Brighton Electricity can count themselves lucky to have stolen the three points at Braypool, against an impressive CCK side. The narrow 2-1 loss leaves the Badgers still searching for their first league win this season.
The game started in bizarre fashion with CCK struggling to come to terms with the size of the Braypool playing surface. The pitch’s dimensions were tiny, with very little space to play in. As a result the home side sprung into action. An electricity corner was only partially cleared and a midfielder struck the ball goalwards. Mike Preston did well to clear the ball off the line. CCK then settled into the game and passed the ball around with great confidence. Dan Harnden and Mike Morrison were moving the ball around the pitch nicely, as CCK played some attractive football. The Badgers were then forced to endure an unfortunate two minute spell. The Electricity winger ran down the left and attempted to cross the ball into the area, only for the ball to head goalwards. The deputising goalkeeper Mike Spence could only watch on as the ball looped over his head and dipped into the corner of the net. It was a massive blow for CCK who had been looking the more threatening. The second moment of misery for the Badgers came when prolific striker Josh Van Nes pulled up with an injury to his right knee. He signalled to the bench that he couldn’t continue, and was eventually replaced by Mark Edwards. CCK continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession as they looked to get back on level terms. Mike Morrison came closest to equalising when he exchanged passes with Dave Jones and shot narrowly wide of the right post. Despite CCK’s neat passing through the defence and midfield, they were failing to penetrate with the final ball, and as a result they had a limited amount of shots at goal. Brighton Electricity were being forced to soak up the Badgers pressure, and look for more goals on the counter attack. They almost achieved this when a long ball found their big striker through on goal. Mike Spence made himself big and managed to tip the ball round the post. Spence was on top form making several vital saves to keep CCK in the match.
The second half continued in the same vain with CCK playing all the football and Brighton Electricity deploying the counter attack. It was Electricity who got the important second goal of the game. Impressive work down their left was followed by a good ball into a central position and the striker managed to tuck the ball into the net from just inside the area. The setback only inspired CCK further and they came out fighting. A good run by Mike Morrison culminated with a powerful drive that the keeper could only parry. Matt Carvel followed up brilliantly and tapped the ball home to give the Badgers hope. The great football continued for CCK. Dave Sewell and Tim Rose were starting passing moves from the back and utilising the full backs Mike Preston and Ben Tucker. The midfield quartet of Pete Coggan, Dan Harnden, Mike Morrison, and Mark Edwards were in impressive form, keeping the ball moving and linking up well with the forward players, Dave Jones and Matt Carvel. It was Jones who seemed to be determined to score, as he had several long range efforts miss the target. Electricity’s attacking threat had diminished slightly as they looked to suffocate CCK’s momentum. It was proving a tough task as the Badgers were creating promising situations without really penetrating. However, the shot count was soaring as the long range efforts persisted. Mike Morrison stung the hands of the keeper with a good strike. Pete Coggan shot wide after good build up play. A Dave Jones free kick was met by the head of Dave Sewell who saw his header cleared off the line. Brighton Electricity managed to break forward on a few occasions, most notably a one on one situation with keeper Mike Spence. He'd kept his best save for last as he tipped over a powerful shot from close range. In the closing moments of the match Dave Jones thought he’d grabbed the leveller when his half volley whistled inches wide of the post. It wasn’t to be though, and despite dominating for large periods of the game CCK were defeated again.
Under fire Manager Tim Rose came out fighting at his post match press conference. Questioned about his future, Rose embarked on a tirade reminiscent of Diego Maradona’s attack on Argentina’s critics. However, he did refrain from the use of expletives unlike the Argentinian Head Coach, “You guys are so ignorant. I am more determined than ever to succeed. You are sitting there with your pens and pads because you don’t know enough about football to be involved in the game. I breathe this game and I breathe CCK FC, there is no chance of me leaving. You can write that in your trashy tabloids. The league win is coming, you can’t play such good football in so many games and come out second best in them all, so it’s just a matter of time.” Rose also received a great deal of backing from his playing staff. Man of the Match Ben Tucker believes Tim Rose is the right man to guide CCK to Premiership safety this season, “Rosey has got us playing some good stuff this season. The lads are fully behind him. In regards to the game today, we played some really good football and are really unlucky to have come away with nothing. We’ll turn these performances into results soon though and when we do we’ll shoot up the league.” CCK will be looking to start a winning streak when the face O&G United at Aldrington Recreation Ground in two weeks time.
