Match reports 2

A truly epic game, where St Dominic’s truly demonstrated their fighting qualities, producing a spellbinding display of defensive rigidity, midfield nous and attacking flair to gain a fully deserved forth league win of the season.

Cc Bromley started the better, right from kick off they demonstrated their intent and had won the first few exchanges in tackles and possession. They took the lead soon after a ball out wide whipped in between the defence and keeper six yards out for a simple tap in.’ I thought to myself this is going to be a long afternoon’.

Minutes later we had a goal against the run of play, Joel with a hopeful ball over the top, confusion between keeper and defender with Billy first time looping it over and past the outstretched arm of the keeper. Billy’s long awaited first goal of the season. Cc Bromley maintaining control of the game and working their way from the back and were unlucky not to add to the score sheet on several occasions.

We took the lead with ten minutes of the half remaining, I have to take credit for this goal myself, telling Billy to move into the space and it was him using my instructions who knocked a ball forward for Rouell to run onto and with an intelligent first time finish he made it 2-1. At half time we knew we were in control but again we had to maintain our discipline, composure and keep playing the same as we knew Bromley would come firing out of the blocks.
Cc Bromley again looked to take control of proceedings and it was a tense first fifteen minutes of the half with neither side creating any opportunities. Then out of nowhere the heaven lifted open and the rain just poured down, this surprisingly gave us the advantage and we further increased our lead, Billy again dribbling down the left was fouled and tried to retrieve the ball and brought down their player and the rebound fell to Billy again who fed in Rowan and he tucked it past the keeper. The game was delayed for five minutes as Cc Bromley protested the goal just scored and I urged St Dominic’s to keep warm in and amongst the rain storm.

The game began to open up, Bromley chasing the game and St Dominic’s trying to put the game beyond doubt. Bromley had a great chance their striker weaving past defender after defender but fired over. Even though we had the lead the game was far from over but we helped our cause with yet another goal. Joel playing in Rowan for his second of the game to round of a superb display making it 4-1.

Cc Bromley again showing their resilience and after two consecutive corners they had another and made us pay for our poor defending through a left in swinging corner and unmarked free header to give Bromley a glimmer of hope. With Bromley chancing the game this left gaps in the defence and we duly exploited them rowan with a through ball opening up their defence and Rouell with his second of the game and surely put the game beyond doubt.
Again Cc Bromley had a couple of opportunities to get back into the game but Rhys making two top brave saves and got injured himself but kept us in the game.

A very pleasing result from St Dominic’s against a strong opponent. Let’s finish the season off on a high with a good run of form.

Our trip to the league leaders went well but on another day and had St Dominic’s kept their discipline then we might be leaving the game with all three points. St Dominic’s enjoy playing against new life and on one of the better pitch throughout the season, we tend to step up our game and this was evident from the first whistle.

With a tough run in until the end of the season we knew this would be a vital game, two players making their debuts for us Jonathan and Marc. The first half was a cagey one where both sides controlled possession but lacked any creativity in the final third to be decisive. Ten minutes till half time and we took the lead, Marc linking up with Rouell down the right flank, Rouell with the cross and the ball in the back of the net of a New Life defender. This goal began to motivate our opponents and minutes later they got their equaliser, a shot goal wards john fumbled and a simple tap in for the equaliser.

Both sides again enjoying control the game was getting tense and the tackles reflected this, soon after new life took the lead a corner whipped in caused us problems and our defence failed to deal with the pinball effect and were behind. New Life also had a great chance to further their lead but John made up for his earlier error with a fantastic save to keep us in the game. Minutes to go for the first half and we got our equaliser, our debutant Jonathan with a solo run and finish after the ref played advantage.

The second half began much like the first neither side able to create many opportunities for the first twenty minutes. Just as we were beginning to take control of the game a reckless tackle for Jonathan and he was sent off, no complaints and we were down to ten men. Surprisingly we took the lead again Rowan who just came on, took the free kick and fumbled its way in with the help of the opposition keeper. However for the second time in the match St Dominic’s couldn’t keep the lead and a free kick whipped in was failed to be dealt with by our defence and a simple tap in and 3-3.

