Match Report – Game 8 – Saturday 13th November

vs. Marina Sands Tigers 6-0

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

After a first half when it seemed as if lady luck was continuing to desert them, the boys turned on the style in the second half and ran out comfortable winners.

The match started scrappily as they struggled to combat their opponents’ rugged, clumsy approach. Josh banged in a long range shot in the 2^nd minute that was pushed around the post and Adam, who had just seen an excellent cross beat defence and attack, saw the same thing happen to his shot two minutes later. From the resulting corner, the ball came to Stephen whose shot was pushed onto the crossbar. As the Tigers tried to break out, Jacob took a knock to his knee and had to be replaced by Seamus.

Stephen was continuing to enjoy his midfield role but nobody took advantage of his tempting ball in as Adam’s shot was wide. In the 9^th minute, finally, the boys took the lead after good work from Adam, Caleb and Stephen left Seamus with an easy tap-in after the keeper could only parry the shot.

At the midway point of the first half Joe replaced Matty, with Stephen dropping back. The boys were then guilty of taking their foot off the gas, with Josh and Stephen having too much to do in defence. It wasn’t until the 19^th minute that Adam found enough space to create a chance from Seamus that they had the Tigers back on the rack.

In the 22^nd minute, the boys should have been awarded a penalty after Seamus appeared to be rugby tackled by the keeper as he followed in a shot from Josh. The loose ball then fell to Joe but he had time only to steer it onto the post. A minute later, Stephen was sandwiched between two forwards and, with no whistle from the referee again, Ciarán had to pull off a good double save to keep the Tigers out.

Elliot then had to replace Stephen and the boys closed out the half on the attack as a good corner from Joe gave Caleb a chance, who also saw a long range shot force a save from the busy Tigers’ keeper.

After a few stern words, the boys started the second half in a much more positive fashion with a free kick from Joe after only thirty seconds being headed clear. Caleb was continuing to work hard in midfield and he set up Seamus who couldn’t take advantage. The lead was finally doubled after only 3 minutes as another testing cross from Joe was mishandled by the keeper and Seamus was again in the right place at the right time.

Adam, as last week, was keeping the right back busy, as he set up Seamus. The pair linked well to force a corner, from which Seamus saw another chance go just wide.

Ciaran’s only second half contribution was to show off this season’s much improved catching skills and after 7 minutes the defence in front of him was refreshed as Matty replaced Josh.

Jacob replaced Caleb on the 9 minute mark soon after Adam had again set up Seamus but the dynamo forward completed his hat-trick a minute later with a tasty touch from a corner, forced after his harrying of an indecisive keeper.

The Tigers' defence had no answer to Seamus’ speed and movement, as he showed in the 15^th minute, rolling off the big defender to set up Joe for the fourth goal. He was there again a few minutes later, working the defence as a long range shot from Jacob was pushed out.

His work done for the morning, and the victory safe, Seamus gave way to Caleb for the final six minutes and he was immediately into the action, seeing his shot pushed away. Josh had replaced Adam just after the fourth goal and he created the fifth as his corner was headed in at the back post by Jacob.

Every outfield player had scored this season – bar one. Caleb saw a neat turn and shot on the edge of the box deflected wide and then set Joe up on the right and continued into the box to get onto the end of the ball as it came free, only to see the shot hit the post.  Finally he broke his duck with a minute to go as a corner from Joe caused mayhem in the penalty area, the backward defensive header coming back off the bar for Caleb to prod home.

Do you know anything about those wellies, Caleb?

The boys had benefited from a much better second half performance, full of movement, and finished the game on the attack as shots from Matty and Jacob kept the Tigers pinned back. The six goal difference between the two sides was the least that they deserved.

A second hat-trick of the season from Seamus and a solid second half display from Matty, doing the simple things well in defence and always available as an option going forward, were highlights but the Man of the Match award went to Caleb, continuing a good run of form in midfield and finally scoring a goal after coming close in recent weeks.

Well played, boys. Good form to carry into next week’s match against TMS…