RIVERSIDE A CUP MATCH REPORT (HOME FIXTURE)
Codnor`s cup run came to an end against a Riverside team placed 4th in the other U/11`s Division and the
boys must now concentrate on trying to win as many of their remaining league games to the end of the season .
Before the game could go ahead some ground work was required to release the excess surface water in various
places on the pitch which Wayne Griffiths Asst. Manager did an excellent job to make the surface just playable
whilst I put the nets up.
Both teams started well from the kick off but it was Riverside who created the first
two opportunities of the game as striker J.Harrison twice broke clear of his marker only to shoot wide of the
goal on both occasions and Codnor were fortunate to remain on level terms, Codnor began to settle down after
their early scare and started playing some nice football but their end product in front of goal was being hampered
as the final ball in the testing conditions was stopping the boys from creating any real danger to the Riverside
defense , Codnor did manage to finally get one shot on goal from J. Miles which was comfortably gathered by the
Riverside keeper with 15 mins played . Riverside kept to their game plan of pumping the long ball towards their
attackers which was working to good effect and they eventually took the lead through the pacy J.Harrison who made
no mistake the third time of asking in a one on one with Codnor keeper L.Mckenna to put the boys 0-1 down , Codnor
tried in vain to get back into the game but found themselves 0-2 behind after a dubious goal bound clearance was
adjudged to have crossed over the goal line , the referee was not sure and he consulted the Codnor linesman and
the goal was unfortunately given , both teams were evenly matching each other all over the park but Riverside had
created the better chances with the no9 being a constant threat as Codnor`s defense struggled to contain his pace
and the boys went in at the interval 0-2 .
One change was made at half-time and from the restart Codnor came out meaning business and bombarded the Riverside
goal relentlessly in a dominant ten minute spell and should have at least drew level but two excellent point blank
saves from Riverside goalkeeper M.Walker denied Codnor`s J.Griffith`s and R.Burke from finding the bottom corner
of the net on both occasions , three further chances went agonizingly past the post and it was beginning to look
as though it was going to be one of those days when the ball just would not find the back of the net, whilst the
lads were in disbelief at not scoring from any of those chances their heads seemed to drop as time was running
out and Riverside punished Codnor further with two goals inside the last ten minutes whilst also hitting the
crossbar and having another shot cleared off the line in Riverside`s best spell of the game to make the final
score 0-4 to Riverside.
It had been an entertaining game played at a fast pace against two teams with different
styles with Riverside deserving their victory today as missed and saved chances had stopped Codnor making it a
closer game as the scoreline in no way reflected the game , but as we all know if you don�t score goals you don�t
win matches but the lads can hold their heads up high and look forward to gaining revenge next season as I am
confident they will beat them in their Division 1 encounter later this year .