So, Who Exactly Is Geoff Horsfield Anyway?!

By CCFC Sid
December 22 2003

Despite what some of the reports might say, this was a well deserved CCFC victory, against a team that didn't exactly look like table toppers - mainly due to CCFC getting it tactically right!

The main topic of conversation before the match was whether or not Lee Hughes would play, with the CCFC stewards being given instructions on how to deal with CCFC supporters making comments! Thankfully he never even made it onto the team bus, despite originally being named in the WBA squad. There were a few moronic chants from WBA fans in support of him after about 10 minutes, but CCFC supporters didn't respond, and this was the only time throughout the match that they were to be heard.

As for the match itself, Andrew Whing enjoyed another superb performance, and, if CCFC had a striker amongst their ranks that could actually head a ball or intimidate opposition defenders, thanks to Whing's crossing ability, the match could have been over by half-time. Every other team in D1 has a player capable of winning a header up front, but CCFC, alas, don't. Apart from his threat going forward, the youngster also made some top quality last-ditch tackles to stop WBA breaking the dead-lock too. Can we really expect him to still be here after the transfer window opens?

Callum Davenport managed to keep his place despite Richard Shaw being available, and, apart from one or two errors (Hey! Even Arsenal conced the odd goal or two!!) put in another quality performance at the back, keeping Horsfield largely anonymous on his WBA debut (As well as being part of a central defensive pairing that saw the usually impressive Hulse withdrawn too).

Doyle looked more than an adequate replacement for McAllister in the opening quarter of an hour, spraying some quality passes around the pitch, while Mansouri also looked like he might just make it at this level. The worry that Safri might be too scared to tackle after the Sunderland incident proved groundless, with the Moroccan actually - possibly for the first time in his CCFC career! - going on a jinking run into the opposition penalty area before being felled. For the second time this season though, he was booked for diving!

Ward was trouble a few times throughout this match, but looked more than competent in the CCFC goal, and kept his first clean sheet in seven attempts. Finally CCFC seem to have a keeper that realises he is allowed off his line, and, unlike one or two in CCFC's recent unglorious goalkeeping past (This DOESN'T include England's next proper No. 1 Chris Kirkland), he doesn't seem afraid to risk losing his looks(?!) by diving where it hurts.

Warnock again enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular performance, and blasted one shot at Gregan that might have won CCFC a penalty (TV replays later showed the referee probably got it right by not awarding a spot-kick). Staunton also looked more threatening going forward, forcing Hoult to save one or two long range efforts.

Joachim for CCFC and Hulse for WBA gave a master-class in how NOT to finish, both squandering chances that you would expect them to put away nine times out of ten. Expect them both to score with their next 27 shots! Joachim was clean through after 40 minutes, but somehow managed to screw a shot wide (Hoult was allowed to put the ball behind for a corner), and 10 minutes later managed to hit a shot so far over the bar (Which threatened the space probe to Mars!), despite it being far easier to score.

Later in the game, WBA brought on Moore for Wallwork, signalling their intent to hold onto 0-0, while CCFC were forced to bring on Jackson (Unlucky not to start anyway) for Doyle, who had been clutching the back of his leg, and looking fairly immobile moments earlier. This proved to be the turning point of the game.

With only seconds left on the clock, Suffo, a substitute for Morrell some 10 minutes earlier, latched onto a pass and advanced towards the WBA goal. CCFC had been guilty of passing when it looked easier to shoot throughout, but Suffo called it right this time, releasing Jackson (Or `Johnson', as the `Ceefax' headline called him) who was in a far better position. It seemed to take an eternity for the ball to actually hit the net, but it finally did, and Jackson celebarted with the front row of the West Terrace as the WBA section of the crowd were stunned into silence.