CSKA Classics: Rhiwbina Reems 1-2 CSKA (16/10/2011)

In this latest edition of CSKA Classics, we travel back to the 16th October, 2011 when CSKA travelled to the deepest and darkest depths of Ely to face promotion favourites Rhiwbina Reems at Cwrt-Yr-Ala.

The scene was set on a bright and autumnal Sunday morning with CSKA looking to earn their fourth win of their debut season in the Lazarou League. Their opponents were a team that had earned a reputation for being not only a capable team but also one that was very aggressive. It had been reported that in their previous game, Reems had inflicted a broken leg on an opponent in a horror challenge.

It was a game that also had an extra bit of spice to it after words had been exchanged between the two sets of substitutes in a previous round of matches where the two clubs were playing on pitches next to each other. Some comments had come from the Reems bench during CSKA’s 3-0 loss to The Royal Exchange in their second league game and the CSKA bench made a point that Reems had been losing 12-0 to Lisvane Panthers at the time. Relations were fraught even before kick-off.

CSKA’s preparations for the game were heavily disrupted with a number of players struggling to make kick-off due to the Cardiff half marathon route cutting them off. This meant a number of last-minute changes to the starting XI including right back Alfie Ranalli having to deputise in goal and a number of outfield players being forced to play out of position with Sam Folarin, Sean Hart, and Mitch Gadd all heavily delayed.

Despite the hectic build-up, it was CSKA that enjoyed the more positive periods of play early on. Ceri Jones went close to opening the scoring and had it not been for the through balls from midfield just being slightly too heavy then it could have been a brilliant start for the away side.

As the game wore on, Reems began to settle. Their nervous defence relied on launching balls up the field to their talented attacking players and it started to give CSKA something to think about. The arrival of local fans to give a hostile reception for the travelling side clearly had an impact on CSKA. Passes started going astray, second balls were no longer being won, and it was obvious that the intimidation factor had set in.

Just as it seemed that CSKA were becoming overwhelmed by the occasion, a moment of glory came out of the blue. After a number of solid saves by Ranalli and with the CSKA defence putting in a number of great blocks, CSKA opened the scoring. A loose ball landed to captain Andy Hayes on the edge of the area and the central midfielder dispatched a clinical effort into the Reems net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

This opening goal appeared to give Reems a licence to resort to horrific challenges and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Egged on by a raucous fanbase and a substitutes bench full of big mouths, the home team turned to an ugly style of play to get themselves back into the game and it worked.

After a spell of sustained physical enforcement, Reems snatched the equaliser. A controlled shot from the edge of the area found its way past Ranalli in the CSKA goal with the deputy keeper unable to reach the effort. Reems cranked up the pressure after the leveller and CSKA defended with their lives to ensure a second goal didn’t swiftly follow.

The resilience shown by CSKA to ride the storm paid off. A great run by Jones down the right saw him evade a number of reckless challenges by the Reems defence before he was scythed down by the centre back. The ref didn’t hesitate to award the pen with Dan Clayton stepping up to stick the spot kick in and make it 2-1 to CSKA. The half-time whistle blew moments later. It was a goal that could not have come at a better time.

A half-time chat amongst the CSKA management and players consisted of trying to shut out the abuse and threats coming from the home team’s sidelines. It was a break used to galvanise CSKA and it worked wonders. CSKA played a much more composed and patient game in the second half. It was looking like the away side would close the game out with relative ease. Unfortunately, Ranalli had other ideas.

In what could only be described as a moment of madness, the hot-headed Italian handled the ball outside the CSKA area when in a 50-50 with the Reems striker in the 70th minute. The long grass on the Cwrt-Yr-Ala pitch meant that had Ranalli not then looked down, seen he was outside the area, drop the ball, and run back into the area then the ref wouldn’t have realised he had handled the ball outside. Sadly, that’s exactly what Ranalli did and the ref had no choice but to send the CSKA keeper off for denying the opposition a clear goalscoring opportunity.

CSKA now had to see out the remaining 20 minutes with 10-men with centre back Jordan Lloyd donning the gloves in Ranalli’s absence. Hart, who had finally been able to turn up, was substituted on for striker Nick Brown, and put into defence to cover for Lloyd. It would be a 4-4-1 set-up with all hands to the pumps for a parking of the bus job.

What followed was the most heroic 20 minutes in the history of CSKA. Players threw their bodies on the line. The introduction of Hart proved pivotal with the defender making a gravity-defying interception to deny not one but two Reems strikers from scoring and clearing the ball over the bar in the process.

The ability of the likes of Clayton, Jones, Gadd, Folarin, and Pete Constantinou to retain possession under pressure with Ed Rickaby, Michael Peach, and Rob Francis standing tall against aggressive opponents was courageous beyond belief. One late highlight was Gadd going on a mazy run past a number of Reems players on a counter attack before attempting an audacious lob that the Reems keeper somehow managed to just keep out. Reems failed to get that equaliser they desperately pushed for and CSKA sealed one of the greatest wins in their history.

CSKA Line-Up

GK: Alfie Ranalli

DR: Rob Francis

DL: Ed Rickaby

DC: Jordan Lloyd

DC: Michael Peach

MR: Dan Clayton

ML: Nick Brown

MC: Pete Constantinou

MC: Andy Hayes

FC: Mike Christopher

FC: Ceri Jones

Subs: Sean Hart, Mitch Gadd, and Sam Folarin