MVP endure lesson in clinical finishing

FC ELMSTEAD 5-1 MERIDIAN VP
Saturday 30th November
SCEFL Division One
by Sean Boothe

Meridian VP arrived at the game in buoyant mood after the Cup Win over Lewisham Borough. With FC Elmstead without a win in five, this match could of gone either way.

Meridian VP made six changes to the team that beat Lewisham with debuts for Tofarati Adeoti and former Croydon forward Jermiele Johnson. The away side started well with the first opportunity of the game falling to Joe Richardson, who’s controlled shot after good work from Georgi Kerenski went straight to the keeper.

FC Elmstead got into their stride and scored from their first genuine attack with the dangerous Jerome Walker opening the scoring after 18 minutes with an angled drive past Dan Carpanini. The home side doubled their lead 10 minutes later when their forward was put through one on one to slot his shot into the corner of the net.

Meridian VP kept probing and were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box when Brima Daramy went on a driving run which ended when he was upended by a defender. Georgi Kerenski stepped up and struck his first shot into the wall but volleyed the rebound into the bottom corner.

Though Meridian matched Elmstead and looked threatening going forward, the defending was found wanting for Elmstead’s third goal as the home side’s left winger was allowed to run down the wing, cut back onto his right foot to deliver a deflected cross which looped over Dan Carpanini into the net to allow them to go into the half with a two goal cushion.

Meridian again came out with a good tempo in the second half and again created a great opportunity when some great inter-play between Adeoti and Johnson saw the later burst into the box to see his shot well saved by the keeper.

In a second half where the away side chased the game and allowed the home side to add to their tally in the 70th and 78th minute. The difference between the two sides was purely the clinical finishing of FC Elmstead which was a harsh lesson to be learned by this evolving Meridian side.

MoTM: Tofarati Adeoti

1. Dan Carpanini, 2. Aaron Clarke, 3. Gideon Acheampong, 4. Abbas Oduncu, 5. Collins Ugochukwu, 6. Jacob Skelly (c), 7. Joe Richardson, 8. Jermiele Johnson, 9. Brima Daramy, 10. Tofarati Adeoti, 11. Georgi Kerenski. Subs: 12. Alfie Collins (77’ on for Clarke), 14. Adrian Spence (65’ on for Kerenski), 15. Bi-le Smith Tiesse (70’ on for Daramy, 16. Alfie Leach, 17. Ben Ashton