Match Report

Match : 1st XI v Larne
Date : 2007-10-06
Venue : H
Score : 4-1
Scorers : G Tumilson, A Burgess, A Russel, R McDowell

By Honorary Secretary

East kicked off their league matches with a home game against local rivals Larne. Both teams have lost players over the past couple of years and it was a MUST WIN GAME!

East started much the brighter of the two teams establishing an attractive passing game and enjoying the lions share of the possession in the first half. An experienced back line of Graeme, Scott, George and Thom dominated the Larne forwards giving us a solid base to attack from. Leon was able to find lots of space in the centre of the park and was starting to boss the game with accurate passes up to the forwards who led by Alan where creating chances and winning short corners.

So much was Easts territorial advantage that George as sweeper was able to step forward and attack and it was this that the first goal came about. George picking a loose ball up, jinking past two defenders and unleashing a thunderbolt into the top corner.

1-0 and nerves eased slightly, east still playing fast passing hockey pressed forward at every opportunity hoping to get that elusive second goal and eventually it came. Leon winning a free on the half way line played an inch perfect ball to Alan who beat two defenders and then cooly rounded the keeper to slot home.

2-0 at half time and East were confident of adding to their total in the second half. At the start of the half East played some truely sublime hockey and created chance after chance with alan going close a couple of times and Ben only fractionaly missing after flinging himself onto a cross at the back post.

Then up stepped the marauding George who carved open the Larne defence with an aerial pass into the path of Kriss who inturn squared the ball to Alan to slot home. A fourth goal followed soon after with Ronnie deflecting a cross from Alan past the keeper. 4-0 up and we were cruising, a perfect opportunity to put in a big score. Then things started to go wrong with east losing their shape somewhat and losing their men. But all credit to larne who got themselves organised at the back and changed shape to offer more in attack and managed to score a consolitary goal with a back post tap in.

All in all a good day for the green machine although the last 20 minutes were dissapointing. Players like Alan Burgess, Scott, Graeme and Ben where immense but unfortunately man of the match has to go to George for two pieces of individual brilliance and for his captains role in leading by example.Thanks must go to Graeme and Scott for playing even though they now have hectic personal lives and also to Mark and Michael who played well all game.

D Hutton
T Russell
G Reid
G Tumilson
S Higginson
S Cummins
L Currie
B Martin
R McDowell
A Burgess
M Walker
M Wilson
K Leslie
A Russell

George Tumilson