⚽️ Payne
⚽️ Westerman
🅰️ Ward

CSKA ended the 2023/24 campaign with defeat after a late resurgence from title-chasing Midland Rangers saw the visitors leave Rawlins with a 4-2 victory.

Two goals midway through the second half and one to wrap the game up in injury time keeps the East Goscote side in 3rd and closing down Top House and FC Monday with all to play for in the final 2 weeks.

CSKA were without Josh McDougall, Roger Huang and Olly Arnold from the side that defeated Birstall, Chris McCafferty was named in the starting line-up for only the third time this season, Matt Westerman, Mark Bell and Olly McDougall were back in the squad and in the starting line-up whilst Dave Payne, Caine Ward and Ruben Capp were recalled to the starting XI.

A lively start to the game in unusually damp conditions allowed for the odd few slide tackles, with one such tackle putting McCafferty clean through on goal only to find his squared pass easily cut out by the defender. But CSKA’s high press was causing panic and earning corners in dangerous areas, and very soon The Mods were ahead when Caine Ward’s short corner to Dave Payne was whipped in and deceived everyone as it ended up in the net. 

CSKA came agonisingly close to doubling the lead  from another corner when Olly McDougall’s header crashed onto the bar from McCafferty’s cross. The next goal of the game would come from a CSKA corner, but just at the wrong end. With the low cross cut out on the edge of the box, Midland attacked with pace and found themselves through on goal before slotting past the helpless Luengtin to bring them level. 

A very back and forth game with CSKA struggling to get out of their final third at times, Midland adopting a high-press of their own, but there were still chances at the other end, with Olly McDougall and Caine Ward looking a threat all throughout the half. And Hiran Mistry had a brilliant turn-and-shot that was tipped wide by the fully outstretched Midland goalkeeper.

CSKA were rewarded for their pressure as Matt Westerman’s looping header gave CSKA a deserved 2-1 lead on the stroke of half-time.

CSKA improved in the second half and looked much more assured in possession and found more of their patterns to move them up the pitch. The third goal looked inevitable as Ruben Capp’s shot was cleared off the line, and the resulting corner saw him bundled over by the keeper only for the free-kick to somehow go in the goalkeeper’s favour.

But CSKA were made to rue these misses as a rare misplaced short pass from Mark Bell presented a gift for Midland who brought it back to 2-2. And moments later one of the quickest springs of attacks against CSKA all season put them into the lead when the right-back stretched to keep the ball in play by knocking it down the line only to be delivered in first time on the right-wing and then finished off at the far post with a deadly volley.

CSKA struggled in the last 15 to create any clear cut chances, and one final throw of the dice to commit more men forward resulted in another counter-attack goal to leave the final score 4-2.

CSKA end the Division One season with 8 wins from 16 games, much like last season in Division Two.