First half display secures second win

Tuesday 12^th June

vs. Marina Sands Tigers 6-1

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

This game was all over at half time but a series of changes as the full squad got a run out and some relaxation meant that the Tigers avoided an embarrassing score line.

The boys were a goal up after only two minutes. The cross from Danny’s right wing run went for a goal kick but Darren quickly picked up on the weak kick to push forward and shoot across the keeper and into the corner of the net.

An immediate change of keeper for the Tigers brought some respite but they were second best all over the pitch. Matty had a lob taken quite easily and a 9^th minute run from Darren saw the forward stopped from shooting as he was mobbed by defenders.

The Tigers pushed forward but Adam’s head at the near post set them away again and a cross-field move between Ciarán S and Lewis almost set up Danny but the keeper was quickly off his line to take the ball.

Darren saw a header saved in the 12^th minute but got his second goal a minute later as he was on hand to tap in after more good footwork by Danny and Ciarán S had again opened up the left side of the Tigers.

A minute later they had extended the lead further and Darren had his hat-trick. A quick ball out from Ciarán B came to Danny who yet again hared down the wing and slipped the ball to Ciarán S. He then slid the ball across the box, only for Adam’s shot to be blocked but the tall striker was on hand to shoot home his third.

Darren was too strong for the Tigers and was getting on the end of nearly everything. He powered a header against the crossbar from Lewis’ cross after 16 minutes before joining Elliot, Lewis and Danny on the sidelines as all four substitutes were used after 19 minutes.

Josh and Joe T combined straight away, only for Joe T’s shot to be saved but he got his goal in the 22^nd minute, packing the ball into the corner of the net from a decisive Jacob pass.

The Tigers were no more able to contain the boys after all the changes than before in this half as Joe T turned provider a minute after his goal, breaking down the right to set up Josh, whose shot was pushed around the post. That might have been a good save from the keeper but he got away with dropping the corner with nobody on hand to take advantage.

Adam scurried down the left wing to force a corner in the 24^th minute, which Josh swung in to good effect – good enough to beat everybody and sail into the corner of the net for a 5-0 lead at the break, although Jacob and Joe T still had time for half-chances before the whistle.

The boys never really linked up to the same effect in the second half, although Tom was on hand with a long range header saved by the keeper in the 33^rd minute after Joe T had released Josh into space on the right.

Changes after 36 minutes, as Lewis, Danny and Darren returned, replacing Caleb, Joe H and Ciarán S, livened up the performance but it was the Tigers who were to score the goal of the game in the 38^th minute.

Ciarán B and Matty got into a mix-up as the latter tried to shield the ball out. The defence never properly recovered – Ciarán B made a good save which Tom helped on its way but the keeper was left to grasp at air as a volley from the edge of the box flew over his head.

Elliot replaced Cormac at the restart and the lead was restored in the 41^st minute from the penalty spot as Darren, set up by another clinical pass from Jacob, was upended in the box. With Caleb on the sidelines, the striker took the penalty, blasting it past the keeper for his fourth goal of the game.

Lewis’ free kick forced a save from the keeper after Jacob was shoved in the back but the boys were not breaking down the Tigers as easily as in the first period. Caleb returned, as Adam took a breather, and he quickly got into his stride as his 46^th minute pass almost set up Darren. The forward was still hunting goals and a clever touch created space for a shot in the 49^th minute, only for it to crash back off the crossbar.

Joe H had replaced Tom with 10 minutes of the game left and he nutmegged the fullback to set Lewis on another barnstorming run, only for Caleb to slice his shot wide of the upright.

A seventh goal to finish off the match with a flourish just would not come: Darren ran offside after Josh and Joe T had again combined to set him up and Jacob should have been more selfish with Caleb’ pass in the last minute. Darren was cruelly denied a final chance, breaking through the Tigers’ line for a run on goal only to be halted by the full-time whistle.

The second half display lacked the incisive passing and measured confidence of the first; otherwise they may have run into double figures. That they failed again to take complete advantage of their opponents’ defensive frailties did not stop Darren from scoring four goals, a performance worthy of the Man of the Match medal.