.
Tommy Woodward reports: A well earned win today over a very good City Church. A one goal advantage over any team is never definate, but against a team like City, you're asking for trouble. We had a goal ruled out early on due to a foul but we think the ref had got it wrong, so when Pablo won a penalty and converted it we felt we had taken a deserved lead. We should have scored a couple more with the City keeper stopping two one on ones from Pablo and Jason Greene hitting both posts. City had their chances but a bit of bad luck and some great defending gave us a win and a clean sheet. J Garwood had an excellent game along with Dan Atkins and the City Keeper. The returning Matt Williams and Pablo made a difference and some great saves from Bigger helped us along our way. Also Laurie Cunningham seemed to play a part in anything positive that Clarendon produced. St Matt's next. Hopefully another win.
Martin Ogbourn adds: Today's return fixture between Clarendon and City was very different to the 11-goal thriller earlier in the season, which City edged in a more intense affair. Both teams were understandably rusty today, although Clarendon created the greater threat, and enjoyed better possession to deservedly take the three points. However, we certainly played our part and had chances (especially in the first half) to take something from a tight game. Clarendon were the quicker team out of the blocks, and took an early lead through a penalty after a tussle in the box. Once City settled into the game it became an even, competitive half of football with wayward finishing and good saves from both sides keeping the score close.
The half time whistle came at the wrong time for City as we were enjoying our best phase of the match with some improved passing and movement. Although neither team looked 100% City faded more quickly in the second half and the extended Christmas break and lack of match fitness took its toll! City still had opportunities and could have snatched an equaliser towards the end, but City were indebted to Chris Chattaway for some quality goalkeeping to keep City in the game until the final whislte. The positive thing from our viewpoint was that we continued to battle hard and showed good team spirit. John Shep, Steve Bailey and Andrew Thomas were notable for their battling qualities, and Chris Chattaway was the City man-of-the-match. City now have to re-group for next week's game, and the Cup quarter final.
