By Cat Doherty
Men’s 2nd XI v Canterbury 7
Off the back of our best performance of the season last week, we hosted Canterbury under the lights, horizontal rain and blustery conditions. Before the match Canterbury sat in third, 6 points ahead of us, so a tough encounter awaited us.
Cliftonville edged the first half in a closely contested game. Dave Hooper intercepted the ball drove into the D and unleashed a reverse stick shot which the Canterbury keeper had no chance of stopping.
1-0 to Cliftonville at half time. Again we had looked our most dangerous when we had moved the ball around swiftly rather than trying to take on the opposition, so let’s go out and let the ball do the work was the message. Also a tactical switch was made with Dave Hooper playing a slightly more advanced role in front of the two central midfielders behind now a solo forward.
Ville dominated the second half carving Canterbury apart with ease at times in deteriorating conditions. Our defence held well and was rarely threatened, but on the odd occasion they were called upon they dealt with everything thrown at them.
Ten minutes into the second half Dave Hooper scored his second of the game in a well worked move with Perks drawing the defender and laying it off to Dave who managed to squeeze it into the net past the Canterbury keeper.
Another Hooper got himself in on the action, this time it was Ryan who finished neatly to make it 3-0.
Cliftonville weren’t done yet! Joe found himself in the opposition D slotted a pass through to Dave Hooper who managed to beat the keeper and in the process complete his hat trick (his first ever he tells me).
The game finished Hoopers’ (sorry, I mean Cliftonville) 4 – Canterbury 0.
A dominant performance from Cliftonville who now head into the Christmas break off the back of three very good performances and picking up 7 points in the process. Two very tough games when the league returns in January against the top two teams in the league, however on current form Cliftonville will be relishing the opportunity to pick up some more points.
Men’s Section.
CHC 1st XI 2 – 1 Ashford 1
CHC 2nd XI 4 – 0 Canterbury 7
Maidstone 6 8 – 2 CHC 3rd XI
Women’s Section
CHC 1st XI 4 – 2 Blackheath & Elthamians 3
K-Sports 2 P – P CHC 2nd XI
