Club M 2-0 WCR : FT Report

 

 

Club M back on Top!

Clementi – Djamil scored his second goal in two games to help the dodos achieve a convincing 2-0 win over a highly spirited West Coast Rangers side. Club M were missing several players for this game and had only 13 players turning up. Having witnessed Combined West United stumble to a goalless draw earlier before the match, the dodos were all geared up to leapfrog their direct threat and thereby regain the driver's seat in the league.

The first opening minutes were exhilarating as the dodos imposed their dominance on its adversaries. The dodos were unlucky not to have taken an early lead when Alwyn managed to escape the offside trap on the left wing and found himself with only the keeper to beat. His attempt on goal was, however, well deflected by the keeper's legs for a corner. The pitch was quite muddy following earlier showers and the dodos had difficulties getting their first touches right in the early stages of the match.

Charles had a great chance to open the score for Club M in the 10th minute when he dribbled past his marker and had a clear shot on goal with only the keeper to beat, in the penalty area. He smashed the ball directly at the keeper who punched the ball into safety. The opponents were very resilient and refused to give up under constant pressure from the dodos. Their right winger did cause some worries to the dodo's defence as he created enough spaces a few times to send in high looping crosses, which were, however, easily intercepted by the dodo's keeper.

The goal that the dodos were anxiously seeking for finally arrived in the 15th minute, following a corner from the left, taken by Ashvin, which was neatly headed into the back of the net by an unmarked Djamil at the far post. There was nothing the keeper could do about it. After conceding the goal, West Coast Rangers started to push forward and suddenly the dodo's defence were under pressure from the Rangers' attackers. Their main man was the tall centre midfielder towering at almost 2 metres. He was at the centre of all the attacking play of the Rangers. Fardin had a tough time keeping him at bay but in the end he was not that much of a threat.

The Rangers managed a few weak shots on target which posed no real threat to the dodo's keeper. Mid-way through the half, Nicolas was close to doubling Club M's lead following a thundering long range effort which went just wide of the post. In the dying minutes of the first half, Alwyn found himself once again behind the defence with only the keeper to beat after a one-two combination with Nicolas. His shot, however, missed the target by a few centimetres for a goal kick. The first half ended with a 1-0 advantage to the dodos.

Club M were on the offensive once again early in the second half and the pressure paid off in the 55th minute after a free-kick by Djamil, from the right flank, slipped through the keeper's hands to fall in the path of Charles who headed the ball beyond the line with an easy header. The goal did not dampen the spirits of the Rangers who continued to press forward in search of a goal. The battle was tough and hard-fought in midfield as both sides tried to control the match. The Rangers relied largely on their right winger but his crosses were without thrust and were easily dealt with by the dodo's keeper.

Alwyn had a golden chance to finish off the opponents in the 65th minute as he dribbled past the centre back and past the keeper but had one touch too many on the ball, which rolled wide on the left side, away from the empty goal posts. From a tight angle position, his shot could only hit the post and fell in the keeper's arms. Five minutes later, Goolaup conceded a dangerous free-kick on the verge of the penalty area. The free-kick was cleverly taken by the Ranger's attacker who directed his shot at the far corner of the goal post. The dodo's keeper probably produced the save of the day by punching the ball for a corner.

The dodos were obviously exhausted towards the end of the game but still managed to cut down all the opponent's attacks. The Rangers had a last chance in the dying minutes of the match to pull a goal back after an attacker volleyed a shot past a crowded penalty area, following a corner. The ball, however, brushed against the post for a goal kick. The dodo's defence was once again well-organised and disciplined, supported by the dodo midfielders. The dodos, however, still have some work to do to improve their 'hit rate' after witnessing the numerous clear chances not being translated into goals.

 

Thierry

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