By CCFC Sid
January 18 2004

1,800 CCFC fans made the short trek up the motorway to watch the sort of CCFC display we all know they are capable of, but seldom see. It could have been any of so many teams on the end of this scoreline already this season - sadly for Walsall, it was them.... Eric Deloumeaux (Finally!) made his debut for CCFC, and gave the sort of assured display that already has CCFC fans questioning whether or not to sell Safri! (Let's see how he does against Colchester before we start making hasty decisions!) - especially as his passes tended to go forwards, not sideways. Up front, Morrell replaced Adebola - and how!

For Walsall, Petterson made his debut in goal - the sort of debut usually reserved from comedic CCFC-Italian keepers, or German trialists!

Wrack and Joachim missed early chances to open the scoring for either side, before CCFC took the lead following a controversial refereeing decision.

Walsall claimed a corner awarded to CCFC should have been a goal-kick, but the referee ignored their protests. They obviously hadn't done their homework on CCFC, as, if they had, they would have known that a CCFC corner is as good as a goal-kick to the opposition anyway - usually!

Warnock's corner was superbly headed home by Morrell to give CCFC the lead. There was little by way of a celebration from Morrell - just a look of sheer relief at finally finding the net.

Joachim missed the chance to make it 2-0 to CCFC soon after, then Ward endured a nightmare few minutes in goal for CCFC, having to be saved by Davenport at one point after a Birch shot was fumbled.

Dean Gordon finally gave the sort of display that made you understand why CCFC signed him (Maybe we should keep him, but tell him he can leave every week?!), and, after 25 minutes, his free-kick was headed onto the Walsall bar by the impressive Callum Davenport.

A foul on Joachim gave CCFC a free-kick in a dangerous position just past the half hour mark, and Andrew Whing showed that he might just be an option at set pieces too. His decent effort just going over the bar.

Minutes later the young right-back was involved in the action again, this time being the victim of a two-footed lunge from Oakes, who was immediately shown the red card. Walsall claimed the decision was harsh, but, having since seen TV replays of the incident, it was a nasty challenge, deserving of the red card he was shown.

For the next few minutes the Walsall challenges were flying in, and it looked as though Oakes might not have to shower alone!

Walsall managed to keep the rest of their team on the pitch, and a minute before half-time they equalised, with a decent enough strike from Darren Wrack, having been set-up by the fairly anonymous Paul Merson.

CCFC started the second half well, with Doyle and Joachim going close, before Gary McSheffrey gave CCFC the lead once more (After 48 minutes). Joachim's pass set the Coventry Kid up, and his sweet strike beat Petterson in the Walsall goal.

Shaw replaced the injured Whing, who was booed off by idiotic Walsall supporters. They obviously believed Oakes' two-footed lunge on him earlier had been a fair one, and that he had over-reacted - so he only left the pitch to make it look as if he really had been hurt?

After 56 minutes, a Doyle pass saw Joachim race towards the by-line (The first time any CCFC player has been there this season!), and his cross was nodded home with ease by Morrell (No dis-service meant, Mr. Morrell!).

Joachim scored the goal his impressive display deserved after 70 minutes, with a fine Morrell pass setting him up to fire home.

Five minutes later a bizarre own goal from one of the few professional footballers to actually admit to supporting CCFC, Ian Roper, made it 5-1.

He appeared to have taken the ball off Morrell, only for the ball to come off his foot, and trickle over the line, almost in slow motion. Comical stuff. Morrell had wanted a penalty, and looked slightly annoyed at having been denied a hat-trick (Twice in the same incident!) by the luckless Roper!

A lot of Walsall fans had already left when CCFC made it 6-1 (As had Paul Merson), with McSheffrey scoring his third goal in three matches - not bad for a striker some STILL don't rate. Gordon's cross picked him out, and his fine strike saw Petterson picking the ball out of the Walsall net for the sixth time.

It could and should have been 7-1 a few minutes later, with Adebola winning CCFC a penalty after beinf fouled in the area by Osbourn, but McSheffrey missed from the spot.

The majority of CCFC fans wanted Shaw to take the kick, Andy Morrell wanted Andy Morrell to take the kick, but McSheffrey got their first. His penalty sent the keeper the wrong way, but hit the post and bounced away from the incoming CCFC players.

Walsall boss Colin Lee blamed the referee, Vinny Samways, and anybody else that wasn't nailed down, but the reality was this was (Finally!) a ruthless display of CCFC finishing.

As debuts go, this was a great way for Eric Black to begin his `proper' CCFC managerial career - lets hope he can improve on this start!