After this new life began to pile men forward, they were desperate for the three points and nearly got them, a shot from the edge of the box hitting the post and the re-bound destined for the net, our keeper John produces a remarkable reflex save to keep the scores level. St Dominic’s had one last chance of the game, an indirect free kick in side our opponent’s penalty area for a back pass. Rhys stepped over it floated in to our captain Jonathan and with his weaker right foot over the bar.

A very enjoyable game as a spectator as well as a player but again St Dominic’s failed to keep their discipline; this is something which we have to address.

Good luck to our opponents New Life ‘C’ in their surge for promotion.

This was our second visit of the season to Norman Park and today’s opponents were Park Road Baptist. Three points were important for us if we didn’t get them then park road would be hot on our heels in the league table. Luckily for us we got them and keep tabs on the running pack at the top of the league.

The first half began and with the wind advantage Park road stayed in our half for most of the first thirty minutes. Every goal kick John took went out of play due to heavy gust of wind. It was evident that park road would have the first chance of the game; a corner whipped in left footed and almost deceived our keeper who was aware and tipped it over. After this park road began to use the advantage of the wind and put a lot of men forward and they followed up with several other chances but were not clinical enough to finish them off.

After our poor start to the first half, we began to get back into the game. Most of our better attacks were coming down the left hand side where Billy and Liam were linking up well. Surprisingly we took the lead, Billy playing in Joel who first time hit the ball with the outside of foot and rasped in the back of the net. This was the lift we needed and we saw out the reminder of the half and went in one nil up at the break.

We knew the wind would be on our side this half and we used this as a benefit and pushed more men forward this ultimately left gaps at the back, which park roads fastest forward exploited and opened up our defence several times but was unable to find the finish. We had a free kick just over half way which Rhys took control of and sent everyone forward, he knocked it up field and straight into the keepers hands but the keeper lost control of the ball and it bobbled over his head and into the empty net. The rest of the team celebrated but Rhys was too embarrassed to join his teammates in the celebrations.

For our third and final goal we hit our opponents on the counter, they had a corner which was whipped in and punched away but John our keeper, which went straight to Rouell and using his explosive speed he ran past the defence down the by line, cut in and squared the ball to Joel who had his second goal of the game. After this we had several other chances like our opponents but neither of us was able to add to the score line.

This was a good performance with the right result as we look to pick up our form again and head into the last few games of the season.

Goals: Joel (2), Rhys
Assists: Billy, Rhys, Rouell
M.O.M: Rowan

Yet another tale of what could have been, as St Dominic’s matched a team with promotion aspirations all the way only to be cruelly denied.

It was our first game at Lloyd Park and our opponents were Coney Hall churches UTD, who were lying in second place in the league. After our disappointment last week we were looking for a positive reaction although a surprise result looked far off at the start.

It was St. Dominic’s who started the brighter of the two sides, looking confortable in possession and surprising our opponents. Ultimately we would have the first chance of the game, Jonathan and Liam hard work went unnoticed by the opposition defence and Liam hitting a shot straight at the keeper who palmed it over.

We began to take firm control of the game but with all of the possession we had, we lacked that clinical edge in the final third of the pitch. It nearly proved costly as a free kick from our opponents curled in and was headed on but just wide. The first half continued and it was more like a game of chess than football, each team waiting for their opponents to make the next move. Unsurprisingly it was soon half time.

The second half began and our opponents game out of the blocks and began to take grip of the game. Their superior height advantage was causing our defence problems and soon they had their first opportunity of the second half to take the lead.

Our defence tried to play the offside trap and was caught in no man’s land as the attacker creped round the back and bore down on goal, the ball in the air and a wild challenge from our debutant Antony resulted in a penalty after connecting boot to his opponents face. The penalty was saved from Rhys as he read it straight down the middle and collected the rebound to the relief of the whole team.

Could we whether the storm from Coney hall? No was the answer as a miscommunication between keeper and defence resulted in a tap in from the Steven Fletcher look alike striker, who made up for his earlier penalty miss. Soon after we made some changes and looked to stamp back our authority as hosts. It was one of these subs that had our next opportunity, a brilliant ball played through the defence by Anton and Joel was through one-on-one and blazed the shot over.

Like us Coney hall made a change and lucky for them it paid off as he made it two nil and game over, there were little chances after this from both side and the game fizzled out and Coney hall collected a tough but well deserved three points.
A good performance from us against a well organised team, and we made it difficult for our opponents, a good platform to build on for the rest of the season.