| CSKA Carnabys |
| FC Monday |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| Sunday 10 March 2024 |
| League |
| Rawlins Stadium |
| Referee: Patryk Szczypczyk |
Match Summary
⚽️ Arnold
One of the games of the season saw Division One leaders FC Monday grab the win and the three points having coming back from a goal down. The win sees FC Monday extend their lead at the top now with an impressive 33 points from 12 games in the league.
After a couple of very early chances in the opening minutes when Phil Luengtin was called upon to make an early stop from close range, CSKA developed some of their trademark patterns of play and took a hold of the game.
Olly Arnold gave The Mods the lead after 15 minutes when he pressurised the defender into an error that allowed him to break through on goal and calmly put it away. CSKA kept the ball well and fashioned a few additional chances mainly from set-pieces, with Hiran Mistry’s free-kick well saved after looking to be heading for the top corner.
FC Monday had a strong end to the half and after having a 1-on-1 brilliantly stopped by Luengtin and a header glance narrowly wide, the did grab an equaliser when a blocked shot fell kindly to the midfielder inside the box who hammered into the roof of the net.
A riproaring first half and the second half continued in similar vein, with the rain coming down FC Monday thought they’d taken the lead only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. But minutes later their goal would come, a ball from deep was glanced on by the tall striker on the edge of the box who managed to find the top corner.
Brad Parker and Dave Payne were introduced as CSKA tried to get back on the front foot. The build up throughout was good with all the midfield players getting plenty of the ball and showing great hunger to win the ball back when Monday took control. Up top, Olly Arnold put in an incredible shift of contantly harassing and charging down opponents (resulting in us having to collect four balls at the end from outside the fencing!).
The wide players were making great options throughout, but credit to FC Monday who defended their territory well and blocked and closed down everything that came at them.
Plenty of creation of opportunities and a lot of good possession. CSKA will take a lot of positives from this game into the coming weeks.
Manager's Comments
Disappointed we couldn’t come away with any points today, but I am incredibly proud of the lads for putting in one of the best displays of work rate and determination of the season. Having been humbled against FC Monday earlier in the season, we took the game to them, and let them know it wasn’t going to be easy for them. Their celebrations at the end showed how much they had to work for their win also. The lads left everything out on the pitch today, but unfortunately we fell slightly short against a good side. A terrific game of football today, and in FC Monday are worthy of the Division One title they will inevitably win.
-CM
CSKA Man of the Match
- Theo Somaiya
Making his first start for CSKA today, Theo was assured on the ball, defensively solid and allowed us to build from the back throughout. Having made the step up from CSKA II today, he didn’t look out of place in anyway and it was clear to see why I’ve been getting such good feedback on him from Bav all season. His close control and passing helped get us out of tight areas when FC Monday developed more of a high press in the second half, and when called up he was there to close out opposition shots from the wider areas and shield the ball out of play.
-CM
Squad
Starting XI
| MotM | Number | Name | Mins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | N Luengtin | 90 | |
| ⭐ | 37 | T Somaiya | 90 |
| 3 | C Williams | 90 | |
| 2 | M Westerman | 90 | |
| 28 | W McNamee | 90 | |
| 6 | D Danes | 70 | |
| 26 | J McDougall | 60 | |
| 8 | H Mistry | 90 | |
| 17 | C Ward | 50 | |
| 61 | O McDougall | 90 | |
| 45 | O Arnold ⚽ | 90 |
Bench Used
| MotM | Number | Name | Mins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | D Payne | 30 | |
| 9 | B Parker | 40 | |
| 38 | M Danes | 20 |
- CSKA Carnabys First Goal - Jack Ellis