Match Report

Match : 1st XI v Portrush
Date : 2003-02-22
Venue : A
Score : 2-4
Scorers : Currie, Greer

By Alan Burgess

This was always going to be a tough game, just keeping Portrush at bay would be a result for a team in our current situation.

We played Portrush recently in the league and got beat 4-1, so we knew what to expect. Portrush move the ball with pace and accuracy, their players tend not to beat players with individual runs, they pass the ball instead. Tight marking and concentration was what was aked for from players, don't panic in defence and whack the ball aimlessly away, try to pick out a green shirt...sounds quite simple, doesn't it?

Well the first half was a disaster, no tight marking, no concentration, the ball was just whacked out of defence which meant it came straight back again. You can see a pattern emerging here...just do the opposite of what was discussed in the team talk. 2-0 down at half time and could have been more.

The second half however was a vast improvement on the first, let's face it, it could not have been worse. We started to pass the ball to players in our own team, our marking improved and we actually gave Portrush a bit of a game in the second half, it was literally end to end. Two great deflected goals from Greer and Currie restored some pride and we played with some confidence and created a number of good chances.

This was one of those games that saw the different sides to the 1stXI in one game. The first half we were awful, no marking, no desire, a player sent off for arguing with a team mate, then in the second half a more confident display and a bit of desire. If only we could get rid of one side of this type of performance.

J Hamill
A Murphy
D Menaul
G Reid
P Fraser
J Greer
D Caldwell
N Hermon
A Burgess
L Currie
P Irwin
M McDonald
B Watters