Clowne arrived at the 100% Accies as the bottom club playing the top club with the away side yet to even score a goal. This cued a few jokes about giving away yet another penalty to help them out, which were proven to be all too prophetic.
The same side that finished the hard won victory against Oughtibridge started the game with the only change being in goal as Accies stalwart Godders returned between the sticks. The game was scrappy from the off with possession being conceded cheaply by both teams resulting in very few passes being strung together and little in the way of chances being created. On ten minutes Clowne thought they had a breakthrough as a free kick was swung over to the back post and was stabbed home for what should have been the opening goal. However, the referee disallowed it for offside when it wasn’t even close; leading to a bizarre run of events. Their right back called the referee a cheating c*** and was promptly shown the red card quite rightly; a few of their players started walking off amid plenty of shouting from the sidelines. The Accies managed to persuade the ref to rescind the red and issue a yellow in the interest of not ruining the game which he did (fair play to him!). The game restarted and of course the Accies went straight up the other end and scored! Alex hooked on a ball for Swifty who powered past his marker and lofted it over the advancing keeper to make it 1-0. Minutes later the changing room prophecy came to pass as Si bundled over their forward who made a meal of the challenge and the dive and then converted from the penalty spot to level things up.
The game continued to be scrappy but gradually Sheffield asserted themselves and crept more and more into it.
Swifty was put through again and was probably fouled in the box but no penalty was given despite zero remonstrations from their players and a sheepish look from their defender cast sidelong at the referee immediately afterwards. Brian was very busy and went on a couple of strong runs, Stan bombed forward and put a great ball into Alex but it was just too high and evaded him. Reedy and Ryan were mopping up any loose balls and Tony was having a solid game at right back. Matt G and Big Si were commanding the midfield with Matt particularly vocal in rallying the Accies into action along with Swifty. On 25 minutes Daz put a great ball down the line for Brian who twisted and turned and lofted a cross into the box but there was nobody there to meet it.
It needed a stroke of luck to advance the scoring which the Accies duly received after great determination from Alex. The ball came over the top and their defender squared it to the keeper under pressure from Swifty, the keeper tried to dribble it out but Alex put him under pressure and block tackled his attempted clearance. The ball bounced up and back off him and he lost it as did Alex but Brian advanced on and nicked it off his foot then took approximately 79 touches as he ran it in from the edge of the box before rolling it into the empty net to make it 2-1.
A few minutes later and it soon became 3-1. Alex again pressured the keeper after he had blocked a Swifty shot and with the keeper stranded calmly rolled the ball back to Si who looked up and resisted the temptation to go for the semi-empty net, instead rolling in Brian on the left who took a composed touch before smacking it into the near top corner.
Half time Accies 3 -1 Clowne.
The second half started as the first had finished with the away side rarely threatening. Swifty had another chance and Stan went on a great run that took him into the box, arguably being fouled for a second solid penalty shout not being given. Chalky and Dan came on for Matt G and Daz who had both had industrious games in a straight switch. A few minutes after Batts came on for Alex and Marps came on for Tony. The game started opening up as the away side grew tired. Chalky put a great ball down the channel for Dan but his cross was too far in front of Swifty to connect with. Stan went forward again and played a neat one-two with Brian who found Si on the edge of the box but his shot was straight at the keeper. Worrying signs for Clowne as they were not getting a look-in by now.
Swifty punished them for some poor defending as they tried to play it out from the back, robbing their right back before sprinting into the box, rounding the keeper, knocking it past a defender then rolling it into the net. Batts knew he was never getting that square pass! Minutes later Dan put a corner right on Brians head for him to complete his hat-trick and round off another fine game. Chalky played a ball out wide to Si who spread it to Dan who stepped over the ball to allow it to run to Batts, he returned the ball to Dan who clipped a cross over the advancing keeper and Chalky tried the overhead kick but it ended up going for a goal kick. Would have been a quality goal!
There was just enough time for Ryan to land on their forward once again and continue his campaign of endearment as the referee blew the final whistle to round off an emphatic win on paper for the Accies and to maintain their 100% record.
Full time Academicals 5 -1 Clowne
