Match Report – Game 4 – Saturday 9th October

vs. Camlyn Rangers White: 0-1

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

This was a much improved performance from last week. The boys failed to capitalise on first half chances in an even game and undeservedly lost to a late second half goal.

Both sides fought for superiority in the early minutes: Adam and Seamus linked well early on, only for the chance to be snuffed out and a dribble from Adam forced a save from the keeper. Either side of this, Camlyn got in long range shots which were comfortably dealt with by Ciarán. As the half wore on (and Ciarán’s push around the post did not result in a corner), the defence continued to hold strong, with a Caleb header clear from a corner and the usual strong defensive work from Stephen and Josh ensuring their opponents got no reward.

Midway through the half, a smart break down the right from Jacob won a corner. From Josh’s centre, the ball reached Seamus at an awkward height and he just failed to control it with the goal at his mercy. Having seen a generous free kick on the edge of the box for Camlyn sail over the bar, Caleb collected the ball from the goal kick and sent Seamus free, only for the defence to hook it clear. A minute later, the boys nearly took the lead again as Jacob saw his shot cleared off the line.

With Joe and Elliot coming on for Adam and Seamus for the last five minutes of the half (it would have been six minutes, but the referee’s watch must have been a Hong Kong model), the boys continued to keep it tight until half time.

With no changes at the turn around, Camlyn started on the offensive but a solid header from Joe and a clean catch by Ciarán from the corner saw the danger averted. As Camlyn attacks were regularly halted by Stephen and Josh, a long range shot from Caleb and good interplay from Jacob and Elliot kept the other defence busy.

Six minutes in and a triple change saw Matty, Adam and Seamus replace Josh, Jacob and Elliot and soon after Camlyn had a goal rightly disallowed: their centre forward, yet again obstructing Ciarán at the free kick, pushed the keeper out of the way and the ball sailed into the top corner. However, this proved more costly for Matty who, in trying to head the ball clear, only succeeded in bouncing off the goal post – two minutes on the pitch and a shiner on Sunday being his reward this week!

With Josh back on as a result, the boys nearly paid for a daft mix-up from the goal kick. Camlyn had a number of free kicks without causing many problems to the defence and Stephen continued to block and tackle superbly. It was not one-way traffic, though – Seamus saw a shot go wide on the half way mark and a low free kick from Joe was hacked away.

A Camlyn corner in the 19^th minute nearly brought a goal but as the ball hit the base of the post Ciarán dived on the rebound. The Crosby Stuart netminder was giving an assured display with safe handling from shots and corners – even when one escaped his gloves, the crossbar and Stephen came to his rescue.

Elliot and Jacob came on for the last five minutes, with Seamus and Joe making way but disaster struck with only three minutes left as Camlyn picked up a loose ball from a throw-in and the shot from just outside the area eluded the defence.

Desperate for an equaliser, the boys pushed on but were nearly caught again, only for Ciarán to take it bravely at the forward’s feet. As a last minute shot from Jacob went wide, so did the boys’ chances of getting something from this game.

This was a stronger defensive display from all the team, who deserved at least a point from the side who beat them in the Shield final last season.

Man of the Match: A true captain’s display this week from Stephen takes the award. Well in, Stevo!