Old Dons Reserves entertained there nearest rivals Swineshead Reserves in an eagerly anticipated local derby, the Dons had a strong team to put out however 20 mins before kick off they lost there inspirational captain and also there playmaker, both called up to the first team,Mark Stanhope shuffled his team about and both Ryan Long and Ryan Slater came in for the 2 appys.
The match started off brightly with the away team having most of the early possesion and they were starting to dominate the match, Swineshead finally got the breakthrough when the Old Dons were exposed yet again from a set piece, not for the first time this season, too slow to set up and not picking up markers, Jakes strong header out fell to the Swineshead player unmarked on the edge of the area and his shot flew into the top corner, Ryan will possibly be slightly disappointed not too get to the shot but the defensive frailties from set pieces were there for all to see, maybe setting up of corners needs to be addressed by Mark Stanhope before the game starts to avaoid many more goals from set pieces. Old Dons are making a habbit of conceding forst goals but once agin they picked themselves up and soon got an equaliser, Dans cross was headed back into the danger area by Andy Barnett and Alex wood headed in for his first of the season. The equaliser kicked Old Dons back into life and soon went ahead, Lee Whyte spotted the run of Andy Barnett and played the 41 year old through and after the keeper failed to deal with the pass it was there for Barnett to tap home. Unfortunatly for the Old Dons top scorer Steven Burdall had to go off injured to be replaced by Trev Hammond and the team was shuffled again, Trev to the back and Jake into midfield, just before half time, Old Dons again failed to clear there lines and Swineshead got there equaliser.
Into the second half and Old Dons started to get a bit of possesion, Whyte hitting the cross bar and Andy Barnett forcing a good save from a free kick, the Dons regained there lead after a little intricate pass by Jake to Alex and the 16 year old slotted home brilliantly for his second of the match. Old Dons were starting to struggle now, all Subs used and Trev Hammond collecting another injury meant that another shuffle into the team, trev stayed on to help out but another set piece and Swineshead got another equaliser, by now the legs had gone in the Dons team, they had one more chance through Alex but he blazed over, Shawn Scott recieved another booking, his 3rd in a row for dissent and under the totting up procedure is now close to a ban.
A 3 - 3 scoreline was probably the right result, all the talking before the game was how big a game it was being a local derby, unfortunatly for the Old Dons the talking finished before the game begun. More talking is needed throughout the team and set pieces need to be addressed. Football is a simple game and for the Old Dons to keep up with the leaders in this division they must start at the basics of communication.
