Match Report

Comrades 3 v 1 Steelers

On Friday gone I was sure I had 19 available for this coming game but alas it must have only been a pipe dream as come Sunday morning, the harsh reality was 12 players ready to go with 4 of these playing their first game back from injury. However it was pleasing to have the big lad back between the sticks but this didn’t free up Michael Nichol who has played in goal in his absence as Saturday football had taken him from the game along with several others.

Craig Mountain also had to leave the match after 60 minutes to pack off his gear to Leeds University with the lad having a blinder of a game and on course for Man of the Match. He scored the Steelers equaliser on 42 minutes with a perfectly placed header from a Thompson corner but this wasn’t enough to grab our first points of the season.

Comrades took advantage of our tiring legs in the second half and scored twice more to give them all 3 points but we were as good as the home side in the first 45 and fully deserved to go into the break on level terms.

Gary Walker replaced Craig Mountain on 60 minutes but there was no ease for Craig Thompson as he had to shoulder on for the 90 minutes, playing the last 15 as a striker to give the lad a bit respite.

I opted to start with 5 at the back and the wing back positions were filled by Thompson and Merren with the latter receiving a double man of the match award from the opposition and me. Marty put in a tremendous shift and took this seasons tally to 3 MOM’s.

The only time our defence was truly breached in the first half was on 29 minutes when the Comrades doubled up on their left hand side and sent in an early cross to the back post where 2 home strikers were waiting to pounce.



As mentioned earlier, we levelled through Craig Mountain but Ryan Grayson did work the ball on 3 occasions during this first period with only the final shot lacking the quality to have earned him a goal.

Quinn, Moralee & Williams were a tower of strength during the entire match and the pressure was upped on them during the second 45 as our legs tired but they did their utmost to keep the home side at bay.

The Comrades scored their second with a little bit of perseverance and good fortune when the ball bobbled up off the post and fell back to the winger’s feet who then pulled it back for the striker to slot home and give them the lead for the second time.

The third came with about 10 to go when sheer numbers overran our defence and a perfect shot was placed across our keeper and into the net.

Our best chance fell to Jamie Clifford when Ryan Grayson played him in but the home keeper was quickly off his line to snub the attack out.

Goals:
Craig Mountain

MOM from Manager:
Marty Merren

MOM from Opposition:
Marty Merren

3 Stars:
Marty Merren

2 Stars:
Kieron Moralee

1 Star:
Liam Burn
Craig Mountain

Yellow Cards:
None

Red Cards:
None

Achievements:
Gary Walker played his 70th game.