Saturday 27th
October
vs. Town Green 0-5
Team: Ciarán B; Elliot, Tom,
Matty, Ben; Danny, Caleb (capt.), Jacob, Adam; Joe H, Seamus. Sub: Cormac.
A disappointing display with
the boys too often second best meant they were on the end of a heavy defeat.
Lack of movement up front,
wingers keen to go forward but no so happy to track back and a defence pulled
out of shape all too often made for an uncomfortable morning for those watching
on the touch line. The first goal, after five minutes, came as Town Green
easily picked up the ball in their defence and moved it quickly through the
middle. Gaps at the back left Ciarán exposed as the forward rounded him to
score.
The boys went further down
after 12 minutes, as Town Green were able to walk the ball in after the defence
stopped, claiming what looked like a blatant throw-in (not given,
coincidentally, by the Town Green manager with the flag).
There were occasional
flashes of passing play, with Joe putting Seamus in over the top and good
interplay through midfield from Caleb, Jacob, Danny and Joe nearly set up
another chance for Seamus.
Joe touched a Caleb free
kick wide but it was the sloppy play when they didn’t have the ball that caused
the problems, even if Matty and Ben were doing their best under pressure.
If they were hoping for a
better second half, the hope died in the first minute. The defence stopped to
watch a ball over the top, which took them all out and left the forward with a
simple chance to extend the lead.
They came close to pulling
one back in the 31st minute as a wicked Caleb corner was twice
cleared off the line, the second effort by Joe, but Town Green almost scored
again as they weren’t closed down and the shot from outside the box hit the
foot of the post and Ciarán had to be up quick to block the rebound.
Ciarán made a couple of
further saves and, despite Caleb looking to push the ball forward when he had
the time, Jacob never hiding and Adam pulling a late shot across the goal after
some determined play, the Man of the Match award went to the substitute,
Cormac. Coming on after 40 minutes when Danny took a knock, he showed far more
determination to close down the Town Green player on the ball, win it back, chasing
down loose balls and showing lots of spirit.
The bitty nature of this
season – this was only the third competitive match since early September – and the
loss and absence of players has not allowed the team to develop a proper start
to the season but they still need to learn not to be so nice, allowing their
opponents to make the decisions. Cormac’s effort in his 16 minutes on the pitch
was, perhaps, a lesson for his team mates.
