Football: Nine-man City beat UAL in scorching game

Carles Masias’ fifth-minute goal was enough to give City’s second team a priceless 1-0 victory against University of Arts London’s second team in an explosive South Eastern 7B Division encounter, which saw City end the game with nine men.

Following the major disappointment of being eliminated from the South Eastern Conference Plate, City were determined to continue their strong start to the season at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground in Chiswick and bag a third consecutive win in all competitions.

However, off-the-field problems continued to torment City as their minibus was stuck in traffic on the A40 and the game – which should have kicked off at 2pm – had to be delayed by match officials.

Fifteen minutes passed and there was still no sign of the team bus. As UAL players began to get restless, a second successive ‘walkover’ defeat appeared increasingly likely.

Luckily for City, local lad Harry Gallagher made his own way to the game because he was home for reading week and managed to negotiate with both UAL and referee Dragan Jenic.

As the rusty ground clock struck 2:20pm, the City minibus could be seen in the distance, zinging towards the parking area as the players tore their clothes off in a desperate attempt to get changed. Nevertheless, they had arrived – and fashionably late too.

The match kicked off late at 2:35pm and both teams seemed eager to hit the ground running as temperatures continued to drop in the capital.

City’s manager Michael Cleary implemented his conservative 4-5-1 formation, shifting Miles McCulloch to right-wing and Carles Masias into the lone striker’s role after his impressive brace against University College London’s fifth team in the preliminary round of the cup a fortnight ago.     

It was City that shed first blood after just five minutes, following some brilliant link-up play from captain Alex Rutter and McCulloch, who then delivered a cross over the two UAL centre-backs and picked out a sliding Masias. He perfectly steered the ball past UAL goalkeeper Charlie Robbie and into the back of the net for his third goal in as many games and finished off some excellent build-up from City after a pinpoint cross from McCulloch.

The goal sparked UAL with jolts of confidence, something which they seriously lacked in the first five minutes of the game. They had a brilliant opportunity to equalise when Scott Metzger was found in space inside the penalty area, but a well-timed slide tackle from Luuk Woutersen put the ball out for a corner.

However, UAL failed to produce anything from the the set piece and City nearly punished them on the break. Rutter picked the ball up on the edge of his own half, found McCulloch who dribbled brilliantly and crossed for Harry Gallagher, who headed the ball over goalkeeper Robbie. But his effort was cleared off the line by Mexican centre-half Pato Athie Chauvet before Paul Harrington missed the opportunity to follow up on the header and convert for City’s second.

UAL struggled to hold the ball up against the presence of Woutersen and Antoine Petre at the back. They also gave away possession very easily but nearly found a breakthrough when a free kick taken by Metzger caught City napping and Kaz Johnson Salami put a free header just over the crossbar. 

Suddenly, McCulloch fell to the ground after a short spell of dizziness as a result of dehydration and fatigue. He was forced to make way for Alex Vijoureux. This was a huge blow for City as McCulloch was absolutely terrorising the UAL left-back and his link up play with Rutter on the break was exceptional. Vijoureux played a more defensive role and did not really offer the same threat as McCulloch going forward, sucking the venom out of City’s attack.

UAL’s 4-3-3 formation began to trouble City in the last five minutes and striker Lee Bebb nearly put the hosts level after skipper Ollie Woodbridge found him lurking at the back post, but a brilliant save from City goalkeeper Tamerlan Aliev kept the visitors ahead.

Cleary opted to switch City’s formation to 4-3-3 with five minutes to go in order to match UAL in midfield after they began to dominate the middle of the park.

Bebb had a second opportunity to put UAL on level terms in first-half stoppage time but a brilliant challenge from Petre prevented the chance from escalating. Following the challenge the ball found its way to Salami who was also stopped in his tracks by the impressive Connor Sandford with a sliding tackle taking City into the break with a slender 1-0 lead.

Half-time: UAL 0 – 1 City

During half-time, Cleary made several changes to the side as he aimed to ensure that City would leave W4 with all three points. Antoine Petre was struggling with a knee injury and a sprained ankle (both were heavily taped) and the plan was always for him to replace Aliev in goal and for Ashran Kara to be put at centre-back in the second half. Aliev joined Masias up front while Rutter dropped to left-back as City looked to adapt to their new formation.

