Stebbing Vs CFC Shalford

Braintree & North Essex Sunday League Division 1

Having had such as long spell without a game of football, what with the Christmas break and bad weather, today's game was yet again a must win game for many reasons. Having suffered a few defeats to teams we really should have won against, to bounce back after the FA removing us from the Cup but more importantly to prove to ourselves that we are a decent team and can compete in this league and that this New Year was going to be a positive time for the club.

The management had worked hard over the break to entice new quality players into the squad, and it was a good opportunity to show them in this game against Stebbing.

Our hosts today are no fools and with their similar start to the season as we have, it was definitely an opportunity for either team to pull away from the bottom half of the table.

CFC started the sharper of the two, our new signings of Luke Nash, Curtis Babet and Charlie Kelly all started to show the little bit of quality that the team seemed to have been lacking. Some crisp passing almost gave us the lead with some intricate play between the midfield and forwards, seeing Pitt volley just over the bar. As the game matured, so did Stebbing, they seemed to match the work rate of the Shalford lads and were starting to insert a little pressure on the CFC rear guard. A solid start saw them usher away what chances Stebbing proposed.

Shalford had a break through with 10 minutes remaining of the first half. Bensley twisting his defender allowing him space to turn and cross the ball into the box. The ball cleared only as far as Ricky Bohane who coolly slotted into the net to give a well deserved lead to CFC.

With a moments lack of concentration, seconds before half time, the hosts equalised with some positive play down the right hand side, making it impossible for the keeper to stop.

Half Time: Stebbing 1 CFC Shalford 1

The second half started well for Shalford, picking up the positive play from the first half, but with just minutes gone a cleared attack by Stebbing, saw a stray ball land outside the box to be hit with pace and distance by the left back, giving the hosts the lead for the first time. CFC continued with creating decent chances and never really felt that we had given control away of the game.

With 55 minutes gone, another sucker punch saw Stebbing increase their lead with an exact replica of their second goal, the left back picking up a stray ball outside the Shalford box only to catch a deflection on the way through for it to wrong foot Johnson in goal.

A somewhat flattering score line for Stebbing that didn't really reflect the true storey of the game. In previous games this run of bad fortune would have seen a heavy defeat for CFC but today there was a sense of belief. A sense that if we could grab an early goal back, that there was enough time to make a real game from this.

The positive mood and play from Shalford paid off, some impressive turn of pace from Bensley saw him time and time again destroy his marker. It was only for the post that prevented the perfect come back. The two banks of four worked hard and well together, winning both the first ball and second ball every time. A through ball from Babet saw Bensley cut through the defence and slot home the well earned goal. The effect this had on Stebbing was a mirror image of our reaction last year. Whilst stunned with the apparent turn around, CFC carved their defence apart. From every angle the midfield were feeding the Forwards with quality passes. The defence were encouraging the midfield to push on with their confident marshalling of any hint of play by Stebbing. The pressure was stacked firmly against the hosts and with no leniency from Shalford they levelled the game with a wonder cross from Babet finding the head of in form Bensley who directed it across the keeper into the left hand side of the net.

The Shalford tails were up and were smelling victory with every pass. The Stebbing team crushed by what they were witnessing fell deeper and deeper into their own half, allowing the hungry Shalford to push on and finish them off. A break down the right wing saw Bensley stride from his marker to deliver a pinpoint cross for Pitt to slot in the back of the net. This was a comeback that not even Shalford could have imagined some 15 minutes earlier.

CFC had a chance to increase their lead but again the upright prevented the Bensley hat-trick. Stebbing saw the remainder of the game through punch drunk eyes, attempting to redeem themselves with half cocked attacks just to see the shots carried wide or over

Full Time: Stebbing 3 CFC Shalford 4

A deserved 3 points ripped from the grasp of Stebbing to confirm that there is life in CFC Shalford and that if you give us the opportunity then we will bite back. A great start for the new blood of the team. Some great play amongst all of you, all three showed their keenness to impress and encouraged good football to be played.