Match Report - 3rd February 2008

This was not the Charville team who lost 8-0 to the Bs in December. All credit to them for a strong, determined and well organised performance. There was not much to choose between the teams. Both gave their all and on a very windy day did well to control the ball as well as they did. The defences had the upper hand and frustrated the attackers. But Charville managed to threaten slightly more and took their chances well. For the Bs Sid, Conor and Fed never stopped striving but always had a defender covering and, of the three of them, only Sid managed a shot.

At this time of the year, with so many postponements, it is not easy for the teams to maintain a momentum with such a disrupted programme and the Bs, without a game for the last three weeks, looked a little bit rusty. However they did work the ball around neatly with some good passing and link up play. Thomas had one of his best ever games in the heart of midfield. He timed his tackles brilliantly, read the game well and was consistently accurate with his passing.

A lot of the play in the first half involved George linking up with Thomas, Ciaran, Sid and Conor. George gave everything but the players could not work opportunities for the strikers or midfield players to threaten. Sid and Jordan had chances but Charville’s keeper wasn’t troubled.

After 12 minutes Charville took the lead with a well finished goal but a disappointing one for the Bs to concede. Charville attacked down the left, sent the ball across the goal and the Bs should have cleared. George chased the ball into the corner but lost possession and the ball was sent back into the middle where a Charville attacker tried to hit it first time. He missed his kick but wasn’t closed down and had the time to try again and he struck it superbly into the corner.

Luis replied six minutes later with a stunning goal. The ball was played high across the field and whereas Charville’s player misread it, Luis read the bounce perfectly and as it flew over his opponent's head, he controlled it on his chest and then struck the bouncing ball goalwards from over 25 yards out. The ball dipped under the crossbar and the keeper stretched to claim it but couldn’t keep it out. Luis is in a great run of scoring form with four goals in his last four games and six in total – pretty good for a right back.

The game was even for the next ten minutes when Charville retook the lead with a swift charge down the right and a powerful shot past Stephen at full stretch. It was a great shot and gave Stephen no chance with the power and accuracy. The Bs had an opportunity to get back with a free kick on the edge of the box but didn’t take advantage.

Six minutes into the second half Charville extended the lead with a break down the middle that saw their striker get behind the defence and tuck the ball in as Stephen raced off his line. Francis then came on in the centre of the midfield for Kyle. Francis was soon involved as the play pinged around the middle of the park. At times there was a little too much of the ball in the air. In the 47th minute the Bs got themselves back in contention with a very well taken goal from a corner. George’s delivery from corners gets better and better and here he curled an inviting ball into the six yard box which Russ met and buried with a powerful header past the keeper. Russ also has a great strike rate for a centre back. He’s now scored five goals in eight matches.

The Bs made two further changes, Fed for Conor up front and Jordan Wright for George. Late in the match George came back on for Jordan Coleman but despite the changes the Bs could find no way through. In the last few minutes Charville got behind the defence again and slipped the ball home but it was ruled out for offside. As Stephen came off his line he collided with Ciaran and both ended on the ground. Stephen came off the worst with an injured arm and for the remaining minutes Joe took over in goal but wasn’t tested.

These Harlington playing fields are clearly not the Bs favourite after two defeats there this season. Plenty of good work rate, effort and some good passing and movement. All it lacked was the finish but Charville’s defence deserve a lot of credit for how well they played. Thomas Green thoroughly deserved his man of the match award. He was tireless and focussed throughout and did all the could with great defensive play and thoughtful passing.