After the break, City started the stronger side as they looked to put the game to bed early on. And they nearly did when a superb clipped ball from Masias found central midfielder Lorenzo Gioia, but he could only put the ball wide of the post – much to the home side’s delight.

Cleary was determined to eradicate the poor passes and lack of composure that had cost City goals in their previous two games. But UAL’s biggest threat was from set-pieces, and it showed when a free-kick from Emike Dyke escalated into a goal-mouth scramble that was just cleared by Rutter.

City had another excellent opportunity to double their lead when Masias clipped yet another gorgeous ball to Aliev who attempted to lob Charlie Robbie. But the ball dipped a touch too late and another excellent chance went begging.

As the clock continued to tick towards full-time, UAL looked increasingly likely to score through the impressive dribbling of Dyke and great tactical awareness and leadership from Woodbridge, but Ashran Kara really stepped up to the plate at centre-back with a string of decisive tackles. The City defence were presenting a ruthlessly aggressive approach as they looked to pull out all the stops to keep their first clean sheet in over three seasons.

As both sides began to get increasingly frustrated, tackles started flying and when Connor Sandford caught Shequan Bell tensions began to reach boiling point. They both came head-to-head and had to be separated by players from both teams, but surprisingly nobody was booked.
Italian duo Tomaso Bredr and Guglielmo Minola were brought on for Tamerlan Aliev and Paul Harrington to provide City with some fresh legs and ease some of the pressure.

The UAL goalkeeper found Lee Bebb who went on an amazing run down the left-hand side but was brought down by Connor Sandford just outside the box. The referee had a word with him but did not book him, until Sandford appeared to have sworn at the official who then did not hesitate to show him a straight red card. City were down to 10 men with seven minutes remaining.

Two minutes later and referee Dragan Jenic made yet another controversial decision when he gave UAL an indirect free-kick inside the box for a high foot on Ollie Woodbridge. But the fantastic opportunity was squandered by the captain who put the ball wide.

Things got even worse for City when Harry Gallagher could not continue due to an ankle injury and with Cleary having made all three substitutes, City were forced to finish the game with nine men on the pitch.

Despite continuing pressure City held their nerve and the referee blew the final whistle as they picked up what could very well end up as a crucial three points.

Full-time: UAL 0 – 1 City

After speaking with Cleary after the game referee Dragan Jenic admitted that the decision to send Connor Sandford off was unjustified and that he would not be reporting it to the BUCS. This means that Sandford will not serve a suspension.

City manager Michael Cleary said after the game: “I thought the team showed great character today and we had to dig deep to win. We played great football at certain times and we had to work even harder when we went down to 10 men.

“The clean sheet was very good for our confidence, we have been working very hard with the defenders in training and it’s always nice to not concede.

“We will take each game as it comes, we have learnt from the last couple of years when we have lost the league down to goal difference or one point, so we are just taking each game as it comes.”

Miles McCulloch added: “It was very satisfying to win 1-0 and on the balance of play I think we deserved it. There were a few contentious decisions at the end with Connor but that’s all in the past now.

“There were also some refereeing inadequacies but I am not going to comment on any particular decisions.

“I went off because I was suffering from dizziness and blurred vision so I had to get off very quickly before it became a problem for the team.”

City remain at the top of the South Eastern 7B Division with five points from two games (City were deducted one point before the season began after their ‘failure to submit affiliation by the deadline’.) They now have a one-week break before they host the School of Oriental and African Studies Men’s first team at Hackney Marshes on November 19.  

Man of the match: Carles Masias

Carles Masias’ never-ending stamina and attacking expertise have been critical to adding steel to the creative talent in Michael Cleary’s team.

Masias is one of a rare breed of footballers whose displays make them impossible to pigeon-hole, and he has clearly demonstrated that he is one of the most lethal strikers that University football has to offer.

Due to his natural and instinctive style, hazy movement and ability to seemingly always make the right decisions, even at full sprint, he is a constant antagonist to the opposing defence, penetrating incessantly around the edge of the area and equally likely to provide the decisive pass as to score himself with his trademark clipped balls.

Cleary recognised those qualities in the game against UCL and included him in the lone striker’s role which paid off against UAL. As Miles McCulloch simply put it: “he is tireless”. He is the apex predator of the City squad.