What the papers said...

Off The Mark With A Big Win

Saturday 5th February
vs. Marina Sands Tigers 6-0

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Joe, Stephen (capt.), Matty; Danny, Josh, Caleb, Adam; Jacob, Seamus. Subs: Ciarán S, Tom.

The Spring Season finally got under way with the boys recording a comfortable victory against disorganised opponents.

The boys started on the attack and spent the whole of the first half going forward. As early as the 2^nd minute, interplay between Matty and Josh set Adam away on the left. His low cross was scrambled away but the opening goal was soon to follow. After Danny’s shot in the 3^rd minute was redirected onto the bar, he got his reward a minute late when he got onto the end of a great corner from Josh and his header was deflected, this time into the net.

Two minutes later, the lead was doubled as Adam again found plenty of space on the left. The poor clearance fell straight to Caleb whose measured shot found the corner of the net.

Growing in confidence, the boys had the Tigers pinned back. With Joe and Josh working well to create space down the right, the boys continued to create chances. Seamus picked up the ball and, riding two tackles, his cross was taken by the keeper. Moments later, he saw a shot blocked away, created after further good work by Adam down the left.

Adam got his reward for a strong first half display in the 17^th minute. After Danny and Jacob had created a chance on the right, the ball fell to Caleb on the edge of the box and, rather than shooting, he looked to see Adam free. The winger first time shot from the pass was too hot for the keeper.

The three goal lead gave the chance for the two substitutes to come on, replacing Danny and Jacob, with Joe pushing into midfield and Tom slotting into defence. The change worked 5 minutes later as, after good work on the right by Ciarán S, Caleb’s cross was pawed out by the keeper to Seamus who put it away with his left foot (yes, Seamus, your left foot!).

The boys finished the half five up after another strong run down the left by Adam, set up by quick work from Ciarán B and Matty. From a short corner, Adam dribbled along the goal line and Joe was on the end of the cut back to tap in the goal.

Danny and Jacob were back on for the beginning of the second half, with Seamus and Josh taking a rest and Elliot moving up front. The changes made no difference to the way the boys played as they continued to cage the Tigers. A deep cross from Matty in the 1^st minute was cleared for a corner and Joe, often being fed by Caleb, was making runs down the right.

The Tigers were working harder to contain Adam after the break, but he found space in the 6^th minute to create a chance for Danny which went just over the bar. Ciarán S continued to impress, with another strong run setting up a chance for Elliot. As Jacob and Adam set up more chances and Joe’s shot was saved by the keeper, the boys were unlucky not to extend their lead.

As Ciarán S shot over the bar from a crowded box, a change was needed to increase the lead and so Josh and Seamus replaced Tom and Elliot. As the rain came down (and the notes get harder to read!), Ciarán B was called into action to make a pair of comfortable saves. Joe had spent the second half working hard on the right and he fed Ciarán S to force another corner, which flew through the box with nobody getting on the end.

Sorry, Ciarán, it wasn't a goal!

In the 20^th minute another shot, this time from Adam, hit the bar and as Caleb’s shot minutes later was blocked it seemed as if the sixth goal would not come. That seemed no more certain than in the 24^th minute when a shot from Ciarán S was too hot for the keeper. The fumble looked to have crossed the line, only for the referee to rule that is was not a goal.

I'm cold, I'm wet - I don't care!

Finally the second half display was rewarded by a goal as a corner from the left from Caleb left the Tigers struggling to scramble it clear and the ball finally came to Joe to poke home the sixth.

A good display in trying conditions finally got its full reward. Throughout the game, the boys worked hard to create space against limited opponents who hunted in packs. Adam terrorised another right back, Caleb looked to work the ball into space and Ciarán S again impressed. Stephen marshalled the defence, not an easy task as substitutions meant regular changes alongside him but the Man of the Match award went to Joe for his best performance of the year, getting the ball forward well for Danny in the first half and good distribution when he played further forward in the second.