Match Report - 13th January 2008

For the second week running the Bs faced a team with only ten players and, as a result, they dominated the match, controlled the midfield, moved the ball around very effectively, created more then 16 chances and didn’t have a single goal kick to take. But, for the second week running, they found themselves facing a goalkeeper in inspired form. Last week against Bessingby the keeper produced a series of great saves to help his team deny the Bs a win. The St Jo’s keeper surpassed this. Not only was he quick off his line to collect through balls, he caught crosses cleanly and confidently and produced some stunning, unbelievable point blank saves. Conor’s shot sent him the wrong way but he stretched out his foot to clear the ball off the line at full stretch. George beat the last defender, looked up and placed the ball firmly into the corner. But he dived and plucked it away with his fingertips. Russell also had a header from a corner cleared off the line and Luis saw a powerful drive rebound off the post. For a long while it looked like the Bessingby game all over again.

The match started with St Jo’s taking the ball into the Bs half, attacking down the left wing, eluding the defenders and producing a shot that was cleared away from the far post. It was sloppy defending and the only example of this in the whole match. From there the Bs took control. Luis was finding lots of space on the right and he combined well with Kyle, Daniel, Sid and Conor to build attacks down the right. The Bs opened the scoring after just five minutes when a half cleared corner was collected by Luis who played a diagonal ball over the left back to Kyle. Kyle took the ball down the line, drove the ball hard across the face of the goal and Sid raced in to slide it home.

With a one man advantage, Kyle and Thomas took charge of the midfield, tackling hard and not allowing the St Jo’s players time on the ball. There was great link up play from the entire midfield and as a result the team created some good chances. Conor had three good opportunities and from one the ball just cleared the bar when it looked as though it was going to dip into the net. He also had another great shooting chance from close range but, leaning back, his shot flew over the bar. Kyle, Luis, Sid and Ciaran also went close. Luis sent over some very good crosses but also produced some stinging shots from wide on the right that tested the keeper.

The Bs defence were very secure, so much so that Stephen had nothing to do. Russ and Joe were excellent and timed their tackles and interceptions superbly. Daniel used his strength well to deny St Jo’s opportunities down their left wing and he was involved in plenty of build up play with the midfield. Ciaran had a very good game. He had less to do in the first half as so much of the play was down the right and it was only later that the play was switched from wing to wing.

At half time the concern was that this game had gone exactly as the draw against Bessingby when the Bs conceded early in the second half from their only shot. But this time the goals went in the Bs favour. Getting the second goal, when you have created so many chances, is a big mental boost and it gave the Bs a little belief and breathing space. Kyle was involved again sending a ball from left to right over the defence to Sid who took it wide and then shot low into and through the net. Initially it wasn’t clear that it had gone in but Sid’s acknowledgement confirmed the goal. Three minutes later and the points looked sealed when Luis made it 3-0. Daniel fed the ball to Luis who from the right wing sent over a fierce shot or cross to the near post which spun from the keeper’s hands into the net. Only Luis knows if he was crossing or shooting.

The Bs made a couple of substitutions. Francis for Kyle and Jordan for Daniel. The Bs switched to playing three at the back and five across the midfield. They were getting lots of space as they moved the ball well across the pitch. Ciaran saw much more of the play this half and he was able to get forward a lot. When Josh came on for Luis, Ciaran switched to left midfield. There were plenty of chances and it was hard to believe how some of them didn’t end up in the net. Thomas, Russ, Francis, Conor, Ciaran and George all went close. With ten minutes left, Thomas took over at centre back allowing Russ to join Sid and Conor up front. As ever, Thomas did very well there and he, Josh and Joe collected and used the ball confidently.

Despite their pressure, the Bs couldn’t add to the tally and won the game 3-0. It was a very good performance. Frustrating that they couldn’t convert more of the chances but, with the keeper in such form, there was little more any of the players could do. Everyone played their part, no one player dominated and as such the man of the match award was shared by the whole team.