Poor display in return to action

Saturday 27^th October

vs. Town Green 0-5

 

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Tom, Matty, Ben; Danny, Caleb (capt.), Jacob, Adam; Joe H, Seamus. Sub: Cormac.

A disappointing display with the boys too often second best meant they were on the end of a heavy defeat.

Lack of movement up front, wingers keen to go forward but no so happy to track back and a defence pulled out of shape all too often made for an uncomfortable morning for those watching on the touch line. The first goal, after five minutes, came as Town Green easily picked up the ball in their defence and moved it quickly through the middle. Gaps at the back left Ciarán exposed as the forward rounded him to score.

The boys went further down after 12 minutes, as Town Green were able to walk the ball in after the defence stopped, claiming what looked like a blatant throw-in (not given, coincidentally, by the Town Green manager with the flag).

There were occasional flashes of passing play, with Joe putting Seamus in over the top and good interplay through midfield from Caleb, Jacob, Danny and Joe nearly set up another chance for Seamus.

Joe touched a Caleb free kick wide but it was the sloppy play when they didn’t have the ball that caused the problems, even if Matty and Ben were doing their best under pressure.

If they were hoping for a better second half, the hope died in the first minute. The defence stopped to watch a ball over the top, which took them all out and left the forward with a simple chance to extend the lead.

They came close to pulling one back in the 31^st minute as a wicked Caleb corner was twice cleared off the line, the second effort by Joe, but Town Green almost scored again as they weren’t closed down and the shot from outside the box hit the foot of the post and Ciarán had to be up quick to block the rebound.

The pattern was set for the second half: the defence easily breached and Ciarán left exposed. His touch stopped one break in the 35^th minute but the left side was pulled out of shape for the fourth two minutes later and a long clearance was allowed to bounce and take out the whole defence, the forward lobbing over the keeper for their fifth goal in the 43^rd minute.

Ciarán made a couple of further saves and, despite Caleb looking to push the ball forward when he had the time, Jacob never hiding and Adam pulling a late shot across the goal after some determined play, the Man of the Match award went to the substitute, Cormac. Coming on after 40 minutes when Danny took a knock, he showed far more determination to close down the Town Green player on the ball, win it back, chasing down loose balls and showing lots of spirit.

The bitty nature of this season – this was only the third competitive match since early September – and the loss and absence of players has not allowed the team to develop a proper start to the season but they still need to learn not to be so nice, allowing their opponents to make the decisions. Cormac’s effort in his 16 minutes on the pitch was, perhaps, a lesson for his team mates.