After winning the League cup at the weekend, Clenchwarton take all the points in their pursuit of the league title against, what can only be described as, a bad tempered Discovery side. This was always going to be a tough encounter. However, the tactics used by the home side, and the poor refereeing, were nothing short of disgraceful.
The first few minutes saw both sides trying to settle in to the game, with possession constantly passing from one side to the other.
However, on 6 minutes, Clenchwarton earn the first corner of the game. Kodie places an inch perfect ball in towards the back post, which Jordan Turner nods home. 0 - 1
2 minutes later, Clenchwarton get another corner, this time from the other side. Josh Murray knocks the ball in to the box. A defender gets a head to it, only to knock it on further to Jordan Turner, who heads it past the keeper for his second. 0 - 2
Kodie Turvey goes close on 10 minutes, after a lovely cross in from the right by Lewis Jeavons. Kodie hits the ball from the edge of the box, only to see his effort hit the outside of the upright and go out for a goal kick.
kodie hits the post again a minute later. this time, he collects the ball, smashes it against the right hand post. The ball comes back off the post, hits the back of the keeper and rebounds in to his own net. 0 - 3
At this point, the home side are starting to get frustrated. A kick out from a player and poor challenges all around the pitch start to mar the game. The referee has words with some of the players, although fails to caution anyone.
13 minutes. kodie collects a through ball inside the 18 yard box. He puts the ball in the back of the net, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
The most extraordinary goal of the game came on 27 minutes. Play is stopped for a player to get checked by the referee, before he asks the Discovery forward to play the ball back to Clenchwarton. The player sees Brad Palmer off his line and loops the ball over him and in to the net. The referee chastises the player, although can only award the goal. 1 - 3
Clenchwarton keep their heads up and continue to try and play their passing game, constantly riding late challenges, to which the referee still does nothing about until the 34th minute when he books the Discovery striker for yet another awful challenge on Robbie Rose, which in most other games would have seen a straight red.
Clenchwarton keep plugging away and eventually get their rewards just before the break. Jordan Turner lays the ball out wide left to Kodie Turvey. Kodie Takes a touch a wallops the ball in to the net from a tight angle. 1 - 4
Half Time : 1 - 4
It takes only 4 minutes of the second half before the Oranges grab yet another goal. The ball is knocked up field. Jordan Turner nods the ball on to Josh Murray to run on to. He powers forward past the defense and smashes the ball towards goal. The keeper gets his fingers to it but is unable to stop the ball hitting the back of the net. 1 -5
Discovery get their second goal of the game on 50 minutes. They hit a long range shot with power. Brad Palmer manages to stop the shot, only for the ball to drop in to the path of an incoming player, who then smashes the ball home. 2 - 5
63 minutes, Ed Brown wins the ball in midfield. He looks up and sees Kodie Turvey making a run. He threads the ball through for him to run on to. Kodie only has eyes for goal and thumps the ball at goal. For the third time in the game, he hits the right hand post. This time, however, the ball hits the inside edge and ends up in the net. 2 - 6
Moments later, Robbie Rose is yet again harassed by the Discovery striker away from play. Robbie reacts to this off-the-ball incident and pursues the striker. The referee intervenes and awards him a yellow card. The striker, who at this point should probably not even be on the pitch, walks away without even a word from the referee.
The game then took an unusual turn. The home side's Manager made a comment to the referee. The referee stopped play and headed towards him. The next thing we can see is the referee standing on the sidelines, with the Manager now taking control of the game.
In fairness to the Manager, he controlled proceedings with more authority, with the home side calming down and playing some more measured football.
The game was seen out without any other real incidents.
Well done to the boys for keeping cools heads. It's always a hard away fixture and they should take great pride in the way they conducted themselves. It's a real shame that this game couldn't be played in the same spirit as the cup final, in which both sets of players were exemplary ambassadors for their clubs.
Hopefully, playing for the Leicester City Cup at the Skegness Football Festival tournament this weekend will allow us to play our football and show what we can do. It's a great opportunity to represent our area. This game should have prepared us well.
Come on Clenchy!
