Old Lancing II's - 2 Old Carthusians III's - 4
On a chilly, wild and windy Saturday afternoon the Old Carthusian III XI once again showed their mettle and the reason they sit atop of the 2nd Division by overcoming a tough and resilient Lancing team hell bent on avoiding another defeat from the 1881 FA Cup winners.
The squad was somewhat changed from the previous weeks having lost a number of players to work and birthday parties and saw a return of the “Grandfather” of the 3’s Moss J (the original, genuine article) and the current (soon to be beaten) 3’s golden boot holder Fenton A.
Fenton was to play the match in the somewhat unorthodox position of centre back with JCB, the heading ability of both players on show right from the very start and especially against their lanky centre forward.
But conditions were far from easy with the swirling wind in our faces holding the ball up with any attempted clearances and some early Lancing pressure saw us struggling to get the ball out of our third.
Things were going to become trickier still with a seemingly innocuous tackle / collision on Ben Ryder-Smith saw him disappear back to the changing room clutching his elbow in pain. Reports back are that it’s a ‘weird’ break needing a metal plate. Perhaps the plate might correct his notorious shank on the golf course and the cast attract someone of the opposite sex....we will have to wait and see.
Back to more pressing issues on the pitch, an eventual reshuffle saw Rob C-B move from right wing to right back whilst Charlie Nash slotted in to midfield. The change made an immediate impact – Fenton sensing the defence had been shored up, made one of his trademark runs in to the opposition’s area. It was a run of pure strength and determination, akin to a medium paced bulldozer leaving a trail of destruction as players bounced off his hulking frame. An unstoppable left foot strike from a tight angle saw the ball finish in the top left corner.
Straight away the Lancing heads dropped and Carts shortly after pressed ahead their advantage; some clever interplay between Dolly, Rudden and Mike saw the latter thread an absolute beauty of a ball for Charlie Nash to run on to and finish smartly past their helpless keeper.
Lancing weren’t going to collapse however and within 10 minutes had reduced the deficit to just one with a well worked goal on the break finished confidently past the rock of Rob Proctor.
But that wasn’t it before half time and the two goal advantage was restored with an absolutely sublime goal of sensuous cross field passing - Charlie Nash playing a pin point ball in to the wind to find Rudden, his one touch control then cross to the far post found Manches who was able to slot cooly past the keeper. The goal led Spinks to comment after the match he felt that goal was as good as any he had seen playing for the 3’s. Less time playing for the 1’s and more for the 3’s should change that impression.
Half time came and went, the main topic of conversation being how to retain one’s hairstyle in such adverse weather conditions, Dolly suggesting we take his lead and use only hairspray when gusts over 20mph are forecast.
Lancing weren't going to roll over so easily and put up a spirited fight back. Showing their ability to adapt better to the wind in the second half they snatched another goal from a clever cross which evaded JCB’s flailing forehead. From that point it was a bit of backs to the wall as Lancing sensed the possibility of a draw and started to throw as many players as they could up the pitch. The game began to descend in to an untidy melee of scrappy football and defending combined with the highlights of a couple of breaks upfield, Danny Perera providing an excellent outlet down the left hand channel.
And so they pressed, legs began to tire, Dolly was out paced by a man twice his age, Rudden could barely walk due to his so called ‘shin splints’. With the seconds ticking away and with all 10 of their outfield players camped in the OC half the ball broke to Rudden. Putting the agony of his shins behind him (his back, crack and sack waxing sessions undoubtedly resulting in his new increased pain threshold) he sprinted from the halfway line in to the opposition's 18 yard box before unselfishly slipping the ball across for Manches to walk in to an empty net.4-2, Job Done.
It was a difficult fixture against a tough opposition in tricky conditions but the way in which we ground out the victory was commendable in every way. My MOTM, and I'm sure everyone else's this week goes to Rob C-B. He may have only been born the year I left Charerhouse but he showed a maturity well beyond his years, displayed some silky skills and demonstrated his adaptability by slotting in seamlessly in the right back position.
This match report is dedicated to Ben Ryder-Smith. Our thoughts go out to him and we wish him a speedy and safe recovery. Amen.
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