The Alex came into this match with 2 things in mind: 3 points and plenty of goals.
With the season nearing it's conclusion, Clapham Alexandra remain well in the hunt for top spot in the Central London Sunday Super league. With a number of possible scenarios, the Alex fans wanted to see a big result to help them on goal difference if required. The Alex fans were not diasspointed.
Despite a relatively slow start to proceedings, Alex managed to take the lead in the 9th minute, from where they never looked like being beaten. Captain Matt Wood latched onto a pass in the area, and after some nifty footwork was felled by George. Wood went sprawling in the box. Penalty. After getting tired from retrieving the ball, he selflessly passed the responsibility to Rob Goodman. In a rich vein of form, Goodman cooly slotted home. 1-0.
With the first goal on the board, the Alex stamped their authority on the game and took control with typical industriousness and flair in equal measures. Miller, Mantell and Goodman all working well in tandem to link up for fine attacking play. This attacking dominance led to a second goal where Wood again latched on to a bouncing ball in the area and headed past the onrushing keeper. 2-0.
The third goal was a masterstroke of strategy from the Colonel Will Sanders. From a full 45 yards out, Will saw the keeper on his line, played the ball forward teasing the keeper to come and collect, but put the perfect amount of bounce and spin on the ball, to evade the keepers grasping fingertips. A great lobbed goal. 3-0 to the Alex.
The Alex settled comfortably into their rhythm with Gandy and the back four looking solid as a rock. Gandy showed great agility, saving to his far left direct from a corner. Cheesy marked all 3 right wingers out of the game, as Sandmere regularly swapped positions in search of an answer. Not today...Cheesy smashed into them with some crunching slide tackles. With Beef's flying knee clearances and Ruperts assurance on the ball, the Alex defended superbly and often tried to start the passing game from the back.
With a big, dry pitch, the Alex's fluidity and clinical passing was somewhat off the pace, but despite this, they managed to get a 4th just before half time. With some great work from Mantell on the right channel, he whipped in a fine cross to Matt Wood who was left free and open to tap in from 4 yards out. 4-0. Half time.
After a 'more of the same' team talk, the Alex were revved up for the second half, but never really got out of 3rd gear. This wasn't an issue however with the talent available within this squad. The Alex soon extended their lead after manager Tom Riley made some great tactical substitutions. Off came Cheeseman and Miller, on came Stoud and Richie Black to a warm applause from the away crowd, who themselves were looking strong with 12 on the sidelines, clearly outnumbering the home support. A clear sign of the Alex's success!
Stroudy made a strong impact when he came on, bombing forward at every opportunity. When the rapacious Tiahan came on for Rob, he latched onto a ball from Stroudy and finished with aplomb with his first touch of the ball. An emphatic introduction.
Not 10 minutes later and it was Tiahan again who went through on the Sandmere goal and perfectly lobbed the keeper from a tight angle. 6-0 to the alex.
With the closing moments of the game, Tiahan was again unleashed through on goal and looked a nailed-on bet to grab a rapid hat-trick, only for the ball to rebound off the bar, with the keeper again lobbed. The ball fell to Matt Wood who took a touch, ghosted past the Sandmere defender and slotted the ball home from 2 yards. 7-0 to the Alex at full time.
The game was a repeat of what Alex fans have been enjoying throughout the second half of this season. Daisy and Allcott running the show in midfield, keeping things ticking over and the forwards and wingers feasting on the fruits of their labour. With Richie Black looking good after a long absence, the Alex have some serious options. One game of the season left for the Alex. A must win away game against the Pigeons. Win and it looks like the Alex take the league trophy. Could this seriously happen? One thing is for sure, the Alex fans believe!
