
off the mark before the season is over.
LC/DC (4-4-1) - Harris; Soteriou, Young, Hardwick, Hodsoll; Taylor, Gay, Knowles, Peck; Trew,
Jeffers
Gols - Peck 6 Taylor Jeffers 2 Trew 2 Hardwick Soteriou Knowles
Arbitro - J Goddard
