Back four set up 4-goal victory

Saturday 1^st October

vs. Ursuline Seahorses 4-1

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Joe, Stephen, Matty; Danny, Jacob, Caleb (capt.), Adam; Jacob, Ciarán S. Sub: Lewis.

The boys put the disappointment of last week’s defeat behind them to bounce back in a game they dominated for long periods.

From the outset, they were quicker to the loose ball, but were unable to take an early advantage after the Ursuline keeper lost the ball under no pressure from Adam’s cross. Caleb saw a long range shot go wide as the boys were camped in their opponents’ half, with Danny raiding down the right – fed regularly by Elliot – in more danger of being tackled by the autumn leaves than a defender.

Although Jacob couldn’t take advantage of Elliot’s incisive ball over the top after 5 minutes, they took the lead a minute later as Danny slotted home after Ciarán S, Caleb and Adam had seen chances blocked desperately.

Two minutes later they went further ahead with a goal of real class. Josh and Jacob combined to create space in midfield and feed the ball out to Adam whose cross was met by Ciarán S’s head with the ball nestling in the corner of the net before the keeper moved.

The sloppy nature of Ursuline’s play began to affect the boys as the half wore on. Although the game was played almost totally one way, they were unable to convert a host of corners into more goals.

Instead it was Ursuline who pulled one back after 17 minutes, as the otherwise impeccable defence allowed the speedy left winger – easily Ursuline’s most dangerous player – to escape and slip the ball under the advancing Ciarán B.

Lewis replaced Jacob at half time, allowing Stephen to move into midfield where he was immediately effective. A measured first pass set up Josh, only for the last man to cut it out but he gained his reward in the 30^th minute. Having created some space on the left, the ball came back to him and his looping shot was too good for the keeper who could only throw a despairing punch at the ball.

They should have had the chance to extend the lead in the 33^rd minute, only for Ciarán S to be halted by a poor offside judgement but they scored the fourth after 35 minutes as Caleb’s volley once again left the keeper a spectator.

Adam skinned the crossbar soon after as Ursuline were pinned in their own half, struggling to clear the goal kicks this season taken from the six yard box. Adam went close again, this time after Ciaran S and Josh linked up and it was a foul on the latter in the 47^th minute that resulted in Joe’s free kick going narrowly wide.

Having scored the goal of the season in the first half, the miss of the season came after 49 minutes. Caleb slipped the ball down the left and Ciarán S’s cross on the run was met by Josh who somehow managed to get it over the crossbar with the keeper out of position (never mind, Josh, even great players like Torres miss sitters. On second thoughts…). He was in good company only two minutes later, though, as Adam shot badly wide after pressure on the keeper continued to pay.   

 

Elliot had given an assured display at right back and was on hand to clear away a late free kick with a superb header after Lewis had bundled the forward over on the edge of the box. On the break, tired legs and the long grass hampered Josh as the boys forced their opponents onto the back foot on last time.

The springboard for this win was a solid defensive display. From Ciarán B’s increasingly confident handling to the solidity of Matty, Stephen, Joe, Lewis and the outstanding Elliot – who was a unanimous choice as Man of the Match, the boys were able to control the match. With a more consistent final pass and a more ruthless display in front of goal, they could have run up a score more suited to the cricket square behind them.