Boys go top!

Saturday 26^th March

vs. Liverpool North 3-1

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

The boys went clear at the top of the table as they finally got to grips with a Liverpool North side determined to knock them off their stride, if not their feet.

Although they were quick into their opponents half and forced an early corner, Stephen had to be alert as their opponents came at them. It was the same old story of  a slow start with poor touches and passes not finding the man as they were pinned back into their own half, reliant time and again on interventions from Josh, aided by Elliot at right back.

They finally broke out in the 8^th minute as the hard-working Seamus found some space. From the resulting throw, Adam’s cross fed Seamus, only for his shot to be blocked. A minute later a trademark precise pass from Caleb set Danny in for another chance.

Guilty of not getting in their headers to clear the ball, it was ironic that Matty had to come off after a whack to the head from a high foot, giving Cormac more time on the pitch as Elliot swapped flanks. In the 17^th minute, disaster struck as the boys went a goal down. Awarded a free kick, apparently for a raised arm in the challenge, Liverpool North directly found the far corner of the net with Ciarán B left in a heap.

A goal down, the boys woke up and were level within a minute. Matty was back on and they quickly forced a corner. A scrambled clearance eventually fell to Adam out on the left and although Seamus’ shot was blocked, it fell to Jacob to coolly fire home the equaliser.

On the 23^rd minute Seamus made a chance for himself as he got away from the last defender, only to blast just over. Seconds later, though, he put the boys ahead as the poor goal kick fell to Jacob. His shot was too hot for the keeper and Kuyt, sorry Shay, was on hand to tuck away the loose ball.

The boys had worked hard to force themselves in front after a poor first half display. They held onto the advantage at the break after Ciarán B made two saves late in the half, the last taking two attempts to hold direct from another free kick. They could have extended the lead themselves, though, as a lofted shot from Ciarán S was fumbled again by the keeper who recovered to prevent the ever-alert Seamus from scoring.

After some stern words at half time, the boys took control of the game in the second period. An early push around the post from Ciarán B from a long range shot was the last real work of his half, apart from lengthy kicks deep into the opposition half on the wind.

Adam was to find more and more space down the left as the game wore on – as early as the 2^nd minute his cross was missed by both Seamus and Danny and Jacob sliced his shot wide.

Minutes later another barnstorming run fed Seamus but his deft flick was pounced on by the keeper.

It was one way traffic now as a tidy touch from Matty set the left winger flying again but the defender cut across Adam to concede a corner. A poor offside decision denied Seamus a chance as he came off the last man and then Adam fed Ciarán S, now becoming more involved, down the left and his cross-shot went wide.

Caleb then slipped another ball through the middle for Ciarán S and Seamus to trade passes only to be denied by a last ditch hoof off Seamus' foot. Adam had stretched them again twice down the left and then scuffed a shot from Caleb’s 20^th minute corner as the boys pushed to find the third goal. They thought it had come a minute later as the two man strike force broke again, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside from the last touch.

The Liverpool North defending was getting more desperate now and the boys were awarded an indirect free kick in the box from a back pass. From the touch back, Adam’s shot was blocked away. Danny was next away into free space, setting up another chance for Seamus but this week they weren’t going in.

After Adam had been left in a heap, a deep free kick from Josh was cleared only for another foul in a more central position. From this, Caleb’s ball came to Jacob to force yet another save. Adam had recovered to go haring down the wing yet again, shooting wide as the defender failed in an attempt to hack him down.

Finally in the 25^th minute the boys – and the even more frantic parents – could breathe easily. As Ciarán S found space on the left, his high ball back across fell to Danny who took his time, let it drop and then rifled it into the net with the keeper having no chance.

His reward wasn’t quite what he expected though – dumped to the ground off the ball as the boys went hunting for a fourth and carried off the pitch to be replaced again by Cormac for the last two minutes plus some rare injury time. They nearly got another, only for Ciarán S’ shot to go just wide.

Some teams will take a more physical approach and try to put the boys off their game. After a poor start – as bad as they have played at 11 a-side – they weathered the storm to come out on top. They must remember to get the ball under control quicker, get the pass away earlier and use the space, if they are not to be caught out by the better sides. With TMS coming up next, there is no time like the next time!

Josh had an excellent first half with the defence relying on his tackles and blocks, Jacob worked hard in midfield but Ciarán S was voted Man of the Match for his best display since joining the team with an effective second half performance.