Today’s local derby match between the Dragons and United was a tale of four 10 minute quarters.

The Dragons just didn’t click this morning and United played as their name suggests – as a unified squad. Credit for the win should go to Coach Tyler’s defensive regime as United put on a great display. This match reporter, for one, does not know how United only had it’s first win for the season today as they played so well.

In the Dragons camp pre-match, spirits were high, the weather was comfortable – so all were not hampered by the cold and Coach MT seemed to have shuffled the lads into a good playing formation. However, the Dragons were the home team for this clash and had to don the seemingly unlucky white playing shirts that are the alternative strip. Coach MT likes the style of them but does not like the match results when his team is playing in them. The first 10 minutes of the match was all Dragons who looked the goods – nullifying attacking raids and creating a few chances on goal. The ball was hardly in the United attacking half and Keeper JCP2 (who put his hand up to be it) looked like he was getting bored with minimal influence on the match.

However, that all changed with about 7 minutes remaining in the first half. 

United slotted a good goal after a raid down the left side flank. The lone keeper dived but couldn’t lay fingertips onto it. 0-1. Two minutes later, United posted their second after a defensive lapse in concentration by the Dragons. 0-2. Somehow, 2 minutes after that, the Dragons slipped further behind with United blasting away on goal. 0-3. Half time couldn’t come fast enough.

Not having converted any chances in the first ten minutes hurt the Dragons impetus and all players were shell-shocked.  This is not what we expected. A rev-up from Coach MT brought the lads minds back onto the task at hand (rather than discussing what is better – Coco Pops or Milo Flakes), but could they defend their goals and put four in the net?………….

They could not.

A sterling second half display of goal keeping by JH15 kept the Dragons in the match, with at least two memorable saves. The first came about after a good shot on goal by United – it tumbled along the ground and took a wicked bounce at JH15 who fumbled it onto the post; he turned around, parried it backwards toward the goal mouth and then calmly jumped on the spinning orb before it crossed the line – phew! The second was goal keeper text book stuff – a shot on goal parried away by JH15 and then the follow-up blast on goal hammered away by the out-stretched fists of JH15 as he reached for the heavens! It was either going to be a great goal in the top of the net or a great save.  Luckily it was the latter. These saves and more, plus a good goal keeping game multiplied by his hard work in the first half made JH15 the obvious choice for Player of the Match!  Good to see you back to normal JH15! The first ten minutes or so of the second half was a tight tussle and the score remained as it did at half time. 0-3. Out of nowhere the ball made it’s way to LB7 and with his trademark run and shot got the Dragons on the board. 1-3. He had been sick all week and so was not on his game but great effort to our main striker. United looked to have faulted and let their guard down.  The Dragons competed with them but unfortunately raid after raid was shut-down. JCP2 (back as midfielder for the second half) had a shot on goal with 5 minutes left on the clock, but it wasn’t his signature best and the United keeper easily caught it. The Dragons kept the pressure on as best they could but it wasn’t to be their day. 1-3.

The last play of the game was a runaway raid by United.  With no defenders in front of the United strikers at looked like a certain goal and Coach MT shut his eyes and prayed. The United Manager beckoned him to open up and watch the game as it’s not a life and death thing. Feeling silly he did and then was surprised as the Dragon defence got back to help JH15 just in time and they neutralized the attack. The shrill of the referees whistle then ended proceedings. 1-3.

Honourable mentions to the following:

• TR11 who was almost best on ground today – great defence, booting the ball away when needed, bringing down the high ball to the ground with ease + marking his opponent well.
• AB8 was a man possessed in the second half as he ran for the ball + ran for the ball + ran for the ball; put pressure on his opponent + was generally cheery.
• SF14 also ran + pressured his opponent all game + made contested balls a bit harder for the attacking players.
• RW3 did a lot of work today + kept running as best he could.  Apart from passing the ball to a player in red a couple of times he helped to make sure no goals were scored by United in the second half.
• HD4 was again stoic as the main defender + tried hard all game.  Pound for Pound (not including his big mouth, he he) he always plays above his weight + size every game – keep it up!
• MT6, WM13, RC9 + CS12 had indifferent games as they all did at least one thing good + skirmished for the ball but were unable to get on top of the opposing players like they have in previous matches.

Back to the drawing board for Coach MT who now needs to solidify his team by determining the final positions for all of his chargers as the second half of the season and the run into the finals begins next week with a big match against Whitehill.