(4-4-2)

P Rogers, Bruni, Moore, Griffin, Eyre, Murray (Davis, 80), Gall, Smith, Wan, Kuczynski, Fulton

Yet again, Wembley proved far too strong for CPR in the end.

CPR arrived bang on time but were unable to get out for an early warm-up as the dressing rooms were in total darkness and it took 10 mins of chaotic fiddling with light switches before the team were offered the women’s changing rooms instead. Still, at least they weren’t flooded this time as well .

Despite the setback CPR were still out on the pitch before the home side, and their preparation showed as soon as the match started, with CPR tearing into everything.

CPR had already broken through the Wembley defence several times by the time they got the opener on 10 mins. Stuart had made a good run down the left which earned a corner. He took the kick himself, and the inswinger was carried by the wind, misjudged by the keeper, and ended up in the net.

For the next 15 mins CPR totally dominated possession, although they struggled to come up with the final ball which would create a clear chance for the two front men. However, they did carve out a golden opportunity when Andi Fulton was sent clear down the right wing, and hit a cross-shot clear to the opposite side of the box where Stuart came in on the run and slammed the ball towards goal. However, the Wembley keeper had managed to scramble across his goal quickly and pulled off an amazing stop.

That save was to prove decisive, as CPR slowly faded out of the game after that and Wembley began to get into their rhythm. CPR were now struggling to keep possession, but the defence were holding out well. Wembley had not looked like breaking them down, then all of a sudden grabbed two goals out of nothing. For their first their speedy striker burst through the inside-right channel, outpaced Garry and Jim and just managed to poke the ball past Paul Rogers. CPR lost their discipline with that goal and Wembley quickly scored another, their right winger again breaking upfield and sending in an inch-perfect cross for the Hasselbaink-like no. 9 to finish with a close-range header.

CPR were in disarray, and Wembley could easily have been further ahead by half-time. Only some alert keeping from Paul and last-ditch headers from Luca and Garry prevented a third.

CPR went into the second half determined to repeat their second-half heroics of the previous week, but it was not to be: Wembley were now in full flow and were to prove too fast and strong. Their five-man midfield continually forced CPR into mishit passes, and when they got possession they were lightning quick on the break. They got their third from one such move, intercepting a pass just as CPR were pushing up. The CPR defence were caught on their heels high up the pitch, and despite some desperate tackles couldn’t stop the tide of green shirts moving into the box and scoring.

The CPR back line had been trying to keep a high line and catch Wembley offside, as the home team’s enthusiasm often led to them making a run too early. However, by the second half Wembley had begun to wise up and they now had midfield runners coming from deep who stretched the visitors time and again. It was one last-ditch tackle after another as CPR tried to keep themselves in the game.

All that hard work was undone, however, when CPR simply lost concentration. The whole team pushed up too far at one of Paul’s goal kicks, and when the kick was immediately returned deep into CPR territory, Wembley’s striker was able to race onto the ball from his own half and lobbed it over Paul from 10 yards out.

With that goal the game was effectively over, and CPR began to look tired and ragged. Simple passes went astray, tackles were missed, and communication was breaking down. Wembley continued to get forward and could have scored more had it not been for some wayward finishing, poor passes in the final third, and one fine save from Paul which tipped a fierce shot onto the bar before Jon Murray raced in to clear.

With just 10 mins to go CPR brought on Chris Davis and the big front man had an immediate effect. With him shielding the ball, the CPR midfield found a bit more time to get upfield and put a move together. This was typified by CPR’s consolation goal 5 mins from time, when Chris held the ball up on the right wing before laying it back to Stuart. Stuart had spotted Andi Fulton unmarked on the left wing and found him with a perfect long pass. Andi took his time, got the ball down under control and fired his shot through the keeper’s legs.

The last play of the game, however, belonged to Wembley and Jim Eyre. The Wembley midfield had all the time in the world to pick a pass through the CPR defence on the edge of the box, and their winger raced down the line and pulled the ball back into the 6-yard box. Wembley’s tall no. 7 raced onto it and thumped a shot towards the corner which looked a certain goal until Jim flung himself in the way to block and got it right in the family jewels. That feeling of numb pain more or less summed up CPR’s afternoon.

Final score: Wembley Athletic 4, CPR 2

Match Reporter: Garry Griffin