(4-4-2)

Andrews, G Dawson, Cowdery, Gall, Murray, Danieli, Johnson, Powell, P Dawson, Del Favero, Withey

Second-half collapse hands the points to The Atholl.

Due to absence and injury CPR fielded a weakened team, but took the game to the home side from the start. Teo and Matt were looking good up front, and after numerous chances and half-chances were squandered, Matt finally put CPR ahead with a curling free-kick from outside the box.

CPR continued to look the better team, but went through a lax period which was to prove costly. Lapses in concentration allowed The Atholl to force a couple of saves from John, and they managed to pull one back from a corner.

After this setback CPR seemed to focus on the job again, and had regained the lead within 5 minutes. Paul sent Teo down the left flank, and when Teo’s cross was only half-cleared by the defence, Matt was there to volley the ball into the net from the penalty spot. More chances followed for CPR, but they just couldn’t get the third goal which would have given them breathing space. 2-1 and crusing at half-time.

Unfortunately, this was as good as it got for the Clissold contingent. From the start of the second half they played as though the match was already won, but The Atholl had other ideas – the home side looked much sharper, an dplayed with a good deal more hunger and commitment. CPR just could not get into gear, and The Atholl’s mounting pressure told within 15 mins of the restart, when they bagged their equaliser.

Once back to 2-2, Atholl completely took control of the game and never looked like losing it. A drenched and dispirited CPR side fell further and further out of the game, and within a 15-min spell Atholl added another three goals, almost all of them from quick breaks down the right flank.

CPR did manage to rally late in the game, or perhaps it was the opposition relaxing, and Teo and Matt had another couple of chances to pull the goal back. However, it would have been in vain. This match was lost at half-time, when Atholl got their act together and CPR lost the plot. Plenty of good work in the first half should have set up a comfortable victory, but a failure to get the third killer goal and total overconfidence in the second half left CPR on the losing side yet again.

Final score: The Atholl 5, CPR 2

Match Reporter: Garry Griffin