MEN’S 1ST XI
Words: Dan Mees
Oppo: Maidstone 2, Away
Final Score: W 4-3
Goal scorers: Dan Mees, Harry Harrison, Isaac Dilkes, Ned Naisbitt.
Cliftonville Men’s 1s, fresh off a tremendous three points against title challengers Marden Russets, were back on the road, this time travelling to Maidstone to take on their 2s.
Ville started on the front foot, piling pressure onto the Maidstone midfield and defence with wave after wave of attacks breaking into the opposition 23. The only thing missing was the finish. It felt like a matter of when, not if.
The breakthrough finally came when captain Mees pounced on a loose ball in the D and whipped a reverse into the top corner past the diving keeper. A finish that suggested he might help himself to a hatful… though he proceeded to miss four more by full time.
With tails up, Cliftonville pushed for a second. Charlie threaded a perfectly weighted through ball to send Harry charging through on goal, and he made no mistake, calmly sliding it past the keeper’s right side to give Ville a deserved cushion. It looked like the start of another high‑scoring afternoon, but a lapse at the back allowed Maidstone to claw one back before the break. Given the volume of chances, Ville would have been frustrated not to be further ahead.
The second half brought more of the same: Cliftonville dominance, more chances, but still no killer blow. That changed when Isaac Dilkes produced his trademark magic around the edge of the D, dragging defenders onto his reverse, riding multiple stick tackles, and burying a finish just above the backboard at the far post.
However, a spell of ill-discipline opened the door for Maidstone. Two simultaneous green cards left Ville stretched, and the hosts capitalised with a short corner to pull themselves back into the game. Once restored to full strength, though, Cliftonville regained control. A powerful Isaac strike into the D found Ned at the near post, who produced a superb deflection to make it 4–2. A goal worthy of sealing the points.
But Maidstone weren’t done. With a minute left, they snatched another, setting up a tense final spell of keep-ball. Ville held firm, seeing out the final seconds to secure all three points.
A match that Cliftonville largely controlled, yet one where brief lapses were punished quickly. Still, another important win on the road, and onto the next challenge.
WOMEN’S 1ST XI
Words: Harriet Westby
Oppo: Bromley & Beckenham 3, Away
Final Score: L 0-1
It’s always hard to lose a game after travelling 2 hours to get there! It was a hard game where our fitness and skill were pushed to the max.
We held out multiple attacks from the oppo in the first half and had several short corners and shots on goal ourselves. But unfortunately, it was not our day. The oppo scored part way through the second half but despite their best efforts we stayed in the fight right to the end keeping the score line close. It was a great game very hard fought where unfortunately we came second! MOM went to our youngest player Marnie!
MEN’S 2ND XI
Words: Simon Hooper
Oppo: Burnt Ash (Bexley) 3, Home
Final Score: W 4-3
Goal scorers: Simon Hooper, Jonathan Kay, James Perks (2)
It was a calm Saturday at home this week for the Cliftonville 2’s, but what lay ahead would be anything but calm. A grudge match with arguably the most well-drilled team in the league – Burnt Ash. After a one-sided affair in the first half of the season, Ville were out for redemption.
The game commenced with high energy from both sides, with slick movement of the ball and probing half chances at both ends. The Ville defence was tested multiple times but stood strong, with Al selflessly deciding to use his head to block the ball, stopping a Burnt Ash attack in their tracks. Blood had been spilt. The battle was on.
Ash kept on pressing and won a short corner, which they promptly slotted between the keepers’ legs. 0-1. As the game progressed, it was an equal affair, with balls being fizzed across the pitch and searching running at both ends, which eventually ended in Ash finding their way into the Ville D and passing around to tuck into the Ville goal to go 2 up – Ville’s mission was starting to look like an uphill struggle.
Half time beckoned and it was time for Ville to lock in.
Responding to a rousing half time team talk, Ville pressed hard and found themselves with a short corner and the opportunity to pull one back. A smooth injection, a looping deflection from Simon’s pass to the far post and a samurai style strike from JK and suddenly Ville were on the score board, hungry for more.
