Before this game much of the talk had hinged on the negative aspects of park football so it was great to have a fixture where both teams were interested in playing football. Both teams lacked a little confidence due to recent results but would have seen this as an ideal way to end the season in style. The game stare as much as CCKs previous fixtures had- as they failed to discover the fluency that had seem them in the top two at the begining of the season and it was an all too familiar story as Portslade took an early lead albiet through a debatable penalty decison, the winger Patel cut across Mike Fletcher and went tumbling and the referee pointed to the spot. It seemed harsh but Sean Trend steped up to cooly drive the ball past Fortescue in the Badgers goal. Portslade seemed to sense the fraility in the CCK ranks nd made more pressing attacks but without really testing the keeper save a couple of long range efforts. However, Portsalde then got the 2nd goal their pressure probably desrved- a long goal kick caught the CCK defence square and the impressive John Brody outpaced the back peddling centre halves to make no mistake and slot the ball home. The Badgers did have a couple of penalty appeals turned down one that seemed particularly blatent as Mike Morison was tripped charging forward in the box. However, whatever threat CCK posed i would be hard pressed to think of a save the goal keeper had to make. The 2nd half couldn't come soon enough for The Badgers and it was an ideal time to regroup-Joel Cornelious was added to the game with Tade moving to the right and Nathaniel Field moving to Centre Forward in a 4-4-2 formation and immediately the changes appeared to have an effet with most of the 2nd half consisting of waves of CCK atacks-the Portslade defenders protected their goalkeeper soundly but on around 60 mins CCK were back in the game when Nathaniel Field showed great composer and quick feet to drive the ball home. CCK grew in confidence with the defense stiffling any rare attack-the centre midfield pairing of Morrison and Sewell grew in confidence and the introduction of Jonny Cassell giving the badgers more shape and it only seemed when rather than if CCK would equalise, However,it was not until the 81st minute and the introduction of Tom Langlois that saw the Badhers draw level as the super sub pounced from close range to score his first goal for the first team, from that moment it looked as if there would only be one winner but it was not to be as the referees final whistle blew time on the procedings and thankfuly although the score ended 2-2 the real winner was football and all that is great about saturday afternoon park football.
Mike Melville-Reed " Great for confidence it was important not to lose this that said We didn't show up the first half but tatically I made a mistake with a 5-4-1-I though there penalty was harsh and couldn't understand why we were not given one if the ref thinks Morro dived then why isn't he booking him-that said the 2nd half was class a great response and I'm pleased witha point."
Dave Sewell " Great response I love playing football with these boys"
