Manning
Ian (2)
Dan
| Cardinal Manning (a) 8 April 2006 – Spring Cup |
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Cardinal ...... 3 Manning |
3 ...... Shene Ian (2) Dan |
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If ever there was a game of halves, this was it. First half we played some fantastic stuff: crisp passing, good movement, constant pressing, cool defence. Pythagorus would have loved the triangular interchanges in midfield and the way the defence pushed out to set-up attacks down both flanks. Dave and Hollo had plenty of joy down the right complemented by intelligent use of the ball between Ken and Perry on the opposite flank. Aaron had a couple of good chances and exerted constant pressure on their defence, forcing numerous corners which we could have profited from but for some desperate blocking on the line. Hence we should have been more than 2-1 at the half, although Kingsbury's goal got a wicked deflection past Mozzer.Then it all seemed to go into slow motion after the break, especially from the kick-off when we didn't get near the ball for about half-an-hour! Perhaps the rattling chest infection afflicting half the team had an effect but our play in the second period was diametrically opposite to that of the first: lack of challenges, misplaced passes, nervousness out of defence and little incisive movement. Kingsbury equalised and gained in confidence but we still had chances with Aaron having a couple well saved, Dunc almost squeezed one in at a trickle and Perry was close to getting on to a whipped cross. We managed to get back in the lead from a corner before Dunc's kneecap collapsed, putting us down to 10 men... again. The defence solidified with Dan and Wearmouth running their socks off in midfield to maintain the advantage, the captain almost profiting from a surging Kelso sortie to make the last few minutes more secure. But a corner melee with time running out saw Mozzer stretch his side-split torso only enough to tip it onto the bar and they put the rebound in to snatch a draw. Still, we're through to the semis and let's resurrect the first-half performance in a fortnight.
Dunc
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Hollo's first goal came from the combative midfield partnership winning a header for the umpteenth time, Aaron slotted it through for Ian to slide the ball under their advancing keeper. His second capitalised on our dominance down the flanks after a patient interchange between Ken and Dan resulted in a perfect cross. Hollo met it on the half-volley and crashed the ball off the underside of the crossbar. It should have been more before half-time but when Dan met Ian's corner unchallenged there was only one outcome.
Dave might have shaded it after taking the piss out of their left-back throughout the first half and powering in teasing crosses. Alas, he had to give the lard a rest at half-time. Despite a dip in form permeating the whole team after the break, Bowman came up with the goods on numerous occasions with some vital tackles and interceptions, well-judged headers and calm patience playing the ball out of defence. Allied to his incisive passing in the more cohesive first half and dominance of their tricky attackers, I'd give him the nod.