Ryman League - Carshalton Athletic 0 Hornchurch 0

[Urchins]

Despite there being only a handful of chances between the sides this was actually quite a good game to watch. Not so much for what went on on the pitch but with both sets of supporters being quite vociferous there was a kind of tense air about the encounter. Perhaps we were not quite as sharp as we have been in the last few weeks but Carshalton were certainly doing their damndest to make up for their 5-0 drubbing just over a week previously.

 

The best chance of note in the first half came in the 18th minute when a powerful John Keeling shot from 20 yards was well seen by keeper Stuart Searle. The second half looked like being a repeat of th first until the 71st minute when Carshalton were awarded a penalty for a trip. The comedy of errors that followed was quite amazing. Neil Le Bihan stepped up to take the penalty and blasted the ball over the bar. As we breathed a sigh of relief and with the referee making his way to the half way line, attention was drawn to the assistant referee alone in the penalty area with his flag raised. Gay had moved - retake. So, up stepped Le Bihan once more, and once more he blasted over the bar, hitting more or less the same spot behind the goal as the first time. We held our breath as the referee appeared to consult his linesman again but this time we were OK.

 

Anyone who hadn't been convinced that this game would end 0-0 before this moment certainly had now. There were a couple of late chances though. A cross from Mark Graham found Vinnie John at the far post who powered a header into the ground and over the bar and with 3 minutes left a far post header from Carshalton's Gary Elliott grazed the post and it was heads in hands all round.

 

Line-up:- Gay, Sterling, Kerrigan, Adedeji, West, Southon, Keeling, J Martin, John, Douglas (A Martin 66), Graham. Subs not used:- Locke, Gooding, Ada, Collier (GK)

[Little Miss Urchin]

Quote:

A cross from Mark Graham found Vinnie John at the far post who powered a header into the ground and over the bar

Again!? Damn that fella's got a powerful header. <img src="/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />
( <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />I'm a poet and I know it. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />)


A big thank you to Urchinette and Urchins who kept me up-to-date with the scores, though next time I'd rather we won but I'll let you off as this was your first time. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Sorry I couldn't make it, but I shall be there freezing my toes off on Saturday.

What was the attendance? How many people did we bring?

[Lord]

About 480 I think I heard the announcer say. Guess we had 30 or so gathered behind the goal. I don't particularly like to name names, but once again Andy Douglas looked woefully out of sorts. I'm sure he is a good player that in time will come good, but at the moment his contribution to our performance in matches is well below par. Once again, I would say that Taffy in his 20 minutes or so on the pitch looked more threatening than Douglas did in the 70 odd minutes he was on the pitch. Other than that, it was a decent enough performance, the penalties and last minute chance aside, Gay was rarely troubled, likewise could be said for their keeper though. In fairness after 20 minutes it looked like it had 0-0 written all over it. I cannot see anyway that Carshalton will end up league champions, but as the top of the league team at the moment, then I suppose we have to be happy with the away point.

[Urchin fan]

cold nights at far away grounds is where we have to be strong and to come away with a point from the league leaders was supurb, a good team and surporters perfomance...........

[SOS]

I realise it was a cold Monday evening, but 480 is slightly disappointing for a top-of-the-table Ryman Premier clash.

[Guest]

yes a low turn out 4 a top of the table clash, but stil a well earend and deserved point. <img src="/images/graemlins/affig.gif" alt="" />

[Nigel D]

they'd even run out of programmes when I got in there just before kick off!

 

That Douglas was pants, has he been like that all season, can't seem to do anything, even when he's given a good ball.

[Lord]

Hard to give him too much praise, I make it that he's scored twice in 12 starts, hardly setting the world alight!