A late goal from Mike Morrison salvaged a point for CCK FC, who should have won the game comfortably. A whole host of chances were created and squandered by the Badgers who let Portslade Athletic off the hook as they settled for a 1-1 draw.
Debuts for new signings Matt Vitty, and Gary Walke excited the travelling CCK support, as the Badgers faced a Portslade side flying high in the league. It was the visitors who started the game strongest combining well in attacking positions to threaten the Athletic defence. The midfield quartet of Dan Harnden, Dave Sewell, Mike Morrison, and Dave Jones were passing the ball around neatly, as CCK dominated possession. It seemed a matter of time before CCK opened the scoring, and that looked certain when Dave Sewell was played through by Dave Jones. The CCK captain returning from illness was unable to get enough purchase on his effort and the keeper saved low to his right. Mike Morrison was then played in before his shot cleared the far post. The new strike partnership of Tom Powell and Matt Vitty was impressive as they linked up well with each other. Powell was the beneficiary of a great ball from Vitty, however, CCK’s top scorers powerful effort cleared the bar. The pressure was unrelenting as the Badgers in their changed strip of black and blue, continued to monopolise possession and carve out decent opportunities. Corners were particularly threatening for CCK and Morrison and Vitty in particular saw headers narrowly miss the target. The sheer number of wasted chances from the Badgers, inevitably in the cruel world of football, meant that they would get a nasty sting in the tail, and that came late in the first half. The CCK defence had been solid and reliable, especially Gary Walke who was reading the game brilliantly and making timely interceptions and tackles. However, he and his fellow defenders were left redundant by a long range Thomas Murphy indirect set piece which was deflected into the net by the fingertips of Will Drury. A shocked CCK continued to apply pressure but Portslade Athletic held onto their lead going into the break.
The injustice of the score-line increased the urgency of the CCK players to get back on level terms, and this did little to help their cause, as the calm short passing of the first half was replaced by slightly desperate straight balls that played into the hands of Portslade Athletic, who’s defence wasn’t being moved around and displaced like they had been in the first half. This led to fewer real opportunities. Athletic were then able to counter attack with greater joy. The CCK defence were to thank for keeping CCK within touching distance. The back four of Tim Rose, Mike Spence, Gary Walke, and Doug Reid battled hard and made the tackles that were necessary to keep CCK in the game during a sticky spell. Despite a slightly less fluid period of the game for the Badgers, they did have their fair share of chances. Mike Morrison had a long range effort saved, and then saw a decent right footed effort from the edge of the area strike the bar. Jonny Cassell replaced the injured Dan Harnden who had been a source of threat down the right. Portslade then had a ten minute spell of pressure, as CCK kept giving the ball away needlessly. Will Drury made two great saves and John Boddy hit the bar, as CCK failed to string more than two passes together. That bleak state of play for CCK did lift, and the final quarter of the match replicated the dominant display of the first half. The neat passing football returned and that led to some decent chances. Matt Vitty was played through by Dave Sewell and his powerful drive hit the side netting. The debutant showed some great touches and link up play which will surely give the Badgers faithful a lot to be optimistic about. Tom Powell had a great one on one opportunity after great vision from Mike Morrison. Powell steadied himself and looked set to score, only for his attempted dink to be clawed away by the impressive Portslade keeper. Few could argue that he had been their best performer on the day. He showed good positional play to twice save shots from Mike Morrison, and the Matt Vitty. Time was running low when CCK eventually found the equaliser. Jonny Cassell switched the ball to the right, where Dave Jones whipped in an in swinging cross that found Tom Powell at the back post. The ball hit Powell, and rebounded into the path of Mike Morrison, who tapped the ball home to the relief of the away fans. Not long after the final whistle, BBC radio 5 lives’ 606 radio phone in was inundated with many of the Badgers fans feeling that the 1-1 final score was more like a win, while others believed that CCK should have made the most of their numerous chances.
CCK manager Tim Rose continued his boycott of The Argus, by refusing to talk with their reporters. Instead club captain Dave Sewell spoke of his optimism for the rest of the season, “I am proud of the lads for keeping going to the very end, the draw was the least we deserved. We've got a really strong team and I am so excited about the rest of the season. Our new guys, Vitty and Gary both played really well, and so we have every confidence of having a successful season.” Midfielder Dan Harnden confirmed that his substitution was precautionary, and that he didn’t expect to be sidelined for too long, “It doesn’t feel too serious, but obviously I wanted to come off to make sure that I didn’t do any more damage.” The midfielder then echoed his captain’s confident sentiments, “This game should really encourage us. We played beautiful football, and the way we had them chasing shadows makes us believe that there isn’t a better squad in this league than ours. We should be contending for the title, and if we get the fire in our bellies, I see no reason why we can’t be right up there at the end of the season.” Harnden was the victim of Match of the day 2’s too good, too bad, on Sunday evening as camera’s showed him taking his shorts down after being substituted, to reveal a fashionable little number, a tight fitting pair of y fronts with little anchors on. CCK will be hoping that their fashionable brand of passing football will be enough to overcome Brighton Electricity next week, and that they won't be left with their pants down.
