Right now is a good time to be a La Chiesa Del Corno
supporter. The club achieved it's fourth succesive win yesterday, humbling Barking Colts in devestating fashion
at Fortress Coopers, to progress into the quarter finals of the prestigious Arthur Atkinson Cup. As an added bonus for the
Hornchurch faithful, the six goals they scored were all of sublime quality.
Skipper Darren Hodsoll passed a late breathaliser test following
a night of whiskey fuelled bravado, and took his place at right back, while Iain Gay was moved to his Saturday league
position of left back to give Steve McCarthy a run out in midfield. Ruthless Chiesa boss Samuel Knowles couldn't
choose between Adam Jeffers and Dennis Peck to partner Danny Trew up front, so it was left to the toss of a coin, with Jeffers triumphant.Their
recent run of success meant that LC/DC again had four substitutes, of which only three could be used, to choose
from - Terry Soteriou graciously took his turn to sit out this week, and Dean Jordan, suspended until the start of December,
showed he is no prima donna by turning up to do the line.
The Colts emerged from a gruelling pre match warm up (which
always plants the idea that they're a better side), on the front foot and they had the better of the early play. Some quick
passing had Chiesa worried for the first fifteen minutes, and but for some heroic defending by Chiesa's two power stations,
John Riley and Warren Hardwick, the Colt's would have taken the lead, Riley lunging to block a goal bound shot,
and Hardwick denying a rebound with a last ditch tackle.
Had that attack been finished off, the youngsters from Barking
would have no doubt acquired the belief to make more of a game of it than they eventually did, but the warning was heeded
by the Hornchurch Rossioneri, and it was to be some time before they were similarly exposed again. Iain Gay and Colin Williams
began to interchange slick passes on the Chiesa left, and it was from a Williams cross that Danny Trew sent a spectacular
volley narrowly wide of the far post.
Steve McCarthy has been a useful addition to the Chiesa squad
since his arrival on a Bosman in the summer, his ability to play at the back or in midfield being a particular advantage,
and it was as a result of some tenacious play from the ex-Gidea Park man that Chiesa took the lead in the 25th minute. McCarthy
broke up a Colts attack just inside his own half and strode into Barking territory, before slipping a pass through to Jeffers,
who fired past the keeper to put LC/DC in front.
'AJ', is infamous among Corinthian League defenders thanks
to his extraordinary work rate, a 'string vest' to all centre halves and full backs and no mistaking, but had been worried
by his return of one goal so far this season. As the old adage about London buses goes, 'You wait ages for one.....' etc etc,
and no sooner had Jeffers notched his second of the season than the third came along. When Cy 'Sole Provider' Taylor
went on a mazy run on the right, leaving three defenders in his wake, the crowd were running for cover expecting a left foot
strike. There was surprise all round, then, when he played a clever reverse ball to Jeffers, who having timed his run perfectly
slotted the ball home via the post for two nil, and atrademark Raul celebration. ( Suprising for everyone but Cy - 'What
do you expect? It's what I'm here for! It's what I do!')
Within moments of the restart it was three. Again, Jeffers was
involved, showing great strength in holding the ball up on the left wing before finding Knowles on the edge of the area. Having
already seen a powerful volley beaten out by the keeper, and blazed over from six yards when it seemed easier to score, the
Chiesa Gaffer decided to try the subtle approach this time, spotting the diminutive keeper off his line, then chipping
the ball over his head, and just under the bar.
Taylor had a chance to make it four from close range but put
his shot just wide when on the stretch ('What do you expect? It's what I'm here for! It's what I do!'), Williams tried his
luck from a succession of free kicks, and Hardwick headed just over before half time came along to give the Colt's a
chance to regroup and come up with a tactic to get themselves back in the tie.
Chiesa were satisfied with their first half performance, but
didn't seem to be ready for the Colts' enthusiastic start to the second half. As with the start of the first, they seemed
full of energy and after a succession of corners, Chiesa cat Mark Harris had to be alert to tip a scorching shot just wide.
Harris has been improving with every game between the sticks, and at time was plucking the ball out of the air with disdain.
If the Colts had any hope of progression in the Chester Drawers
Trophy, it had to be them rather than Chiesa that scored the fourth goal. Unfortunately for them, Colin Williams and Iain
Gay had been linking excellently all morning on the gauche side of Chiesa and when Williams shifted a free kick that
he had won to his team mate, Gay curled a shot over the keeper via the wall, and the contest was over.
It was all change up front for Chiesa, as Jeffers and Trew,
who had combined well throughout, were replaced by Peck and Matt Gillham with half an hour remaining. Almost immediately
the changes had an effect, as Gillham, for so long the Chiesa enigma, bravely won a header then beat a defender to the
ball, before unleashing a dipping volley that gave the Colt's Custodian no chance. Chiesa had gone nappo, but soon they delivered
a sixth when a long ball was controlled by fellow substitute Peck, who hit a thunderous thirty yard shot that fizzed past
the bemused keeper before he could blink, as nonchalantly as if he were picking up the phone to say '4 New Square'. John
Riley almost opened his Chiesa account with a header from a Matt Gillham corner but today was not going to be the day that
an LC/DC defender grabbed a goal!
By now Chiesa stalwart Benny 'G-Man' Gillham had replaced McCarthy,
and although Chiesa were easily the better side on the day, a six goal margin was slightly flattering. It could, and should,
have been seven when Peck beat the keeper to the ball, and his header was turned in by the younger Gillham. A brace would
have done wonders for the confidence of the forward that likes to be called 'Edson', but the goal was cruelly, and mistakenly ruled
out for offside, Gillham having been behind Peck when the ball was played.
That was of no significance to the outcome of the match, however,
and Chiesa held out to record their second clean sheet of the season. Both shut outs have, ironically, come against the Colts,
who for all their skill and invention, simply lacked experience aginst a much older side. As Chiesa found themselves
this time last year, it takes time to adjust to the demands of the Essex Sunday Corinthian League Division Three.... and that's
just the council meetings!
So Chiesa are just two steps away from their first cup final
appearance, the obstacles being May & Baker and Stonewood - two teams that they have defeated already this season....
LCDC; (4-4-2) Harris;Riley, W Hardwick, Gay; Taylor, McCarthy (B Gillham), Knowles, Williams; Jeffers (Peck), Trew
(M Gillham)
Gols - Jeffers 2, Knowles, Gay, M Gillham, Peck
Arbitro - M Clark
