Another win and another Pablo hat-trick against a physical Amblecote side. Roger made some brave changes today with Obi going in goal and Matt going into centre mid. Both played really well and along with Laurie, Craig, Roger, Mark and Daily, kept the Amblecote strikers quiet. Amblecote played some very good football but were killed off by a penalty which I'm sure they will be unhappy with. Luke was outstanding and J Green is getting back to his menacing self after his ban. Also a good debut by Shawn who came on and stood up to any Amblecote attacks. But yet again Pablo stood out with his 89th league goal all of which have been scored in Division 1! Another physical game against St Mat's next week so we'll have to be on our game again.
Simon Ashby adds: We were all absolutely gutted at the end of yesterdays game to lose 5-2 to Clarendon. We were 2-1 up after 50 minutes and playing very well, the first half was probably the best defensively we have played against them for three years and we were matching the reigning champions in all areas. But as is usually the case in this division, both teams try their best, its a good game and Clarendon win.
But this game swung on three pivotal moments and all went Clarendon's way.
Having gone a goal up when Everton Morrison got the first of his hat-trick which bounced off his knee from a free-kick (If he starts getting lucky goals too we are in trouble!!), we equalised through a great strike from Jadon Silva and the first half was a really good advert for WMCFL. An excellent game to play in both teams playing well and fairly.
But the first moment was when we lost both Kit to injury and Dozza, the latter had to go at half-time who are two of our more creative players and we only had two defenders on the bench so we naturally became more defensive. However straight after the break we scored one of the best goals I have seen for Amblecote with a 5-man passing move finished off with a header into the top-corner by Sparky to put us on top.
The second moment came with the award of a penalty to Clarendon. Again, I can honestly say no contact (there doesn't have to be eh refs?-Ed) was made between defender and attacker, because I was the player involved. But the striker went to ground and the ref gave the spot-kick. I was gutted but that's football. Then at 2-2 came the final decisive moment when Martin Nicholls smashed against the crossbar when meeting a cross on the volley. Very hard technique and just an inch away from going in. If that had gone in we may have snatched the points.
But then as they do Clarendon caught us out to go 3-2 up so we had to chase the game, a fourth followed about ten minutes from time; then as the game wore on an own goal which our keeper let roll under his foot from a back pass sealed the game. You have to say that Clarendon are very strong and very good. Matt in the middle played well as did the two guys up front as usual. But I think they would say they all were made to earn this win.
