Bottom Beats Top as Cardea Lose to Parkside

Cardea played at Bushfield for the second time in two weeks, despite this being an away game, but the familiarity of the pitch did not match last weeks excellent performance.

Parkside Reserves came into the match rock bottom of the league and on the back of a 6-1 thrashing by Fletton Sports, whereas Cardea sat top of the division and had beaten Halcyon 5-0 the previous week. On paper there looked to be only one winner but complacency and lethargic performances crept into Cardea's game and they were outplayed in the first half.

The game had started well for the away side with a long throw by Mike Dandrilli reaching the back post and causing chaos in the Parkside area which led to Adam Simons shooting over the bar.

Simons was involved again after 15 minutes when he produced a superb overhead kick, following a free kick which was floated in, but it just crept over the bar. The offside flag was also raised so it wouldn't have counted.

Cardea again forced a corner and Daniel Robinson whipped the ball into the near post, it was half cleared and Michael Williams floated a header over the keeper and defenders but also over the bar. From the resulting goal kick Simons won the header and a slip from the defender allowed Tom Broughton a shot on goal but he sliced it well wide of the target.

But after 20 minutes the game started unravelling for Cardea. The Parkside striker ran onto a ball from the right and got in on goal, the first attempt was well saved by Craig Robinson in goal but the striker got first to the rebound and had time to pick his spot and beat Robinson at the second attempt.

It could have got worse moments later when another shot from a cross from the right was saved at point blank range by Robinson. Cardea went up the other end of the pitch and from a Tony Harper free kick Dandrilli flicked a header on which the keeper just managed to gather.

It soon got worse for Cardea though, as Parkside played the ball through the midfield with ease and the Parkside player picked out the far corner with a shot from 25 yards and made it 2-0 to the home side. From kick off Parkside were almost in again with as their midfielder was clean through but never looked comfortable and blasted his shot wide.

Half time arrived and manager Kev Webster rung the changes as all four subs came on to try and liven the team up in the second half. Anton Fountain took over in goal after Robinson felt he could not carry on due to his knee. Juliano Scibelli and Michael Moulds took the full back spots and Kynan Bereznyckyj came on in the wide right position.

Cardea took a while to settle into the half with the new players coming on and it wasn't until an hour gone when a chance was created. A kick over the top found Dandrilli who took it past a couple of players but as he was about to shoot a defender put the ball out for a corner with a well timed slide tackle. The resulting corner was wasted like a lot of set pieces were by Cardea.

Five minutes later and Cardea should have had a penalty as Tom Rimes ran into the box with the ball and was shoved in the back but the referee did not give the penalty and in the end the game was stopped due to a confrontation between Rimes and the centre back.

Cardea switched to a 3-4-3 formation as they desperately went in search of a goal to get them back into the match and with 15 minutes to go they had their goal. Rimes ran the ball from midfield and played in Bereznyckyj who kept his cool and put the ball through the keepers legs and into the back of the net.

Cardea couldn't make the most of the momentum swing however and were being frustrated as they couldn't break down the Parkside defence for the second time. Parkside could have made it 3-1 but for a flying one handed save from Fountain.

The final chance for Cardea came in the 90th minute when a free kick from Harper was headed goal wards by Dandrilli but the keeper produced a fantastic save to ensure the Parkside win and deny an undeserved point for Cardea.

The referee blew the final whistle and Cardea were made to pay for their first half performance with a second defeat of the season. Despite an improved second half performance Cardea were well short of their best and got what they deserved as Parkside inflicted a large dent on the away side's title hopes. The man of the match was awarded to Kynan Bereznyckyj for his second half performance, however there were not many other contenders for the award.

Fuming manager Kev Webster said afterwards: "It was an appalling performance and no where near the standard of what everyone is capable of and things need to change, otherwise a title shot will be gone.

"The players need to come back next week fighting for the team and for a place in the team. Win together, lose together. Some people seem to forget what being a team means."

Cardea remain at Bushfield next week as they face newcomers Yaxley British Legion in a game they must win to get their title hopes back on track.