Match report by Aidan 'Raird Shin Paad' Logue
An impressive hard earned victory against a strong vocal team.
The game started at a steady pace with both teams attempting to win their personal battles with not many chances developing in the first ten minutes. Then Mexoc's dominance started to come to the fore assisted by M Donagheys long throws into the box for the attacking team, Matthews and Mc Neil coming close were the best of the chances. Then totally against the run of play the Liobians striker took a ‘hit and hope’ effort from 30 yards that looped over Johnson’s head catching him unaware to the dismay of the entire Mexoc team, this being their first shot of the game. After this Mc Neil and Gogol continued to get stuck in at midfield not allowing any Liobians player time on the ball. Mexoc’s main attacking threat in this half was Faulkner’s prowess up the right wing but the finishing touch was letting us down.
The half time team talk from Fiorentini was positive, encouraging everyone keep plugging away and the goals will come,…. Inspiration personified!
The second half started as first left off with Mexoc in charge. A prolonged period of ‘the Donaghey special’ long throws resulted in Gogol tackling the keeper and after about ten seconds realising the ball was at his feet 2 yards from goal with no one around him, going on previous form the chances were only 50/50 that he would get our deserved equaliser, but with a deep breath and a ‘hit and hope’ approach he steered it into the net. Well deserved for his persistent work. With confidence high within ten minutes we were in front, JD meeting a cross from the right with his forehead/shoulder and the ball bobbled beautifully inside the right post just outside the fully stretched keepers grasp.
We continued to dominate the midfield for the next period, and in this period Gogol was accused of being an ‘Irish Cnut’? Faulkner then produced the moment of the match when released down the right wing he took his man on, flew past him and thundered the ball right footed into the top right corner, the keeper not standing a chance considering that he dived to the bottom left where John had intended the ball to go.
With all 3 substitutions made Mexoc settled to run down the remainder of the time and hold onto our lead. Our only concern was our inability to close the game as a contest (missing Causley's cool finishing!), our lack of concentration forced Johnson into at least one brilliant save in the closing stages. Unfortunately the chunky Liobians striker must have been promised an extra after mach pie if he scored, in the last minute he swivelled and produced a world class volley from distance, but it was all to little too late and Mexoc took all three points.
The only other point to mention was that Simon Steff must have been relieved that the dick of the day was not reinstated for this match. His sliced volley attempting to return the ball to the pitch beside ours landed closer to the changing rooms than their pitch as the 44 players on both teams looked on in amazement/ shock/ and horror as to how that was possible.
