A Blank Torpedo. Spartans 0 – 0 Clifton Torpedoes 1 – 0 AET Amor The weather in recent weeks has improved sufficiently to allow me to rock up in shorts and a t-shirt today and it was the most pleasant of days, to hopefully be entertained in yet another cup encounter. On this occasion it would be the quarter finals of the Plumstead Challenge Cup, the furthest that Spartans had ever progressed in this competition, a run they would be looking to further. Their opponents would be Senior Division side Clifton Torpedoes, I’m not quite sure where the Torpedoes part comes from, it’s one of those defunct Eastern bloc names, and not really one I’d associate with South East London, I can’t say I’ve ever heard of any sort of particular attachment to the manufacture of marine weaponry in these parts, artillery and munitions yes, but never torpedoes. Still, as names go it doesn’t rank quite so badly as Mean Machine. Spartans were fortunate enough to field a strong line up for today, one that had a physicality that has been lacking in recent weeks, and the solidity this provided was an instant improvement on the previous two weeks and helped inspire a greater deal of confidence. As the game meandered through the early stages, it became obvious that it would be a scrappy affair. Both sides seemed incapable of controlling the ball, and the bobbly surface meant it was more of a minefield than a place for torpedoes, with everyone’s first touch under the microscope. It seemed the only attacking weapon on offer for Clifton Torpedoes was the up and under sent from deep, but the back four marshalled well by Sandford and Thompson at the heart was never exposed and the shape they maintained prevented any crosses in to the box from threatening Divall’s goal. The closest either side came to the breakthrough in the first half was a Dilley header that was cleared off the line. Lewis, playing wide on the left, was given a couple of opportunities to whip dangerous balls in to the Torpedoes box from corners. The first had a little too much height on it, but the second attempt was perfect, with great pace and shape, it was attacked at the far post by the stooping Dilley, who was unfortunate to see his header hacked away. King also came close with a delicate free kick from the edge of the area, seeing his curling effort tipped over the cross bar. Aside from this the opportunities were pretty thin on the ground, there was plenty of huff and puff but a lack of quality, with Black engineering the only real threat down the Spartans’ right, but seeing a good scramble defence cover his charge forward. If truth be told, it would have been unfair for either side to have taken the lead after a largely forgettable first half. There was little to choose between the two sides, apart from who was playing the more boring stuff, in fact I would go so far as to say they were equally culpable, I’ve certainly witnessed more entertaining games in the past. Although to point the finger of blame would be perhaps a tad harsh, as there was clearly a nervy edge about the game, and an unwillingness to make a mistake. It was definitely a triumph for the defences of each side, despite the fact that Spartans had been forced into an early change due to an injury to Mizen. Hopefully the second half would be an improvement; certainly it could not get much worse. Indeed there was a pick up in the goalmouth action, with both goal keepers being stretched and both responding. There was more of an ebb and flow about the game as well, a more frenetic pace as legs became tired and space began to open up. Spartans could also be thankful that Carrano began to add a touch more bravado to his game, running forward purposefully and linking well with Roberts and Amor, it was the added dash of cavalier spirit that would help Spartans generate some of their more positive play. Using their pace and direct running style, Spartans exploited space on the right hand side effectively, with Amor drifting wide to good effect on a couple of occasions. Twice though his pull backs from the by line could not be converted by Roberts, who was never given a clear sight of goal and would not get one after he was brought off for Jakkari with half an hour left, perhaps to save him from the possibility of a second yellow. The injection of Jakkari’s power up front, presented a different problem for the Torpedoes defence, although he was guilty a few times of overplaying. Torpedoes themselves would carve a couple of decent opportunities and were perhaps unlucky not to be awarded a penalty early on in the second half. They forced the best save of the game though from Divall. On a quick break, a diagonal ball over Sandford allowed the Torpedoes forward to present the ball on a plate for his strike partner, who from just inside the area laced a powerful effort towards the corner. Divall, in much better form than the previous week, launched himself to his right palming the ball behind for a corner. Very much a confidence player, it stirred on the Spartans custodian and he would be called upon again from a number of set pieces, where his punches relieved the pressure on the defence. Divall was also called upon to tip a low drive from the edge of the box round the same post and push a rasping drive over the cross bar. Spartans too would force the Torpedoes stopper in to action. Amor had the best of the opportunities, after a lightning break down the right flank, Granger’s ball across, found Amor in space in the box but his attempted finish was kicked away by the keeper, spreading himself well. D’Cruze too had an attempt hacked away after the keeper was stranded on the edge of his box. If it had been a league game, 0-0 would have been a fair result, but for the third time this season. Spartans would be heading towards extra time and the potential of a penalty shoot out. There was an early bombardment of the Spartans backline in extra time, an aerial one that all four members of the defence met with, steadfastness and composure. It was this sturdy performance that would lay the foundations for the eventual result. A succession of corners were hacked clear and punched away from the impressive Divall and co. Dilley even wearing a blow to the face that left him bloodied but unbowed. Torpedoes in this time only fashioned one chance, a free header at the far post from a corner that was headed wide. The breakthrough would finally come with the persistence of Granger down the right hand side proving too much for the Torpedoes defence to compete with. Travelling at least forty yards down the wing, granger put the defence on the back foot, a hurried clearance fell kindly for Carrano, who released Granger once more and although Granger’s effort was turned away, Amor was on hand to tuck into the empty net from an angle and give Spartans a precious one goal advantage. Expecting an onslaught from Torpedoes, Spartans called every man to their station to withstand the pressure, but in fact it was Spartans on the counter attack that came closest to scoring. Amor again proved too tricky down the inside left channel and engineered a brilliant chance for himself, only to find his composure lacking and a tame effort that ended up as a comfortable save. Lewis also tried a speculative effort that served to waste time and had an equally as good an opportunity as Amor after making space for himself but his low shot brushed the outside of the near post. Thankfully it would not prove costly and Divall’s goal was well protected by heroic defending, with Carrano and D’Cruze making good last ditch clearances. The final play of the game saw Torpedoes throw everyone forward for a corner, but Sandford, the foundation of the Spartans defence headed clear under pressure, it fell invitingly for the Torpedoes keeper on the edge of the box, but before he could get his shot away, Amor back in his own 18 yard box smacked the ball away, the epitome of the Spartans attitude and solidity throughout, it was an action greeted by the sharp peep of the referee’s whistle for full time. A hard fought victory, well earned with a clean sheet to boot. To summarise that game is difficult, it was one of the dullest games I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a few, trust me I used to have a season ticket at The Valley (Yet still I manage to write 1500 words on it). It was a performance from both sides that lacked panache and flair, but provided character and steel, it probably deserved to be played in the days of black and white TV, with Jellied Eels and Bovril available for refreshments, it was very much Yorkshire Tea, uninspiring but a win nonetheless. Man of the match is a difficult choice there were some good performances in a defensive aspect which leads me to share the award between Sandford and Thompson. Here’s hoping the semi final is a better game to watch.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:58:24 +0000
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