CCK were left stunned by Brighton Electricity's second half comeback. Having taken the lead, The Badgers failed to successfully defend their advantagous position and left Wish Park pointless.
The first half started positively for CCK, they soaked up Electricity's early pressure well, and looked to break forward at every opportunity. A long range effort from Matt Carvel concerned the opposition keeper, who was relieved as it narrowly missed the target. Paul Muzzall's goal was then put under severe pressure. First Electricity broke down the right and supplied an inviting ball across the box. Muzzall was stranded and was happy to see the striker shank his effort wide of the post. That same striker then made an absolute howler. A corner was swung towards the back post and was met by a looping header back across goal, the striker looked poised to nod the ball home, however, he blazed his header over the bar. It was a let off that sparked CCK into life. Ivan Sambles was attacking witrh purpose down the left, and it was his long range effort that almost unsettled a few bricks from the towering building some distance away from the pitch. However, Sambles did also threaten the goal with one strike from a similar distance. Then Mike Morrison weaved through some niggling challenges and shot at goal. Again the shot narrowly missed the target. Despite large periods of Electricity possession, CCK were coping well defensively and were arguably the more likely to break the deadlock. Dave Jones was picking the ball up in space and linking the play well, while Matt Carvel was closing the ball down from the front with great determination. Tim Rose and Mike Morrison were winning the midfield battle not allowing their counterparts any time on the ball. Dan Harnden was breaking forward well, and CCK almost profited from several of his crosses. Defensively CCK looked relatively comfortably, Fortescue, Van Nes, and Reid were dominating aerially, and Ben Eneke was brilliantly annoying their left winger, making him largely ineffective. Paul Muzzall was forced into another good save, coming out to meet their striker at his feet. Then came the breakthrough a minute from half time. An Electricity centre back was hesitant on the ball, when Matt Carvel capitlised and battled with him, Mike Morrison then applied more pressure to the defender, and the pair of them managed to gain possession in dangerous teritory. Morrison then drove to the by-line. His cut back landed at the feet of Dave Jones, who took a touch and then calmly hooked the ball into the net with his left foot. The Wish Park home support went into delirium as green and white shirts swarmed together in delight. It was no more than their first half performance had deserved.
The second half seemed destined to have a familiar pattern to the first, with CCK dealing well with Electricity's attacks, and also providing a threat going forward. An injury then unsettled CCK's rhythm with Jacob Fortescue twisting his ankle. Dave Atherall entered the arena, and Doug Reid was directed to the centre back position as Atherall slotted in at left back. Atherall was deployed in a defensive position, however, his first involvement was an adventurous run forward that culminated in a long range effort. Quite why he didn't shift the ball to Dave Jones who was through on goal, is a mystery only Atherall can answer. The shot didn't trouble the keeper. Ivan Sambles then had a good effort from range, again the keeper was untested. Mike Morrison was causing many problems for the defenders as he broke forward from midfield. His driving runs seemed to exploit gaps in the electricity defence and several passes almost found their target. It was a Morrison run that created a good shooting opportunity for Jones at around the hour mark. Morrison was clattered into on the edge of the area, setting up a free kick. Jones struck the ball well, but was left frustrated by a great save from the keeper, who tipped the ball over as it headed towards the top corner. Electricity then seemed to apply more pressure and after a succession of corners, their set piece taker swung a ball into the area and watched on as CCK defenders failed to connect with the ball resulting in a goal. It was bemusing for the stunned players, as the goal was direct from a corner. An inquest into the situation ensued without any rational explanation. Electricity smelt blood as they looked to grab the three points. Paul Muzzall was again called into action making a great save with his feet as their attacker advanced into his area and shot. CCK's good football on the break continued, Jones was getting even more space in the hole as Electricity midfielders abandoned their defensive roles in search of the winner. This allowed CCK to link up well. Sambles saw plenty of the ball on the left and provided some dangerous crosses from the left. Mike Morrison was running the show in the centre, and Carvel was working hard up front. Then came a bitter blow. A poor cross came in from the left, and as Tim Rose looked set to clear easily, his eye was distracted from the ball and it shanked into the path of an Electricity player who's low drive across goal was just too good. It was an injustice for CCK's efforts and a bitter pill to swallow. However, character was shown in abundance from the players in green and white hoops. They pressed forward and threatened from several long throws and set pieces. Josh Dalby came onto replace Ben Eneke at right back. Then came a great display of football, Mike Morrison bamboozled the defence with good close control and then he played the ball into Matt Carvel's feet. 5 yards out and with his back to goal, Carvel turned brilliantly and was unlucky not to connect fully with his shot, as it went wide. The whistle soon signalled the end of the game, and CCK's third consecutive loss.
Manager Tim Rose was proud of his teams display when he was questionned in the post-match press conference, "The boys played well today. We seemed to be in control at the back, and going forward we created chances. It's a shame that we couldn't keep hold of our lead. Electricity are the top team in this league and we could have been celebrating a victory against them today if not for two lapses of concentration." Man of the Match Mike Morrison spoke with reporters of his disappointment after such a promising display, "It's gutting to lose in that fashion. We played some great stuff and deserved so much more than we got. There are positives from this game that we need to build on. We made them look ordinary at times and we looked dangerous going forward today. We'll just have to convert these good performances into results now." CCK's league challenge will have a minor interval as they face a Cup clash against Mile Oak Reserves next week.
