| CMC
Sports & Social 6 Cardiff Northern 3 Heath Park, 10th September Starting
XI After a drive from the changing rooms and CMC' late arrival Northern could perhaps be forgiven for their slow start to this encounter. Then again maybe we were just useless. Whatever it was Northern were 3-0 down inside 15 minutes and it was like the bad old days all over again. Luke Haggert and Ross Gunter were over run in midfield and the lack of closing down ensured that Northern were effectively out of the contest before it began. Not so.... this is a new Cardiff Northern with a squad of players who will fight for their places and show some of the pride that has been all too lacking in previous seasons. An excellent ball down the line by David Manley released Gavin Bishop who got the ball into the box for Gareth Fundalski to pull Northern back into the contest. Soon afterwards incisive play down the left allowed Phil Gough to slot home for 3-2. CMC now realised they had a game on their hands. Further attacks by Northern including two close freekicks from Carl Manley could have sent the teams in level at the interval and likewise good defending from Craig Palfrey and Carl French meant a CMC shot was cleared off the line. After half time, Northern were to have their fate sealed when the most influential person in the game decided to make his presence felt. The referee.... CMC launched a long ball forward and the striker, who was probably offside anyway, committed a handball of Maradona-like preportions. He brought the ball down from high above him with both arms and slotted past the keeper. Then came the decision that will last long in the minds of Northern followers and has still let to be explained. Bishop ran clear and hit a shot from the left that hit the near post, the ball bounced off and hit the opposite post and then rolled behind the line. The keeper picked the ball out of the net and kicked it back downfield for the restart only for everyone to suddenly realise that the referee hadn't given the goal. The CMC players, to their credit, told the ref it was a valid goal but he was having none of it. At this point Northern were in complete disarray and when CMC scored again via their Maradona like striker who was a number of yards offside sweeper Craig Palfrey lost it and very nearly talked himself off the field. He was lucky to escape with a booking. CMC scored again and at 6-2 Northern were again staring a humiliation in the face. Quick thinking from David Manley meant Matthew Rowley was able to free Carl Manley. He broke down the right, before beating one man and playing a neat one-two with substitute Stephen Mustey and finally rifling home. Northern then had numerous chances which weren't converted and when the whistle blew were left to wonder what might have been. Subs:
Stephen Mustey, Courtney Philp, Barrie Willacott * Match Reports represent the opinion of the author and in no way represent the opinions of CNFC. |