24.11.07
Man of the match: Don Graves
After a thoroughly disappointing performance last week, Corinthians were on home territory once again and were given a chance to redeem themselves against the visitors, Highmoor Ibis Reserves.
While the match started brightly both sides were finding it tough to play free-flowing football. The week’s bad weather meant that this encounter was being played out on a heavily drenched pitch, which cut up within minutes of the start.
Corinthians, though, adapted to the conditions better and had the best of play in the early stages. Daniel Huggins, welcomed back to the team after 2 weeks paternity leave, was finding space out on the wide right. Meanwhile, any attacks made by the visitors were being dealt with very well by the back four, marshalled by the ever impressive Jon Quinton and the commanding skipper, Don Graves. The only time the home side looked in danger was when the ball was in the possession of their number 10 – who was finding space in between the Corinthian defence and midfield.
However, just as Highmoor had forced a couple of corners and looked to press home this increased pressure, Corinthians took the lead through lone striker, Jon Smith. A fine team move involving Richard Cotteril and Huggins saw the striker pick the ball up about 30 yards from goal and played a neat chipped ball through to Chris Long, who had made a run to the edge of the area. Long then managed to turn and cushion a header down to Joe Carters, who had joined the attack. Carters, a holding midfielder normally known for breaking up play instead of creating it, dinked a delightful through-ball over the head of Long and into the path of Smith who had continued his run and sprung the offside trap to calmly round the keeper and slot home.
The rest of the half was played out in midfield with both sides being guilty of squandering their possession which was being won and then, in turn, needlessly given away. Both keepers remained relatively untested going into the break.
While Corinthians deserved their lead, the half time conversation focussed on utilising the ball better and trying to build on their lead.
The second started off better for the home side. The ball was being spread out to the flanks better and the home side were beginning to fully impose their renowned attacking style on Highmoor. It was though one of these increasingly fluent attacks that Corinthians doubled their lead. From a fine throw-in manoeuvre, Joff Charters picked out Huggins with a cross and the in-form attacker got in front of his marker to clip the ball high into the net.
The game was effectively over now as Highmoor was tiring but were being forced to push forward and gamble in an attempt to gain something from this match. Subsequently large gaps were appearing for the Corinthian midfield and attackers to exploit.
This never more evident than the home side’s third and final goal. A long, desperate clearance by player-coach Kitten, turned into a fine ball for Jon Smith to have a clear run through on goal, which he duly converted for his second of the game.
The final 10 mins saw Corinthians really play some attractive football but also miss some fine opportunities to increase their lead. Joe Carters should have scored and Drew Warnke went close.
However, the game finished with no further goals and so Corinthians returned to winning ways. They will be pleased with the way they played, in particular the fact they managed to keep a clean sheet, and will hope to build on this performance as they enter what will be a crucial busy Christmas period.