DUNDONALD CHASE F.C.
NEWS ARCHIVE

7 November 2004 M&DSFL Division 9 at DUNDONALD ROAD RECREATION GROUND

DCFC 2 (1)
Leroy 32, Dan L 89
Chessington & Hook Utd. Res. 3 (1)
29, 53, 66

Jump around, jump around, jump up, jump up and get down

This was one of those games that left you feeling happy with our performance and yet slightly disappointed with the result. Some would argue that this was our best performance of the season so far, eclipsing our great battle against Bar Sia, that game was only let down by our strange and agonising collapse in the last five minutes.

Chessington visited Dundonald, sitting proudly aloft of division 9. On what we saw today it was understandable how they achieved their status. Not a bad outfit for a reserve side. Young, sharp and lively going forward, although maybe falling for the offside trap once too often. We did well to compete against them, probably giving them more of a test then they may have expected. It's another one of those close games that we could have got something out of but didn't. It would be unfair to moan too much about the chances missed, but you can't help but contemplate: Damion's header that flashed wide, Leo's header that went inches over and Matty's half chances as well.

It was mentioned that we always seem to raise our game against stronger opponents, nothing wrong with that, we just need to try and play as well all the time, as we do lose some silly games.

Chessington scored at a time when they were admittedly edging it, but we were very much in it ourselves. A great strike from range gave Geoff little chance and C&H were in front. They had already given us an early wake up call after they netted earlier on, only for the goal to be ruled off-side. Our response though was as good as it can be, first Leroy had a goal ruled out (foul on keeper) and then equalised, finishing off superbly from a 30 yard run. This made a real game of it and gave us the belief that we could really push on and get something, although it was never going to be easy.

When your up against it, you need your defence to be strong, Tom and Dan both had to battle hard and contributed every bit to a great defensive performance, that without any shadow of a doubt, helped to keep the game within our grasp.

It's tradition that the second half is usually our bad half. So a 1-1 half-time scoreline, although respectable, was always going to be tough to protect, or even improve on. We didn't do a lot wrong defensively in this game, but that edge that Chessington have showed in the two goals that they scored, good movement for the second and a deadly strike for the third. We refused to give in though, we can take great credit for continuing to prod away, Matty went on a couple of runs down the left, which produced attempts on goal, Damion agonisingly headed wide with a chunk of the goal gaping, Leo headed over, but eventually Dan Lawless met Ed's precise cross from a free kick to give the game an interesting ending.

Looking back you can't help but feel disappointed that not one of those chances went in. Chessington naturally had other chances as well, Geoff making a couple of interesting saves. All in all, we gave a good account of ourselves and can go away from this game satisfied that we nearly withstood the test and nearly produced a mild shock in division 9. Unfortunately nearlies count for nothing.