Mary Dendy FC fans pages
Published by Tom Perry · October 22 at 7:20pm ·
Dendy boys make good on last week.
To say Mary Dendy had a better game than last week technically isn’t a very hard thing to do based on last week’s performance. Instead, Dendy not only played to a much higher standard today, but pulled out one of the best performances of recent times against a team that last week we made to look unbeatable. A solid starting eleven bolstered by a good bench played their boots off on a bright, cool October day at Knights Grange against Over 3 Grange FC; which is a ridiculous name for a football team.
From the first whistle Dendy had something about them with accurate, short passing and movement into space between defenders and midfield, with strikers making solid runs supported by the wingers, as well as quick team pressing of the ball. This forcing Grange to rush and play the long through-ball or a lofty pass over the top to that the backline were equal to, which was a pleasure to watch from the sidelines. Team spirit was raised with several close calls when Adam Wakefield burst into the box and rounded the keeper who caught him as he passed. Had Adam gone down it would have been a certain penalty. Shortly afterward Shaun Cunningham was brought down in the eighteen near the touchline by a last ditch challenge by the defender after being given the spin around. Shaun (and his belly) also stepped up to slot the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner with the keeper guessing the same way, but unable to make any meaningful contact. Another shot in a crowded box looked destined for the top corner but not for the keepers fingertips diverting the ball around the post. Dendy kept the pressure on until 35 minutes when the talking and work rate slowed briefly as people began to tire and Grange found an equalizer from a set-piece with an unmarked man finding himself one-on-one with Stuey in the box, who had previously had very little to do but pick up over hit passes and take goalkicks.
Second half saw Shaun Davey replace Scotty Jones which would have been mean on Scott as he had a stormer playing against a rapid number 9 and overlapping midfielders making life difficult, but he was first to admit he was beginning to succumb to the effort he put in. Dendy started strong again from the kick-off, were winning first and second balls and keeping hold of the ball too. This eventually led to Ashley Roberts picking up on a bouncing, loose ball around the left side of the 18 yard box and with an effortless swing of his right leg, he sliced the ball at waist height on the half volley and admired it as it appeared to dip under the bar in the top right of the net to gasps of astonishment of all watching. Not seven minutes later some great passing between Adam Morning and Ash Roberts led to Adam Wakefield dribbling into space in the box under pressure from goalkeeper and defender. The keeper managed to get some contact to the ball and player and as it spilled out of a collection of arms and legs Adam managed to wrangle the ball around two players on his hands and knees, and scramble the ball into the net. Grange began throwing players forward and led to some rushed Dendy clearances and challenging conditions trying to pick up the oncoming players. Several times the ball found its way behind the defence and left it to Stu to pull out some excellent saves. After some hangbags from Curbo in the box he had to come off with a busted nose from an unseen elbow from a frustrated Grange player. Woff set into defence shortly followed by Ash Wilson for Lewis Chisholm who looked like he’d left everything on the pitch. The pressure continued from Grange for the last 15 minutes but not for the central midfield closing everything down and wingers beginning to play as wing backs they were kept to the touchline unable to thread more than two passes together and getting caught offside on the through-ball. Jason Bird stepped on for Ash Roberts and was almost immediately called into action when he picked up on a great reverse-pass in from the left. One too many touches led to a sliding tackle from the defender taking it off his toe. Late on Shaun came close with a speculative effort from 25 yards which seemed destined for the bottom corner until it was diverted away from goal by the only divot on an otherwise pristine pitch.
The game ended 3-1 to the victorious Dendy, who really needed the win more for morale than anything. The key seems to be the quick press, completed short passes and the much improved talking on the pitch. With a familiar set up to the starting eleven we should start to see similar performances in the league this season.
Drinks were at the Knights Grange pub outside in the cool sun. Donkey was almost unanimously voted for Ash Wilson who screamed like a little bitch as he got choke-slammed to the ground in the attacking corner. Special mention goes to Shep who got shat on by a bird in the beer garden.
Man of the match was the excellent Ash Roberts whose volleyed goal and excellent attacking movement saw him take it away from Stuart Davies who was solid all game behind his defence.
No food though, but no one seemed bothered.
