SIX GOAL STAR STORM INTO CUP FINAL!!

This week’s game saw Star in Semi-Final cup action against local rivals and one time fellow Clacton Premier League opponents Elmstead Market.

We knew today’s game would be tough with Elmstead possessing a very strong team, one or two of their players even play for team’s on Saturdays so we knew that they would be better players than most of us mere mortals that only play on a Sunday…

With Cooky available again after giving birth last week manager Webster decided to reshuffle the formation a little with Jason, Auger and Cook making up a three man defence and Sam pushing into a 5 man midfield where Deano was still recovering from his belated wedding reception the night before.

With the game being played at Shrub End it was hoped that we would be able to give the Bentley Breeze a miss this week, however we were greeted by a near gale force wind that tore down the pitch so it soon became clear that the elements were going to play a big part in the game.

We won the toss and decided to play into the wind first half which for the first 10 minutes was tough as Elmstead started well hitting the bar with one effort and enforcing clearances which struggled for distance against the wind.

Slowly though we began to adjust to the wind and came more into the game, with the midfield 3 starting to overrun their counterparts. We took the lead in the 25th minute when a free kick from the right by Gridley evaded the Elmstead defence allowing El Tony to provide the slightest of touches past a stranded keeper. 1-0

It became even better 10 minutes later when a short corner was played to Deano who cut inside and fired in a low drive that the keeper could only help into the top corner of the goal. This was even more impressive considering he had only finished his last beer and hung up his all white ‘Grooms’ suit a few hours earlier. 2-0

Half-time arrived and we knew that potentially the hardest part of the job was done especially against the wind which Elmstead would now have to play into; however we knew that one goal and they would be right back into it especially with some of their ‘Saturday league’ quality that some of their players kept reminding us they had!

Back to the Sunday league match then and straight from kick-off the intent for the half was there with Gridley trying his luck direct from kick off, sadly the effort was more of a time wasting gimmick than a boost to the scoreline however it was a sign of things to come…

Soon after a free kick was awarded way out on the touchline which Sam shaped to swing in, however the wind had other ideas and took hold of the ball slamming it into the top corner to increase our lead further and send the travelling support including old man flat cap wearing Joff Webster into dreamland… 3-0

A forth soon followed when Sam won a great tackle in midfield and played in Coley down the right who drilled in a low cross to the back post where strike partner Gridley was waiting where he made no mistake tucking the ball into the roof of the net with his wand to make it 4-0. Lovely.

By now Star were well in command of the game with the defence looking solid and Matt when called upon in goal looking confident. The same however could not really be said of his opposite number in the Elmstead goal who instead of providing confidence to his back four was in fact creating more panic than a surgeon with a nervous twitch.

One such twitch in fact resulted in one of the most momentous events of the season so far when Warren ‘The Pinger’ Joseph finally scored a goal. It came from a poor clearance by the keeper which fell to the little man some 30 yards out; he quickly brought the ball under control before driving it into the empty net with the keeper once again AWOL. Flamboyant knee sliding celebrations followed which I suppose we can ignore given that before today’s game he had played 17 games and over 1500 minutes of football in a central midfield position without even threatening to score! 5-0 “He’s always been a superstar”

With 20 minutes left Elmstead pulled a goal back when a low strike caught a nasty bobble over the otherwise impressive Matt in goal. 5-1 However the last word was to be from us when a short throw was played to Gridley who put in an old school ‘up and under’ cross which the keeper could not deal with under pressure from Tony and Coley allowing the ball to be bundled over the line. 6-1

Controversy reigned as to the scorer of the goal with Coley, Gridley, Tony and an own goal by Elmstead’s Jack Sibbons all possibilities however on review of the replay it was clear that in fact the last touch came from Coley’s knee providing six different scorers for the day in what was a great all round team display.

So a 6-1 victory and a great hardworking performance from everybody in tough conditions against an Elmstead team who will surely progress up the leagues. It was however our day today, perhaps some of the opposition players were tired from playing Saturdays and Sundays, I don’t know…

Moral of the story I guess is that you can play for a super Saturday team but unless you play well on a Sunday it just seems like a hollow argument when you are 6-1 down?
“I’m still good on Saturdays”

So the final then against old rivals AFC Lexden who we always seem to have close games against so should be a good one. Game’s to be held on 22nd April tickets available from the club shop grab them while there’s still some left!

And no Tony your not playing up front stop asking...

BRAG X