La Chiesa Suffer From Stagefright! writes Guillem Balague
Woodford Hammers 3 v La Chiesa 1
On Sunday September 14th, La Chiesa del Corno travelled to the Avondale
Sports Ground, Loughton, to play their first competitive fixture in the Essex Corinthian League Division Three. They didn't
get off to the best of starts when the team bus went to the wrong ground, but when they arrived on the pitch, they started
as they had left off against Gidea Park the previous week. A free flowing move down the left culminated in new signing
Gary Higgs crossing for Sam Knowles to miss a great chance in the manner La Chiesa fans are becoming accustomed
to. For the first quarter of an hour, it seemed as though LCDC were going to take Division Three by storm, with Higgs and
Matt Gillham busy up front, and Danny Trew again linking well with Colin Williams down the left. An early injury to Alan Lamont
forced the visitors into an early change, Williams switching to right back, Terry Rayner taking his place on the
left. Matt Gillham's volley was turned round for the first of half a dozen corners before disaster struck.
After half an hour, Lee Rayner underhit a back pass, and Danny Hardwick was left helpless as the forward took the ball round
him to fire into an empty net. LCDC almost struck back immediately when Matt Gillham forced another good save from the
Hammers keeper, who sprung to his feet to deny Knowles a certain equaliser from the rebound, while Hardwick
made a fantasic one on one save to keep the score at 1-0 at half time.
The travelling La Chiesa army roared their side on at the start of the second
half, but a freak goal direct from a corner made it 2-0 to the Hammers before the fightback could begin. It was a harsh looking
scoreline, but, in truth, the passing and movement was nowhere near the standard of the previous week, an injury to Williams
not helping matters. Worse was to follow before the hour, when Hardwick parried an innocuous looking shot, and the rebound
was hammered in by the Hammers No.14, who had been a nuisance in more ways than one throughout the match.
Heads were dropping and legs were tiring all over the pitch, 3-0 down and
seeking inspiration, Gary Higgs provided some with a fabulous goal to make it 3-1, a 25yd strike into the top corner
via the crossbar that no keeper would have stopped. It was a fantastic way for LCDC to get off the mark, as well as a piece
of history being made, but it would ultimately prove to be little more than a consolation. From then on the game was stretched
and although La Chiesa had some decent opportunities that they should have made more of, the same could be said of Woodford.
With eight players unavailable through injury or holiday, La Chiesa
del Corno were always going to struggle on their competitive debut. There were some positives to take from the match,
a few nice skills, some decent passing moves, and a goal of the season contender that might not be beaten!
Let's hope they can learn from this and get some points on the board against Lakeview Reserves in a fortnight.
LCDC; (4-4-2) D Hardwick; Lamont (T Rayner), Ede, L Rayner, Williams;
B Gillham, Knowles, Hodsall, Trew; M Gillham, Higgs
Gol - Higgs
Arbitro - T.Tillcock
