Boys unable to shoot out the Stars

Tuesday 8^th May

vs. Scarisbrick Stars 2-4

Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Tom, Joe H, Matty; Danny, Lewis, Caleb (capt.), Adam; Joe T, Ciarán S. Subs: Cormac, Jacob, Josh.

The boys were unable to continue their recent good form as the Summer League started and went down against opponents who look as strong as when they last met 12 months ago – although the second half was full of positives.

With Joe T making his debut upfront, the boys started crisply but Scarisbrick were soon on the attack and Ciarán B punched away the early corner. It was a break down the right in the 5^th minute that gave them the lead, however. The defence were dragged out of shape and although Ciarán B pulled off the save, the ball fell at the feet of the unmarked forward to tap it home.

Joe T got in the action after 7 minutes, laying the ball back to Caleb whose shot was blocked. Danny worked hard on the right as the boys closed down on the clearance but they fell further behind after 10 minutes. Joe H had maintained his good run of displays but his fellow defenders were struggling: from a corner, Ciarán B made three saves on the trot – the third a reflex one handed block – but no blue and white shirts were getting to the ball and the fourth shot doubled the lead.

Jacob and Josh replaced Adam and Danny and the play got a bit brighter – Joe T chased down a wild shot from Jacob and the ball eventually came to Josh, only for his cross to be headed just wide by Ciarán S. In the 15^th minute, the speedy top goalscorer was almost in, as Caleb lifted it over the top, but the keeper was quickly off his line to snaffle the ball.

The boys had little control in midfield, however, and this caused the lack of discipline resulting in them going three down in the 17^th minute, as the Scarisbrick forward took full advantage of the gaps between the defenders to deceive Ciaran B.

Bearing in mind nearly all of his teammates were strangers, Joe T was playing a full part in attack, linking with Ciarán S who set up Jacob as they tried to fight back. Lewis and Caleb finally began to bring the ball down and pass it around, teeing up Ciarán S only for the Scarisbrick defence to quickly close him down, but the disastrous opening 20 minutes was complete as they conceded a fourth goal. A cross-cum-shot from an acute angle out by the left corner flag left Ciarán B grasping at air as it flew into the top corner.

To their credit, heads didn’t fall and they began the long fight back. Jacob saw his long range shot saved and Joe T again set up Ciarán S, who again was just beaten to the ball. As a corner flew through everyone to safety, the boys were increasing the pressure and Joe T almost had his first clear chance in the 25^th minute, as Jacob turned provider.

They got the goal their spirit deserved a minute before half time. After Ciarán S was shoved in the back, Caleb’s free kick was too fierce for the keeper and Ciarán S was on hand to set up Jacob for a tap-in.

Josh and Caleb were replaced by Adam and Danny as they looked to start the second period with greater pace. After a solid clearing header early on from Jacob, the boys continued where they had left off at the half time whistle. Danny was involved down the right, fighting to win the ball and linking up with Lewis in the 32^nd minute, only for his shot to go wide.

The boys were still not winning enough of the ball in midfield, even though Scarisbrick had stopped making them pay, but it was Danny again who shot wide in the 35^th minute, after Joe T and Adam had created the opening for him.

Tom got across to put the forward off and force the shot wide after 37 minutes as the rapid interplay from Scarisbrick nearly reaped dividends. The boys were trying to build from the back through Elliot and Matty, looking to pressurise their opponents in midfield more and Lewis was finally getting into his stride, as he and Jacob created space on the right only for the ball to just run away from Danny.

The midfielder with the crack shot finally scored his team’s second goal in the 42^nd minute. Danny and Joe T had harassed the Scarisbrick defence on the right and as the ball was laid back, Lewis was on hand to rifle it into the top corner.

Tom and Joe T were replaced by Josh and Caleb soon after and Josh almost set up another great chance in the 44^th minute as his ball beat the defence only for neither Jacob nor Ciarán S able to force a shot on the keeper. Joe T returned for the final five minutes, as Ciarán S came off, and the boys thought they had pulled another back a minute later as Danny’s cross was headed towards his goal by the defender. The keeper scrambled it out, with the help of the post but it was not adjudged to have crossed the line (although Danny thinks it’s about time they invested in goal line technology at Hightown).

The much improved second half performance was exemplified by the fact that Ciarán B finally made his first (and comfortable at that) save in the 53^rd minute. Cormac replaced Matty for the final two minutes but the action was still in their opponents half as the boys finished brightly. A break down the right from Jacob was cleared only for the ball to come to Danny. His cross fell invitingly for Joe T who just failed to connect and round off a excellent first game with a goal.

The boys paid the price for a really slow start to the match but were far more dangerous than their opponents in the second half and were never out of the game, despite the score line. They showed some grit to keep battling, trying to bring the ball down and pass to a teammate and playing as a team. Joe T blended in well, working hard in attack, and gave a performance that saw him take the Man of the Match award – welcome to the team!