DUNDONALD CHASE F.C.
NEWS ARCHIVE

18 January 2004 Morden & District League Division 8 at DUNDONALD ROAD RECREATION GROUND

DCFC 4 (1)
Dan 17, Damion 50, Richie 66, Kirk 87
NC Royals 4 (0)
59,61,71,81

This was one of those games that after the final whistle went, you didn't know if you should feel glad or disappointed. A game that was blessed with fantastic goals from both sides, but more sadly, poor defending by ourselves.

We got off to a fairly good start for a change, although we could easily have gone a couple down as Royals failed to punish us when loose balls in our box weren't dealt with, their attempts were fortunately fired over the bar.

Our problems up front have caused us to make more tactical changes, this time Richie volunteered to give it a go himself. To help our front men out, it is crucial that our midfielder's offer what they can while we struggle to find a regular hit man up front. Ed was unlucky not to score when his free kick, which was destined for the top corner was well tipped over the bar - Matty pulled off another save from the Royals keeper with a shot from a tight angle. The deadlock was however broken when Ed's free kick from the right was well swung to the far post and Dan was there to meet it with a great header into the top far corner. From this point we were on top. Royals weren't going to enjoy another coasting. They've spanked us twice, but both times, it was at that ground in Overton Road that we never seem to do well on. We have seemed to play better at home this season and again today we were performing a lot better then we did in our last meeting with NCR.

It was good to go in a goal to the good at half time, just like we did against Erskine in our last home game. We are of course vulnerable to losing leads and it would only take one mistake for the Royals to get back in it. Damion's goal, 5 minutes into the second half was therefore crucial, as he found the keeper off his line and delicately lobbed him. This should have been the goal that set us up for 3 points, unfortunately we got sloppy and let Royals back in the game. Our defence lost their shape and Royals subsequently punished us. No sooner were we 2-0 up, we were then suddenly at 2-2, as Royals grabbed two goals inside 3 minutes. Richie then hit a beauty with a free kick which bent into the top corner, now all we had to do was to hold onto the lead, but things went from bad to worse as the defence collapsed and we found ourselves 4-3 down. In truth, we didn't really deserve this, so when Kirk fired in his effort with 3 minutes remaining, it was a great relief, but we still had to hold on. We could of actually won it right at the death, as Gunes swung in a good cross and Joe's header went wide of the post.

In the end, we could reflect on a good game, a tie that had loads of great goals, probably great for a neutral spectator, but not for us. Talking of neutral spectators, one of these ended up being a possible addition to the squad, oh, where does he play, up front, come on that must be too good to be true!