vs. Camlyn Rangers 2-2
Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Joe, Stephen (capt.), Matty; Danny, Josh, Caleb, Adam; Jacob, Seamus.
With last week’s first match under their belts, this was a hard-fought draw played on a heavy pitch.
From the beginning, Adam and Danny were looking for space wide but it took a few minutes for Adam to get the measure of a dogged Camlyn right back. Caleb was once again finding space and time in midfield, setting Jacob free down the right after 9 minutes. Jacob then turned provider for Seamus, only for him to be flagged offside.
After a long range shot from Jacob flew wide, the boys created another chance from Adam’s work on the left. The throw-in that followed fell eventually to Seamus who forced a save from the Camlyn keeper.
They nearly took the lead in the 16th minute as a corner from the left by Josh was nodded on to Jacob, only for his shot to be cleared off the line. However, they fell behind as Camlyn mounted an attack in response. After conceding a corner, the boys had a number of chances to clear the ball but the Camlyn forward was more determined and he shot across Ciarán to take the lead.
The boys nearly fell two behind 4 minutes later as a free kick for offside fell direct to the Camlyn forward but Ciarán’s full-length save kept the ball out. At times, they had struggled to beat their opponents to the ball in midfield and defence but they got the equaliser on the stroke of half time as the repeated the earlier corner routine but this time Adam was on the end of Caleb’s glance to turn the ball in.
The boys came out for the second half after some words of encouragement and the midfield put on a much more effective display. Elliot stepped in with a couple of well-read interceptions from right back and, after Josh had overlapped on the right, Caleb saw a good chance go wide.
They were unlucky to go behind again 10 minutes into the second half after conceding a free kick wide on the left. Ciarán pushed the ball back out, only for the Camlyn forward to put the ball back past him, with the Crosby netminder claiming in vain for a push in the back.
Seamus saw more of the ball in the second half, first being freed by Adam and then getting a shot in on the keeper after Caleb had picked up the ball from a loose clearance after work down the left by Josh and Danny.
Matty had a more solid second half in defence and Stephen and Joe were working hard as a new centre back pairing but they were caught out after 20 minutes as the Camlyn forwards broke through a high line. Ciarán was to prove their match, however, closing the angles to save the first shot with his legs and getting back up quickly to block the rebound shot from going into the other side of the goal.
Ciarán was back in action three minutes later making another solid save from the forward as the referee blew for offside. The boys were pressing at the other end and got the equaliser with two minutes to go. Danny worked the ball wide left and the ball reached Caleb whose square ball fell to Seamus. The shot was too hot for the keeper to hold onto and the match finished all square.
This was an improvement on the previous week, with the boys holding a better shape and making better use of the space. Man of the match this week was Ciarán, for a display of safe handling and a series of second half saves to keep Camlyn at bay.
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