Saturday 25th February
vs. TMS 0-4
Team: Ciarán B; Tom, Joe,
Lewis, Matty; Danny, Josh, Caleb (capt.), Adam; Elliot, Ciarán S. Subs: Cormac,
Jacob.
The final game of the Spring
Cup round-robin section was always going to be tough against the runaway Winter
League winners and the grip TMS took of midfield proved decisive.
Caleb was bright in both
boxes in the early stages, probing to find space in the TMS defence and
tackling back in his own to relieve the pressure. Josh and Ciarán S linked well
to force a corner but the speedy striker had a frustrating game as he saw little
of the ball. Tom was not daunted on the right but the pressure was beginning to
mount as the ball kept coming back.
A corner was awarded to TMS
in the10th minute when it seemed that the forward had had the last touch. The
boys dealt with the first ball but a shot back in left Ciarán B unsighted and
the ball ran through him for TMS to take the lead.
Jacob replaced Josh –
hindered by a back injury – after 12 minutes but TMS extended their lead two
minutes later. A ball in from the left was allowed to come all the way across
to the right winger. His first touch beat Adam and his left foot shot gave Ciarán
B no chance.
The game was being played in
the boys’ half as they struggled to win the ball in midfield and relieve the
onslaught. Ciarán B pulled off a double save, with some help from his defenders
in the 23rd minute and a minute later he pushed a lobbed shot to
safety and the corner was well defended.
The boys finished the half
going forward as Elliot’s touch gave them a rare break into the TMS box but
Adam was closed down quickly before he got the shot away.
Josh came back into the
action for Danny after the break and they started brightly as Ciarán S and
Elliot looked to create space against a well-organised TMS back four.
Caleb won a rare header in
midfield after 35 minutes and the value of winning the midfield battles was all
too apparent as it let the boys push the TMS defence back; their clearance fell
to Caleb and his long range shot was just wide. Jacob’s shot from the goal kick
forced a save from the keeper and he had another chance seconds later after
Elliot’s pass beat the defence but his touch was just too strong.
TMS were soon finding space
on their right and Ciarán B saved with his feet and was up again to take the
long range return shot after 38 minutes. Elliot dropped back into defence as
Joe went forward as the boys went in search of a goal. It nearly came from a
Caleb fee kick which just ran away from Jacob but instead TMS extended their
lead in the 43rd minute, as indecision allowed the left winger
plenty of space to run forward and lift the ball over the advancing Ciarán B.
In the 47th minute,
and despite a great clearance off the line from Elliot, TMS scored again as the
centre back rose to put away the corner with a header well beyond Ciarán B.
Joe worked hard to force a
corner after 49 minutes, with Josh’s shot going straight to the keeper. That
was the end of Josh’s second stint of action as he was replaced by Cormac for the
final six minutes but the match finished with Elliot once again performing last
ditch heroics to keep the ball out of the net.
There is no disgrace in
losing to a side as good as TMS but a stronger midfield display and meaner
streak might have made for a closer game. Caleb’s efforts in midfield, trying
to get things moving when he had the ball, saw him voted Man of the Match.
The result in the other match means that the boys will meet Active Soccer in the semi-finals, with matches due to be played some time in April.
The result in the other match means that the boys will meet Active Soccer in the semi-finals, with matches due to be played some time in April.
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