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Storming performance by Under 13s.

- 29/04/2010

City 5 Ramsgate 0

What a performance, What a result, What a night!

There are occasions in football that come along quite rarely, but when they do are special and live long in the memory. We have had highlights this season: our cup run and victory in the final will take centre stage, but tonight the boys showed exactly how far the team has come this season, and put together a team performance that any club would be proud of.

Playing at home, yet playing at Ramsgate's stadium, and also playing in our warm up tops due to a kit clash and Ramsgate not being able to produce an alternative kit, the preparations were not ideal, but having said that there was a good buzz in the warm-up and that was certainly taken into the game. This was not just two teams in the same league playing together, this was a rivalry between players, parents and coaches that stretches back longer than I can describe.

From the first whistle to the last, City dominated the game, battling for every ball, winning every header, and using the ball so effectively. Every player played their part and for every player you could easily say it was their best game of the season.

Within the first 10 minutes City were 2-0 up. The first goal was something special. As the ball broke in the Ramsgate defence, Joe Halford showed a terrific burst of pace and an even better first touch to find a couple of yards of space. Then, with the outside of his foot, he hit an unstoppable shot that lobbed the Ramsgate keeper...the perfect goal for the perfect start.

Soon afterwards Halford found himself on the wing and got at the Ramgate fullback, which would be a trend that would continue throughout the night. Beating him with skill and speed, he whipped the ball across goal and straight onto the head of Lawal who's header was inch perfect in finding the bottom corner and sending City into a 2-0 lead.

The remainder of the half was still played in a high tempo. City continued to attack from all angles. Kermode came closest to adding to the scoreline with a header that he just managed to miscue at the last second.

Then possibly a turning point in the match; the faultless City defence of Lofting, Watt, Owen and Allan came unstuck and the Ramsgate forward had a clean run on goal, only to be thwarted by a terrific block from the ever reliable Toby Wood in goal. This would turn out to be Ramsgate's only real chance on goal.

The second half started with Liam Kennelly swapping for Stanley Allan who had a great game at left back, but was hindered by a knee injury. Kennelly, who has recently come back from a serious operation, played as if he had never been away. Throughout the second half he led by example with his fearless tackling and determination to win back possession whenever Ramsgate found they had any.

Callum Dock, captain for the night, showed tonight exactly why we all rate him so highly and laugh at anyone who has ever doubted his ability. He is one of the best midfielders in the league and can switch play to open up a defence whenever he gets the ball. This is exactly what he did for City's third goal. Getting the ball in the centre circle, Docky opened up his body before playing a through ball to the onrushing Woods. If his touch was brilliant then the finish was even better as the ball across the goal into the far corner gave the goalkeeper no chance at all.

Lawal added to the scoreline with another well taken goal. His strength and pace causes any defender problems, but tonight he was in the mood to cause every defender a problem. Even with three players trying to tackle him he continued to hold them off before finding space to place another shot across goal which clipped the post before nestling neatly in the far corner. 4-0 up and City were turning on the style.

The final goal was the icing on the cake for City as they showed another way of scoring, this time from a dead ball situation. A ball on the right hand side was whipped in perfectly. Cutts, who timed his run across the keeper to perfection, was on hand to clip a volley on the turn straight into the Ramsgate goal and finish off a perfect night in which City climbed up to fourth in the table.

To summarise: the defence was unbelievable tonight, everything from the communication, the covering, the desire not to concede was remarkable and it is a credit to them that Toby had so little to do in goal, but what he did have to do he did flawlessly as ever.

The midfield dominated the game, which is a tribute to all the players who came on and played there as it was probably the most switched around area on the pitch, but everyone who came on just went straight into the game and did just as good a job as the player they replaced.

The strikers were fantastic too. Rarely was there a chance wasted by a slack pass or poor shot. We forced Ramsgate to defend for 90% of the game and there can be few complaining that a 5-0 scoreline was fair on the night.

City 5 Staplehurst and Monarchs 0

Four days earlier than the above game, we played bottom of the table Staplehurst and won 5-0. Despite the scoreline both Ben and myself felt that we didn't fulfill our potential against a side playing a year up. So this made the Ramsgate game even more special with the contrast in performances.

Joe Halford scored two goals, Callum Dock scored a header, Callum Kennelly and Jimi Lawal completed the scoring for City.

Sam Baker

COME ON CITY !!