CCFC And WHU Share The Spoils

By CCFC Sid
November 1 2003

Two of the better footballing sides in D1 played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Highfield Road, in a game CCFC perhaps should have won, finishing the stronger of the two sides. Arphexad gave his best CCFC display so far, looking confident, and at last justifying the decision to bring him in.

After a fairly entertaining first quarter of an hour, WHU took the lead when player-manager Gary McAllister was caught dallying on the edge of the CCFC penalty area, and Defoe robbed the ball from him, strode forward, and scored with ease. With Defoe one of the better strikers in the division, the last thing CCFC needed was to offer him a `freebie'....

Minutes later, the `dodgy keeper' tag so often used to describe England's No. 1 David James (Until Chris Kirkland steps up) seemed apt again, as first his poor clearance only found Morrell (Who was unable to capitalise), and seconds later Suffo charged down another clearance. The ball unfortunately ricocheted out for a goal kick, rather than threatening the WHU goal.

Any WHU attack was dealt with swiftly by CCFC, with the defenders usually opting to get good distance on their clearances, rather than always trying to play their way out of trouble (An option that usually only leads to more trouble!). The CCFC offside trap, so often criticised for not quite working, was played to good effect today, stopping a number of WHU attacks before they threatened the CCFC goal.

Morrell was getting little change out of the WHU defence, failing to win the ball on the floor or in the air, but still giving 101% and chasing everything that came near him, and a number of CCFC corners were also again wasted by CCFC, with the ball being played far to close to James each time. Later on in the match, McAllister opted to let others take the responsibility.

Arphexad made a good save on 29 minutes after an error from Whing allowed WHU an attack, and Arphexad made another decent stop minutes later after a WHU cross eluded every CCFC defender, and Deane shot goalwards.

Suffo turned and shot on 33 minutes, testing James in the WHU goal, and a minute later Barrett went over in the penalty area, but the referee ignored CCFC penalty appeals, opting instead to award WHU a free-kick. Other debatable decisions also seemed to favour the away side....

Seven minutes before half-time CCFC got an equaliser after a superb move, with a defence splitting Suffo pass picking out Doyle, whose cross was smashed home by Barrett - as good a move as will probably be seen all season at Highfield Road.

CCFC started the second half well, winning two quick corners (Both coming to nil), and Morrell tested James after 47 minutes with a decent effort. A rasping drive from Lee on 49 minutes missed the CCFC goal by no more than a yard - though Arphexad probably had it covered.

For the opening 20 minutes of the second half CCFC looked far more like the away side, relying on trying to catch WHU on the break, and Konjic went down injured on 58 minutes having opted to try and head one WHU attack away with the ball no more than a foot off the ground, and receiving a whack as a consequence.

On 61 minutes, a hoof out of defence by CCFC saw Suffo force a poor header from Repka, with the Cameroonian having the ball stolen off his foot by James before he could try and shoot.

Arphexad made another fine save on 64 minutes, diving spectacularly to his left to keep out a Dailly effort.

On 73 minutes McAllister was almost clean through on the WHU goal, with his shot deflecting a couple of times around the WHU goal, but never into the path of a CCFC player.

A poor Safri corner on 76 minutes was gathered with ease by James, who bowled the ball out, and seconds later a brilliant Arphexad save stopped Defoe regaining the lead for The Hammers.

CCFC should have taken the lead on 81 minutes, but Suffo greedily chose to try and walk past three WHU defenders rather than pass to Barrett or McAllister, who were in acres of space and odds on to at least trouble James in the WHU goal.

A terrible CCFC free-kick resulted in a corner after a lack of communication in the WHU defence saw Repka opt for safety first. Doyle put in the best effort of the match (For CCFC), but his corner still came to not much. A minute later Suffo shot just wide of the WHU goal, and soon after Deane tried to gain WHU a penalty with a shameful dive in the CCFC penalty area.

Suffo had another effort minutes before the end, but the game ended in a 1-1 draw - possibly the fairest result.....