The game got off to a slow start with the Clarence dominating much of the possession in the first 10 minutes and they were duly rewarded when Josh Arnold “shot” fell in to the path of Dale Bagley who tapped home. With the Clarence going 1 up and dominating the game so far you would have expected them to go on ad control the game. However poor passing and inability to keep possession soon got the better of them when FC Riley’s were awarded a penalty because of a shockingly poor attempt at a tackle by Gaz Emmerson, who completely took out the attacker. Up stepped Riley’s to equalize. The Game however was constantly interrupted and neither team were able to get much rhythm to their game due to abysmal refereeing. Neither team were really able to get flowing, however it was the Clarence who regained the lead when Kieran Langley played a defence splitting ball through to Jack Mancini who placed perfectly past the keeper. It wasn’t long however before Riley’s were level after keeper Ant Hallworth Came out of his box to clear and made an absolute howler, completely missing the ball and Riley’s striker ran on to score in an empty net. Not long after equalising Riley’s came close to taking the lead with an almost carbon copy of their equaliser, with keeper ant Hallworth came out to clear and again completely missed the ball, if not for an amazing last ditch tackle from covering defender Liam Terry then Riley’s would have taken the lead for the first time. With more shocking refereeing and neither team able to rally keep any possession it was a very poor game of football. It was with one of these poor decisions by the referee that the Clarence got another chance just before halftime, when a free kick was awarded just on the edge of the box. Mancini stepped up to take the free kick and looking for the far corner up popped up Liam Terry with a bullet header to make it 3-2 to the Clarence going in at the half. Two changes were made by the Clarence at half time with Paul Court and Pete Dempsey replacing Pete Rivett and Luke Callen in defence. The second half followed in much of the same pattern as the first, with neither team being able to put may passes together and keep much possession. However it was the Clarence who extended their lead when Mancini fired home from just inside the box on the hour mark. With the Clarence seemingly in control and looking like heading towards their third win in a row Riley’s pulled another back when the defence was unable to clear the ball from inside their own box, making for a very tense last fifteen minutes. The Clarence did have number chances to extend their lead just before full time with Whitehead, Bagley and Storey all having opportunities, the best however fell to Jack Mancini, Mancini who was on for a hatrick got on the end of Bagleys cross only to header wide from about six yards out. The game ended 4-3 to the Clarence making it three wins on the bounce.
Man Of The Match: Liam Terry
Blooper: Ant Hallworth for completley fluffling his lines and allowing them through on goal to equalise in an empty net
