Matchweek Round-Up

This week saw St Charles experience a mix bag of results and on both occasions will feel that they deserved more, but in sport you don't always get what you deserve. 

Monday saw us travel to South West London to take on Wimbledon college, a college that over the years we have enjoyed very tough battles, famously beating them in 2018 to lift the Catholic cup and bring the trophy back to St Charles for the first time in over 20 years. Monday's fixture was another tight encounter where both teams left it all on the pitch. 

The first half saw Wimbledon dominate possession but St Charles offer the greater goal threat. On two occasions the lively Rivaldo Murray found himself clean through on goal but on both occasions he unfortunately missed the target and we went into half time locked at 0-0. 

The second half followed much of the same pattern of the first, but it was Wimbledon who took the lead when a well delivered set piece was not cleared and the ball was poked home at the second attempt. STC showed good character to draw level 3 minutes later when a long ball forward by Anteo Marks was chased down by Rivaldo who rounded the on rushing goalkeeper before squaring to Leslie Egwuonwu who calmly sided footed beyond the covering defender and into the empty net. With the game seemingly going to penalties, Wimbledon got a very late winner when a wide cross was not cleared and despite Leon Agani's best efforts the ball was bundled over the line and STC's hope's of progressing into the next round of the catholic cup were dashed. 

Final score: Wimbledon College 2 - 1 St Charles

Goal: Leslie Eqwuonwu

Man of the Match: Ivan Vilimanovic

After the disappointment of Monday, Wednesday saw us travel to North West London to the Roger Bannister sports centre to play Wealdstone FC the football academy of Harrow college. The STC squad showed many changes due to injury, illness and unavailability - this saw 6 players step up from the 2^nd XI with 4 playing for the 1^st XI for the very first time. This game would also see Monday's goal scorer Leslie don the gloves and fill in between the sticks!

The game was a tight affair for the full 90 minutes with neither team creating many clear cut chances, not helped by the windy conditions and a pitch that had more sand than it did grass. Much like our previous game our best chances fell to Rivaldo, the first half saw him tap home from close range after a Nic Tavares free kick was parried into his path but this was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper and late in the second half when he was played through by Taylor Bristol but his angled drive was blocked by the impressive Wealdstone goalkeeper. Up the other end a dominant display from centre back Ayub El Haddad, tigerish midfield play by Dorell Murray and calm goalkeeping from stand in gk Leslie ensured that we kept a very well-earned clean sheet and returned to West London with a point. 

Final score: Wealdstone 0 - 0 St Charles

Man of the Match: Ayub El Haddad/Dorell Murray