A tightly contested Essex Olympian Premier Division clash saw Catholic United away to ACD United in a match that tested the patience and nerves of both sets of supporters.

FIRST HALF

Right from the start, it was ACD who took the early initiative, registering the first notable opportunity with a dangerous free-kick from near the halfway line. Though the effort was well-struck, Catholic keeper Tom Harding was more than equal to it.

Catholic responded shortly after through Tom Kearney, whose ambitious strike flew just over the bar, giving the ACD keeper a moment of concern. ACD United were then awarded a free-kick in a threatening area, but again Harding stood tall, reading the ball’s flight and gathering comfortably.

Catholic’s best chance of the half came from a well-taken corner by Kearney, with Callum Matthews rising highest in the box—only to see his header drift just wide of the post. The home side kept pressing, and another strong move saw a pinpoint cross from Pat Kearney find Fin Woods in space, whose low-driven shot went narrowly wide.

Controversy struck just minutes before the half-time whistle when Woods was brought down in what looked to be a clear-cut penalty situation, but the referee waved away the protests, leaving Catholic frustrated. The first half ended goalless, though not without its share of close calls.

SECOND HALF

Catholic began the second half with renewed energy and nearly found the breakthrough early. A well-placed cross from Justin Price found Mike Clark unmarked in the area, but the striker’s shot skimmed past the post, earning Catholic another corner.

Moments later, a foul on Tom Kearney gave Clark a chance to redeem himself with a fierce shot from the resulting set piece—but again, ACD’s goalkeeper was alert and made a fantastic save to keep things level.

Catholic made their first change of the evening, bringing on Luc Harpon in place of Niall Attwood, followed by a pair of substitutions later on: Ben Burrows on for Justin Price, and Dan Rogers replacing Patrick Kearney.

Kearney remained a constant creative threat, and a swinging free-kick nearly crept in, but was parried away yet again by the inspired ACD keeper. Catholic looked increasingly dangerous as the match wore on, and one of the game’s best chances came from a fast-paced break involving Kearney and Burrows. Burrows drove into the final third before smartly laying the ball off to Fin Woods, whose shot was once again denied by the goalkeeper.

But persistence finally paid off. In the 78th minute, substitute Niall Attwood—back on the pitch—curled in a corner that completely deceived everyone in the box and dropped straight into the back of the net. A rare and sublime moment that sent the home crowd into celebration.

EXTRA TIME (+5 Minutes.. and 30 seconds.)

ACD pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages, but were denied time and again by Catholic’s rock at the back—goalkeeper and club chairman Tom Harding, who pulled off a string of fine saves to preserve the narrow lead.

CONCLUSION

Catholic United secured a gritty 1–0 victory over ACD United in what was, for the most part, a fiercely competitive and entertaining Essex Olympian Premier Division fixture. The difference on the scoresheet came courtesy of a moment of magic from Niall Attwood, whose corner somehow found its way directly into the back of the net.

But it wasn’t just the goal that defined this match — it was the outstanding performance of Tom Harding, who not only wore the gloves but also happens to be the club chairman. His leadership and composure between the sticks were crucial, as he pulled off several crucial saves to protect Catholic’s narrow lead, especially in the closing stages when ACD pushed for an equaliser. It’s not every day you see a chairman put in a Man of the Match performance on the pitch — but Harding did just that.

However, the game wasn’t without its darker moments. Late in the second half, a Catholic player was subjected to unacceptable threats from an ACD player, including shocking comments about breaking legs and ending his season. This kind of behaviour has no place in football, and while most of the match was played in good spirit, incidents like this tarnish the integrity of the game and must be taken seriously by the league.

Star Player of the Match: Tom Harding — for a superb performance in goal and showing true leadership, both on and off the pitch.

Overall Match Rating: 4 out of 5 — an exciting contest overshadowed slightly by poor sportsmanship from a minority.

MATCH RATING