Civil Service 3 – 1 Old Actonians

Back to the league again for the table toppers after a tremendous cup quarter final win and first weather casualty of the season the previous week.  The game was nicely poised with a bit of rain to wet the pitch nicely for those who like a slide tackle and even the ref complimenting the players on their talents after viewing the warm up…random.  The late Derrick Corry (A 1950’s 1^st team regular, long standing member of the SAL & Civil Service Football Club committees, and who was even present at the 1^st Teams last fixture and still ever present on recent club tours) was given a fitting minute silence after sadly passing away last week.  This after the two teams managed to show the premier league millionaires how to perform a respect campaign hand shake without incident.  Although I am not so sure many of the players (or manager) would be queuing up to shake Yatesy’s hand again.

The first half started brightly for Civil who nearly scored straight from the kick off.  Field found the advancing Shaw in the box who hit a first time volley just over, this after some neat but direct work from Gadge, Allsford and Langham without Actonians even touching the ball.  The start should have given the reds the appetite and confidence to take the game to Actonians who were sitting third from bottom at the start of the game.  However the first half proved to be more evenly contested and showed why the away side been a top division side up to last season and had held Service in the same fixture earlier in the campaign.

Actonians were causing the hosts real problems by winning a number of first and second balls and benefited from the home sides sloppy passing and inability to keep the ball at times.  That said it was against the run of play when the away side took the lead.  A contentious free kick was awarded just outside the box after Langham made an attempt at his first tackle of the season and was greeted with a nice round of handbags from both sides.  The organisation of the free kick was poor from the home side and resulted in Actonians taking the lead despite the ball tamely bouncing into the middle of the goal.

This gave the away side the confidence to put Service under further pressure.   Herrick and the post combined to keep a goal bound header out and a mazy run from the centre forward was thwarted by Curtis who received an unsporting late kick off the ball for his troubles.  Cue handbags round two.

The home side continued to create chances to bring the tie level.  First a corner was saved off the line, then after a nice team move, Giggsy found himself some space in the box but only managed to divert the ball into Jonesy and then Fields path, who in turn could not beat the Actonians defence guarding the goal line.

Despite two penalty shouts for fouls on Shaw in the box being waived away and the home side not being overly threatened in the first half aside the shambles of a goal, service went into the break one down.

Half time  Civil Service 0 – 1 Old Actonians

The home side were back out on the pitch pretty sharpish after a deservedly stern team talk from the management team and were keen to improve on their first half display. 

The early pressure paid off and the tie was level after Gadge set Langham free, who then finished superbly from a tight angle. 1 - 1

Within minutes service deservedly found themselves in the lead. Again Langham made a great run into the box and beat the cumbersome keeper to the ball, however after an initial tangle the keeper practiced his UFC skills by unfairly preventing the winger from getting up and retrieving the ball.  Despite his last pen miss, Jonesy was given the nod and confidently struck the pen past the keeper without a bounce in sight. 2-1

With the league leaders now in full flow they created chances for fun.  Substitutes Jolley and Smith provided a fresh impetus and both went close.  Jones, Kay and Field also had decent chances that were created by a superb brand of passing football that have been ever present at home for the Service this season.

And it was a similar piece of play that secured the home side the points.  After a period of possession Jolley and Giggsy played a neat one-two to find Smith.  The debutant coolly freed Langham to smash the ball sweetly passed the keeper.  The goal brought back memories of the SOS partnership at Euro 96 for the final goal against the Dutch.

Despite the cushion the game was still tense and Actonians had the odd dangerous spell.  The lone striker who loved a nutmeg or two, shot just over and then was denied superbly from close range by Curtis.  However the 5 minute hail storm, increasingly wet conditions and even the card waiving Actonians coach were not enough to provide an unlikely comeback for the away side.

In the end Service could have ended up with a more convincing score line after a much improved second half display. Nevertheless it was a well-earned and satisfying result after coming from behind and despite the SAL website again getting our rivals result wrong, the Service still have breathing space at the top of league going in to the final quarter of the season.