Fans at Wish Park were treated to an incredible CCK performance, as the Badgers demolished Ovingdean 7-0. Matt Vitty stole the show with four goals, one of which was a screamer that will surely be a goal of the season contender.
CCK could ill-afford to underestimate the opponents they beat 4-2 in their previous season opening encounter with Ovingdean. Since that game, Ovingdean had leap-frogged the Badgers with some decent results. CCK started strongly with some incisive passing and a great desire to win the ball back when Ovingdean had possession. This combination was irresistible and it didn’t take long for CCK to take the lead. The ball was worked wide to Jonny Cassell on the right, and his pinpoint cross was headed back across goal and into the net by Matt Vitty. The goal rocked Ovingdean and in truth they never got given the chance to recover as CCK kept up their intense pursuit of goals. Dave Jones had a shot remarkably saved from point-blank range after a long throw in from Mike Spence and a good flick on from Mike Morrison. Set pieces were causing Ovingdean severe migraines as the height difference between the sides was so vast that a yellow shirt invariably was first to any delivery. Dave Jones was again left frustrated when he rose to meet a Doug Reid cross, only to watch his header agonisingly graze the post. The second goal was inevitable as all over the pitch CCK were dominant. It was with little surprise that the goal came from a set piece. Dave Jones swung the ball into the area from the right, and when Matt Vitty’s effort on goal was saved Dave Sewell pounced. His first back-heeled effort comically rebounded off the post, however, it fell kindly for the CCK captain who tapped home with his left foot to double CCK’s advantage. Defensively CCK were largely untroubled with some fantastic containing by Galen Abraham, Mike Spence, Jacob Fortescue, and Doug Reid. Rob Woodward was as dependable as ever in goal, claiming crosses and coming off his line acting as a sweeper when required. It was in the midfield that the battle was being won. Several over-exuberant, largely frustrated challenges by Ovingdean players didn’t deter the Badgers midfield from playing their football. Jonny Cassell, Dave Sewell, Mike Morrison, and Ben Tucker were keeping the ball brilliantly and provided fantastic service to both Dave Jones, and Matt Vitty. It was the latter who thought he had scored late in the half. Jonny Cassell again produced a quality pass which Vitty finished coolly. The assistant referee flagged for offside and replays concur that Vitty was marginally offside. Red mist fell on Ovingdean’s frustrated midfielder following his side’s inability to match the Badgers and he kicked out at Dave Jones completely off the ball. Despite spotting the petulant kick the referee only awarded a yellow card with the player lucky not to have received his marching orders. The half time whistle arrived with CCK having totally deserved their lead.
CCK fans were expecting a response from Ovingdean and hoped their side could cope with it. Their concerns didn’t come to fruition as CCK gave little away, continuing to push forward. Matt Vitty doubled his tally and calmed the Badgers faithful when he latched onto a great through ball by Mike Morrison. Vitty showed fantastic composure to round the keeper before slotting home. He could have grabbed his hat-trick shortly after when Dave Jones played him through. The striker was thwarted though, by Ovingdean’s goalkeeper saving low to his left. Vitty was not to be denied for long, and grabbed his hat-trick when Jonny Cassell’s angled pass put him through. The lively striker confidently struck left-footed under the onrushing keeper and into the net. At 4-0 the game was surely beyond Ovingdean who only showed glimpses of promise, before invariably being halted by strong defending. It was CCK who were unstoppable and they increased their lead on 62 minutes. Dave Jones’ corner found Mike Morrison who headed powerfully past the keeper. Matt Vitty notched up another goal from the restart, it wasn’t just any goal either. Vitty dispossessed an Ovingdean midfielder and with little back-lift and from quite some distance powered a spectacular strike into the top right corner of the net. That effort was a great way to mark his tenth goal of the season. Charlie Jones was introduced as Jonny Cassell made way. CCK continued to keep the ball well, creating chances and depriving Ovingdean of possession. Mike Morrison almost added to CCK’s lead when his header from another corner was cleared off the line. The next corner did result in a goal however, when Dave Jones’ delivery was met by a bullet header by Jacob Fortescue. The last chance of the game fell to Charlie Jones. Mike Morrison went on a mazy run drawing the keeper out as he went through on goal. The midfielder unselfishly played the ball to Charlie Jones who had an empty net before him, only for Jones to unfortunately smash the ball wide. 7-0 was emphatic and comprehensive, it was fully merited and now sees CCK move up to seventh in league, overtaking their opponents.
There was much talk amongst the media before the game about Manager Tim Rose’s absence. The official line was that he was “away on a training course”, however, rumours were rife that he had been disgusted and driven away by the conduct of several senior players who were photographed by the paparazzi on a bender on the eve of the match. Dave Sewell (one of the players in question) was made caretaker-manager for the day and laughed off such rumours, “We weren’t on a bender and as you can clearly see it didn’t affect our performance. We were fantastic today. All over the pitch we outplayed them and to win by that margin was great. Hopefully we can push on and climb further up the league. I believe we have got something really special at this club and we are on the brink of realising.” Man of the match Matt Vitty was delighted with his goals and equally happy with the resounding victory, “To score four goals was amazing but the credit should also go to the whole team. The service I got today was incredible, and as a team we were unbelievable, long may this form continue.” CCK face another clash with a fellow mid-table side next week, as they travel to AFC Stanley hoping to replicate the performance of the season so far.
