Clarendon take over at the top of Division One as St Mary's faulter against Halesowen. I was scratching my head as to when last Clarendon sat on top of the league. I think it could have been as long ago as 2008 but I could be wrong. But their timing is impeccable; with just three games to go they move into a two point lead. Without being disrespectful, on paper Clarendon should beat bottom placed Sheldon and Amblecote who have now lost ten on the trot. But then there's Halesowen who stuck a stick in St Mary's spokes yesterday and would love to do the same to Clarendon. However, on paper is different to on the football pitch. Sheldon are not done yet and Amblecote love to play Clarendon where pride is at stake.
And the match? Clarendon started the game on the front foot but despite the missing personnel, Wolves resisted all attempts to break them down. Wolves were missing Paggie in defence and Clarendon Pablo up front, so all square in the missing players department. Clarendon managed to take the lead with Laurie Cunningham tapping in mid-way through the first half, after a deep free-kick was headed back across goal. Jason Green doubled the lead minutes later and Clarendon were definately on top. It looked like they were going to run away with it but due to a combination of their profligation and Richie's excellent saves, the lead remained at two goals.
Just as I thought that Wolves were dead and buried, back they came. A corner was floated in and put away from close range: 2-1 and Wolves took a lift. And then just before half time they scored again from another corner. Typical Wolves: Never say die.
After the break once again Clarendon took the lead and then added two more. Richie was beaten by the flight of a corner, then a defensive hesitation for the first two proved costly. A disputed free-kick lead to Clarendon's fifth (I thought it was for the record) but perhaps frustration was boiling over at this point as with tidier defending Wolves would have been still in this.
But back they came again with a well finished header from Chris Bowen: 5-3 before Clarendon made it six. Jason Green, and everyone else, thought he'd made it seven but his chipped effort bounced off the firm ground onto the cross-bar and to safety. At this point I had to leave but Wolves pulled another back to give the score-line some respectability.
Tommy Woodward adds: We could have quite easily lost this one today as Wolves are one of the best attacking sides we have come up against this season. We controlled large parts of the game but Wolves have some outstanding attacking players and always looked dangerous on the counter. It could have been a totally different outcome today as our attitude was awful and only excellent displays from the in form Hunta, Laurie and our manager Roger Moorihno prevented us from letting Wolves back in. We have lost Pablo and Matt, two of our best players since the St Mary's draw so we need to dig deep if we are to win the league. But more importantly we need to man up and respect the ref's decisions!
