Match Report - 25th November 2007

Roundwood came into this match top of division 2 having only dropped one point all season. In their ten league and cup matches they had scored 51 goals. So it was going to need a determined and disciplined display from the Bs to keep them out. And that is exactly what they produced. This was without doubt a superb performance with every player doing his bit to frustrate Roundwood. The Bs held worked so hard that at half time the teams were level and it took two very well taken goals to seal the win. The second goal that clinched it came just four minutes from the end. Considering that they were still without Russell in defence and Brett who has scored seven goals in three matches, this was something special.

The match was played on a huge pitch. Roundwood started well pressing the Bs back and moving the ball around well. The Bs were keen to ensure they didn’t concede early and though they spent a lot of the early period in their own half they defended very well. The whole midfield did their part to frustrate Roundwood and the back four were rarely caught out. They were all very focussed and the few mistakes they made were quickly recovered. They also worked very hard to gain possession and keep it and made some neat moves. But one of the key differences between the teams was that the Bs were unable to keep the ball long enough to threaten and possession was given away softly.

Roundwood combined well and with their greater possession created more chances. But most went wide and didn’t look threatening. Midway through the half they created a superb chance when one of their players cut into the box from the right and jinked his way past three tackles. Five yards out he let fly with a strong left foot shot but Stephen flew to his right to divert it for a corner. It was their best chance of the half. The Bs had far fewer chances but did get behind the Roundwood defence a few times. Sid was played through and raced past the defender but his touch was just too strong and the keeper reached it first. George and Sid had shots that went just wide.

In the centre of midfield Jay and Francis worked really well getting tackles in and closing down. Kyle started slowly but really got into the match as the half progressed. The back four, Luis, Thomas, Joe and Ciaran had their hardest and busiest match but responded superbly.

At half time it was 0-0 and at the start of the second half Roundwood made two changes. Four minutes into the half they sliced through the Bs backline and opened the scoring with a well taken goal. They mounted a quick attack down the right wing and as Ciaran raced to get back they pushed the ball into the centre where one of their strikers sped past Thomas and as Stephen came off his line he placed the ball past him. Having conceded early in the half the Bs had to ensure they didn’t let in another soon after. They should have been punished when an attack down the left was met with a header from close range but the ball flew over the bar.

The pattern of the game continued as in the first half. Roundwood had more of the play and had more chances but only threatened a couple of times. Stephen had to react quickly to a deflected shot to steer it for a corner. The Bs made three changes during the half, Fed for Conor up front, Jordan for Kyle in midfield, and Josh came on at left back, Francis came off and Ciaran switched to midfield. The corner count was even between the teams but the Bs only created one real chance this half when Joe headed just wide. It was the lack of chances that was the real difference and four minutes from time Roundwood clinched the tie with a tremendous shot from ten yards that was in the net before Stephen could move.

So the Bs short cup run came to an end but with their heads held high. There were very few teams from Divisions 3 and 4 still in the cup and many teams end up on the wrong end of a trouncing. The Bs display ensured that there was never any danger of that. They defended resolutely, moved the ball around well but lacked the threat in front of goal. The man of the match award went to the whole team as this was a real team effort.