18 September 2005 M&DSFL Div 9 at Manor Park, Worcester Park Kingston Cosmos 1 11 DCFC 3 Gary L 7, Richie 51, Pete 69

 

 

 

 

Wayne gets to grips with Cosmos

After an impressive run in our pre-season friendlies, we could only hope that run remained and that we did the unthinkable and win our first match of the season. Generally slow starters, it was good to see that the form that we had displayed in our friendlies continued and we won on the opening day of the season, for the first time since 1999. That match against Alexandra United however was eventually void, so the last game that we won on the opening day that actually counted was when we beat Marble Hill Reserves as DFC in the West Fulham League. Nine years has past and how things have changed, only Richie and Ed remain as regular players, we play in a different league, but we now play in those old traditional colours of black and white again. Can these colours bring us good fortune again, only time can tell, but it's worth pointing out that the 96/97 season was probably the best in the clubs history.

Staying on the subject of that game back in '96, it was Ed's debut game, he scored two goals and shared Man of the Match with Kev H. A lot more agile back in those days, now he uses his experience to his advantage.

The one most notable impressive thing that stood out today, was the defending. It was as good a display that you can ask for, Pete and Dan L both defended tirelessly and bravely for the cause, Rob at full-back shone, I'm sure he prefers that role to playing up front, hey Rob ? Wayne also did everything that anyone could possibly ask for.

The midfield worked well again and Matty can probably see that winning three Player of the Seasons is going to take some doing. This is arguably the best Dundonald Chase team we have had yet, remember Damion, Dan M, Tom, to name but a few, were all missing.

Leroy and Gary L up front, is going to be an interesting combination. Gary has come on leaps and bounds and is starting to blossom into a good young lively striker. It was indeed Gary who got us off to a cracking start, after he unleashed a lethal shot from 25 yards, giving the far from redundant Cosmos keeper little chance early on.

Leroy in hot pursuit

Gary L rises to the challenge

It all looked so good for a few minutes at least, until Geoff, made an unfortuitous error, failing to keep out a ..... back pass! All credit to Geoff though, as it would have been easy to bow his head in shame, but instead he grew with confidence as the game went on and ended up making a number of decent saves. He more than made up for his early error.

The remainder of the half was to be fair a fairly evenly contested one, we seemed to break well, whilst Cosmos generally edged the territorial possession. Isn't it normally the other way round ?

A half-time score of 1-1 seemed just about fair, this was a game that could go either way, so when Richie was put through with just over 5 minutes of the second gone, coolly lobbing the advancing keeper, we had advantage again. How Richie managed to play with an immobile left arm, remains a mystery.

Already having one defender in your team that grabs you vital goals, is an asset, but possibly finding another is a god send. That may well be what we have in Pete, as a 'diving header' probably helped to seal the game with 69 (easy Chara!) minutes gone.

Just as we thought we had it in the bag - never a good thing to think, as we should know, Kingston were awarded a dubious penalty, Dan L - the accused, couldn't believe it and naturally protested as Dan does best! Maybe justice was done as Geoff saved, what was a rather soft penalty, just off centre.

We did enough in the end, to hang on and come away with three points. It's been nine years since we last got 3 points on the opening day of the season, lets not leave it as long next time!

 

Winning the first game is never easy: