DUNDONALD CHASE F.C.
NEWS ARCHIVE

16 November 2003 - Morden & District League Division 8 at Nursery Road Recreation Ground

(80 minute game)

DCFC 2 (1)
Damion 10, 67
P& H Athletic 1 (0)
70

This is just one of many stoppages

It wasn't the most attractive game of football, but it was our first win since, wait for it, March!

Maybe the Rugby World Cup semi-final did us a small favour, as P&H started the game with 9. Their other players didn't arrive until gone 11, as it was this game kicked off half an hour late at 11.00

You have to go back to our 3-1 win against Kingston Cosmos at the end of the last season, to find the last time we won. It's good to see that our barren spell has come to an end. Hopefully these 3 points will kick-start our season, as realistically there is still everything to play for - Division 8 survival and of course the Hickey Cup.

With our opponents starting with 9 men, we understandably took control of the game, 2 extra men out on field, was always going to make it tricky for P&H.

We've been winging on about the lack of a striker up front, but when you've got someone with the creative flair and clinical finishing of Damion, maybe we don't have too much to worry about. Damion scored our best goal of the season so far (admittedly there hasn't been that many!) when he took on several P&H players, before hitting a lovely shot into the bottom far corner.

As soon as P&H had 11 men, you could see the expected change, the nagging question in the back of the mind, was a negative one - for how long could we hold onto this lead ?

It wasn't a game littered with chances and to be honest it was one of the most 'niggly' games of recent times, with plenty of stoppages and not enough decent flowing football. At least we were having pops at goal though. Matty had a few efforts, along with Kirk. Matty came closest, when his shot from distance bounced the wrong side of the post in the first half.

Reflecting on chances from P&H in the first half they rarely tested Ed in goal. Ed did another good job this week, quick off his line, he admittedly limited any chances our opponents had.

At half time no one knew what to do with themselves. We are too used to shouting each other, assessing our deficit, this time round, we were actually a goal in front! The last time we were a goal in front at half-time was against ..... Kingston Cosmos.

There wasn't a great deal in it, in the second half. Neither keeper was being put under any great deal of pressure. Our defending was sometimes out of shape, but was saved by some very good last minute interceptions. So when Damion scored after taking on several players and then smashed in his initially saved effort on the line, we had the advantage we so badly needed. However, it wasn't to last long as Ed wrong footed, missed the P&H strike and we were to be back in for a nail biting finish!

P&H were now seeking an equaliser, they saw headers go over and wide and shots blocked and you couldn't help but look at your watch every minute. There was still plenty of time to play, what with stoppage time as well, so when Damion went on another mazy run and went sprawling in the area, it was great relief to see the ref point to the spot, but hang on a minute, we don't like penalties. Damion had to have the penalty, especially as it meant he had the chance to grab his first hat-trick for the club, bad sadly the hoodoo remains as his effort to the bottom corner was well saved. Aaaagggh!

Luckily the whistle soon blew up after the miss. These 3 points take us off the bottom of the table, lets not go back there again!