Goals from Riley, Miller and an own goal secured the points. While a clean sheet at the other end was probably the greatest achievement, victory meant that the Alexandra walked home with pride and confidence restored after a testing last couple of weeks.
A steely determination was at the heart of the performance, and even under periods of sustained pressure the defence didn’t look like buckling, and at the other end looking lethal on the counter.
Fears prior to the game over the lack of keeper were soon soothed when Lavery picked up the gloves. Confident, sharp and talkative, a more than able stand-in for the working Gandy.
From the outset, Clapham were edging it in terms of possession and territory, though neither team were able to carve out many clear cut chances. The first came when a whipped long ball into the box from Wardle was fractions away from being met by the outstretched boot of Bell.
At the other end, their strikers though clearly able, were unable to get the better of the back four who looked at their most defiant, whilst Lavery pounced on anything falling in the corridor of uncertainty.
The breakthrough came in the 35th minute, when Riley, wrapped his foot round an inch perfect throw in from Woody to guide the ball across the goal and in at the back post. Keeper. Rooted.
The last 10 minutes before half time were manic and panicky. Barking keen to break back, the Alex struggling to hold on, but hold on they did, and were grateful for the sound of the half time whistle.
Back on the pitch and Clapham settled back into their groove despite an inconvenient sun blinding the defence whenever the ball was in the air. Some neat football, but chances again were scant at both ends.
Barking had a chance to level the scores when a freekick was given just outside the box. A well hit shot went narrowly over, though it is hard to believe that Lavery didn’t have it covered as he heroically/comically threw himself into his post.
Clapham got the important second soon after. A goal mouth scramble resulting in the ball going over the line. I have no idea what happened but am told despite his protests that the last touch came off the defender and not Chimpy.
Barking poured forward in search of an equaliser, but were hit again once again on the counter as Riley burst out of defence and played in Miller who clinically drilled the ball under the keeper at the near post.
Barking hearts were broken and the Alex could and should have had a goal in the last minute when Miller’s free-kick rebounded off the crossbar and was poked in by Tim, who was then given offside, Tim furious, the rest of the team elated when the final whistle went.
Fantastic performance from all the boys. Robust at one end, surgeon like at the other.
Everyone within the club knows this now needs to be a spring board to bigger and better things, but the signs are there that this new look Alex unit is beginning to gel as we move towards the second half of the season with fresh optimism.
