Poor Display Gets Its Just Reward

Saturday 29^th October

vs. Marina Sands Lions 1-7

Team: Ciarán B; Danny, Lewis, Tom, Matty; Joe, Stephen, Caleb (capt.), Adam; Cormac; Ciarán S.

Last week it was 72,000 "southerners" who suffered at the hands of their noisy neighbours. This week it was a handful of parents and brothers who watched their team fall to a similar fate.

With Elliot, Josh and Jacob either unwell or unavailable, Cormac made his full debut in midfield. Although the match started scrappily, it was evident that the Lions were fired up for this game.

The defence will not look back on this game with any fond memories, even though the first two goals came straight after they were on the attack. A ball on the break, a missed header and some good fortune as it ran between Ciarán B and Danny and bounced back off the foot of the post saw the Lions tap it into an empty net in the 5^th minute.

Ciarán S worked tirelessly throughout the match as a lone striker and he won a corner midway through the first half. Taken short, Adam dribbled through, only for his shot to be blocked and Caleb’s follow up from the edge of the area was clasped by the keeper.

They were two down minutes later as the Lions allied a direct style to pace up front to score again. With a man left free on the back post in the 19^th minute, it was all too easy for them to extend their lead further as the ball was crossed from their right.

As Caleb tried to play football, Adam out wide was the only outlet but was rarely able to expose the defence. He won another corner in the 22^nd minute and, as the ball bobbled around the box, the boys could not exploit any nerves in the Lions’ back four.

The weakened line up may have left those playing with fragile confidence but there is no excuse for not doing the basics. Each of the four goals they conceded in the second half should have been dealt with as confusion and weak – or even no – challenges were exploited ruthlessly.

Ciarán B pulled off a couple of fine saves – the second a full stretch leap to push the ball around the post – to keep the score line down as Matty’s solid clearing header also helped relieve the pressure.

By the time Joe’s ball almost set up Ciarán S in the 48^th minute, they were five down. Joe and Matty combined to shut down another break as the defence showed some strength and Ciarán S’s efforts were almost rewarded, only for his header to be cleared off the line.

In the 50^th minute, Danny’s break down the right won a corner, from which Ciarán S was clumsily chopped down in the box. Caleb stepped up to coolly slot the penalty away, but this was to prove to be little more than a consolation as more woeful defending allowed the Lions to score twice more in the last three minutes.

The boys played in the first half as if they expected to be beaten – and so it proved. Although they finally tried to play some football in the second half, led by Caleb and Ciarán S, an error strewn defensive performance gave their opponents too many opportunities. Too many of his team mates were anonymous but it was Cormac’s display in midfield, full of energy and effort – with a handful of simple, safe passes thrown in – that was rewarded with the Man of the Match medal.