Ville continued to pile on the pressure and were rewarded with another short. Perks stepped up and drilled the ball to bring the score level 2-2 – GAME ON.
Suddenly, Ville were on the front foot and a super slick 2-man drive up the pitch by the formidable force of the 2 Hoopers (Dave and Simon) resulted in another Ville goal, this time tucked away by Simon, that gave the home team the belief that victory was within reach. 3-2.
Burnt Ash pulled another one back, slotting a break away chance, so it all came down to final few minutes.
With tension building and the packed crowd of 3 home supporters on the edge of their seats, Hoops drove to the top the D and, with slick interplay with Seb, played a hail Mary towards the goal. With the reactions of a cat, Perks reached out for glory and deflected the ball passed the keeper. Ville had completed the task. Redemption was theirs.
MoM: Dave Hoops and Perks shared the award – heroics on the pitch, gentleman off it.
DoD: Captain JB – that man and his hair bands…
WOMEN’S 2ND XI
Oppo: Blackheath & Elthamian 4, (Home)
Final Score: W 5-0
Match conceded – walkover awarded.
MEN’S 3RD XI
Words: Noah Soames
Oppo: Sutton Valence 4, Home
Final Score: W 5-2
Goal scorers: Rob Macer, Ollie Todd (2), Asa Foster-Troy, Noah Soames.
The end of January saw Cliftonville 3’s Development face Sutton Valence. Closing out the dark month under the lights on the home pitch was something to relish. Cliftonville were in a solid second place in the league looking to gain some distance from third and forth. Their previous meeting was a match of uncertainty but nevertheless, a confident win. A good crowd leveled up at opposite ends as the teams took to the pitch.
Some 11th hour injuries meant that the home side had to step up and step into some unfamiliar cover positions. These changes showed both the resilience and desire to do the best for the home team. Confident in the last few games, Cliftonville set off with some rapid movement and great link play moving the ball with great intent.
After settling into their stride, Cliftonville found an early opening from a series of defended balls coming off the keeper to land perfectly for Macer to bed home past the keeper for an early lead. After a bit of a juggle in defence defending a short corner or two, The Ville were quickly pushing back into control. The ball was cleared straight up the field from Aron to Asa just above halfway. With his back to the goal, he sent Ollie on a clear path through the high defence for him to skill it past the keeper to make it 2-0.
Ollie was never too far away from an opportunity and the link work from Ollie and Aron in the middle, this duo was setting themselves up for anything on offer. Moments later, Aron careered through the visitors defence with some silky skills only to have a shot saved by the keeper. Within a flash, Ollie had pounced on the deflected projectile for his second and Cliftonville’s 3rd.
It was all ticking along nicely in an oddly quiet way before the break. Sutton were always pushing and had some great quality in their ranks which was noted in their last meeting. A couple of feet in the way and some other decisions against Cliftonville saw the home side giving a series of short corners away “like it was candy”, said the injured Jude.
The visitors connected well to put one back against The Ville dampening the vibe. From the reset, Cliftonville were on the break again with Kit to Archie on a surging run and unsurprisingly goal hungry sent the ball towards the goal to be knocked wide… but not off!
With a wild reaction from Noah, he kept the ball in play and somehow found Asa who was in his normal position and made no mistake getting himself on the score sheet. Back on the defence again saw Cliftonville in the pocket of the dreaded short corner. This time it was only one to defend but a crafty wide pass to an eager Sutton attacker gave way to a 4-2 lead into the break.
As both sides headed into the break, a mildly subdued home team had time to grab their breath. This wasn’t the moment to back off but to step back into control of this game and put it out of reach from the travelling team.
The second half was well controlled and some lovely stretching play saw the wingers and midfield working well together. Opportunities presented themselves but with players stacking up to strike, it was as if there were too many options to pick the right one. Some lovely play and positive determination put the moderately quiet second half well into the late afternoon.
With efforts fading, a bright moment ignited from Noah crossing a peach of a ball to the captain who followed his own rebound up, pinning the ball in the backboard to hit home a 5-2 win.
A last-minute disallowed goal would have given The Ville an extended lead but they settled happily for what they had in their hand. A safe win and some well-deserved points. Up The Ville!
