No one said it would be easy. No one said they would steam roller the league but the new London Cosmos are slowing getting to grips with life in Division 1 of the London City Power League.
This week saw The Off Whites’ bandwagon roll on to take on the team with probably the most imaginative name in the league, Multiple Scorgasm. Their play might not move the earth for some but their experience at this level shone in first half that was a real disappointment for the Cosmos.
Pre match preparations were hampered by a puncture to Christian ‘The Cat’ Sanderson’s unicycle which meant that defensive linchpin Ben ‘chopper’ Newson had to don the gloves and park himself firmly between the sticks. The Cosmosians started well enough, controlling possession but were caught on the break and found themselves one down within the first 5 minutes. Parity was restored shortly after when Mark Dawson showed exactly just why he pays to play in our side after slotting home after some neat build up play. A minute later a very flustered and somewhat sweaty Sanderson showed up to return to his natural habitat tending the goal.
This added solidarity at the back led to Cosmos taking the lead when front man Solhi Wial held the ball up strongly and laid off find the onrushing Stuart Messham to power home.
Then came five minutes of madness. Whether it was over confidence or the effect of a hard day in their respective offices, The Cosmos inexplicably switched off and found themselves trailing 5-2 at the halfway point. Runners weren’t tracked, responsibility wasn’t taken and The Cat was left horribly exposed. Each goal could have been avoided and it was a harsh lesson in only their third week together.
No halftime hairdryer treatment needed, The Cosmos knew they had to come out with all guns blazing, and come out blazing they did. The game plan of working off the central striker work wonders and the ball was being zipped around the 3G turf at speed. Solhi was working hard up front, nipping around the pitch like a young Julian Joachim, and he was rewarded with his second goal of the season. Persistence was the key with Solhi pick pocketing a Scorgasm defender and drilling home. 5 -3 game on.
Dave Court added a fourth for the Off Whites with a Francis Jeffers ‘Fox in the Box’ type finish and the wind was certainly in the Cosmos’ favour. That wind was then cruelly taken from the sails when Scorgasm extended their lead again with the type of goal only distinctly average players seem to score. Being shepherded onto his weaker left foot by Newson, the Multiple Sclerosis…sorry Scorgasm attacker sliced an effort of the outside of his boot, completely wrong footed the Cat and it flew into the top corner. Jammier than a jar of Bon Maman.
Straight from the kick off hope was restored when Solhi added his second goal of the game with another fine finish but they were again dashed when seconds from the end, the opposition added a game clinching seventh. Gutted.
The final whistle went and with it brought a shroud of controversy. The referee announced that the game had ended 6-5 meaning that at the point when Solhi scored his second scores were level and the Cosmos push for what they thought would have been the equaliser could have been reigned in. Last week he let the other team play patter cake with the ball and this week he couldn’t count. I wonder how much the tuition fees are at Clown School?
Much better second half performance from The Cosmos and definitely something to take into this week’s game against the less flaccidly named Soca FC.
From small acorns…
Viva Los Cosmos!
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