REAL DUNDONALD went to Richardson Evans Memorial ground this morning to face ARANTES UNITED in a league fixture, REAL knowing nothing more than 3 points was needed to propel them up the league table after a mixed yet positive start to the 13/14 season, despite only losing one game from 5 in the league, bad refereeing decisions have been a minor set-back to REAL's new campaign.
This game started with a very high tempo, UNITED players being very physical in the middle of the park, REAL DUNDONALD's GRAHAM and JAMES wasted no time in making their own presence felt too, the trickery of AHMAD tormenting both UNITED's midfielders and defenders, AHMAD playing off of top goal-scorer GYLES for this encounter with HARVEY and man of the match GUADAGNO on either flank respectively....with 10 minutes played the first real half chance fell to AHMAD after nice link up play between HARVEY and GYLES, GYLES laying off for AHMAD who took a little bit more time than needed to have a crack on goal, AHMAD was eventually closed down by sturdy defending...shortly after HOPKINS and HARVEY worked their flank very well and swiftly HOPKINS eager to roam forward menacingly, HOPKINS overlaps HARVEY receives the ball back then plays to GYLES who puts through HARVEY who now cleverly beats the offside trap, HARVEY should of done better with his chance, but it was a very good save by UNITED's goalkeeper all the same, he made himself big, some might have given MICHEAL ROBINSON (United's GK) man of the match this morning as he was called into action countless times.......it became clear that REAL should play more football out wide against this particular team, however wide man GUADAGNO kept seeing a lot of the ball, either he was tackling hard and taking the ball off of his opponents or beating his man with his sheer will-power, desire and pace, although he was backed up with the insurance and vast experience of skipper YOUNG directly behind him at LB GUADAGNO never forgot his defensive duties, the kid is finally maturing as a player, which is plain to see... GUADAGNO made a strong run to the by-line early on but his cross come shot was caught well by ROBINSON......with 20 minutes gone the game was evenly matched both teams having equal possession of the ball, however good decent chances fell for REAL DUNDONALD, with GRAHAM, GYLES, AHMAD and GUADAGNO all having decent attempts on goal, REAL even had a penalty appeal turned down after HARVEY jinxed his way into the box then was brought down by a trailing foot, the loose ball being fired over by GYLES....down the other end the only real chance UNITED had was through a mistimed header by HARVEY which allowed their CF through on goal but BIG BEN RADFORD got down well to give UNITED a corner-kick.....GRAHAM continued to work ever so hard in the engine room, himself and JAMES handled any threat by UNITED and if they did get through those two the central defensive pairing of NUTTALL and BLAKEBROUGH put an end to any ideas about testing RADFORD, who had a fairly quiet morning to be fair.... BLAKEBROUGH, HOPKINS and YOUNG all tough guys but footballing defenders, NUTTALL the speedy, no-nonsense, infectious, charismatic hard-man, this strong combination along with the absent ADEM and HOOPER explains a little of why REAL have the best defensive record so far in the league......soon after AHMAD, GYLES and HARVEY broke away in a counter-attack from a throw-in to UNITED deep in REAL's half, the ball initially intercepted by BLAKEBROUGH, a great combination of passing saw all three men take the ball up the other end in a flash only for HARVEY to be denied by another save by ROBINSON, HARVEY and HOPKINS linked well from the pursuing corner, HARVEY playing it short GRAHAM whipping it in, the ball falling for GUADAGNO who passed back to YOUNG, YOUNG having a pop, blocked by defenders, AHMAD picks it up just inside the box slides the ball to GYLES who has his low drive saved off the line by the now lunging ROBINSON, (this is some serious pressure by the away team) the ball still not cleared GRAHAM then fires it back goal-bound but somehow the ball ends up deflected and another corner to REAL DUNDONALD, ROBINSON again stopping any threat from this corner by catching the ball well in the air this time... the following punt up field saw UNITED get the ball down and play some good stuff earning them a corner after a good block by NUTTALL, the corner that followed saw RADFORD make a huge clanger (which is rare) to gift UNITED a simple tap in, but UNITED's goal scorer chose to blast it into the net with spite ha ha, this going behind lately has been a slight concern for the manager he admitted at full time but "REAL's response shows you their character" and why they are THAT team......with 42 minutes played midfield enforcer JAMES won the ball on the halfway line and then went on a unusual mazy run (for him ha) showing great agility and strength as he was being kicked left, right and centre, eventually the Referee blew for a another foul for REAL (GUADAGNO, GYLES and AHMAD had been getting fouled quite often in this half) HARVEY took the free-kick, on target but denied by ROBINSON...in the last minute of the first half GRAHAM found GYLES with a beautiful disguised pass, GYLES through and clearly onside but the flag went up..........
The second half saw the manager change things slightly, YOUNG swapping roles with JAMES, HARVEY and GUADAGNO swapping flanks, the emphasis now on spreading the ball wide and finding the spaces in and about UNITED's full backs who were tiring, with only 5-6 minutes played REAL were dealt a nasty blow when NUTTALL had to be taken off due to a re-occurring injury, the returning WEEKS was called into action, WEEKS another no-nonsense defender, versatile and clever in REAL's backline, WEEKS is comfortable RB, CB or LB, WEEKS had been out since the second week of pre-season, WEEKS took no part in pre-season games although you would have never have thought so, he filled in perfectly and without nerves, a man of high concentration levels just like his fellow defender who now looked on from the side lines..... REAL pressed and searched for the equalizer, YOUNG, now in his natural position of Centre Midfield, used the ball well bringing in HARVEY or GUADAGNO more and more, good urgent play between HOPKINS and GUADAGNO saw GUADAGNO fouled again on REAL's right flank, the left-side of UNITED's goal, skipper YOUNG wanted this one he took the free-kick with pin-point accuracy and power, the crowd saw the ball go over the wall heading straight for the top corner then suddenly the right hand glove of ROBINSON makes a terrific save tipping the ball over the bar, great strike great save!!....just after the hour mark the manager made another tactical change bringing off the tricky AHMAD who had another good performance for REAL, albeit in a more advanced role this morning, AHMAD made way for another tricky player, a fine footballer too.. Ian ROBERTS.... the introduction of "King" ROBERTS saw REAL equalize within 5 minutes, the goal coming from the man himself, he is now REAL DUNDONALDS second highest goal-scorer this term .....the influential YOUNG and staunch GRAHAM linking well in midfield, GRAHAM finds JAMES who finds HARVEY, HARVEY turning his man with great balance, finding room to deliver a sweetly hit floating cross which teases the whole UNITED defence and ROBINSON is caught hesitating momentarily, ROBINSON then quickly darts about 15 yards from his line to punch the ball but King ROBERTS rises his body sideways so gracefully 'just' before him and steers the ball into the net! 1-1!!!!!..... it was a lovely professional goal, from the build up to the exeution was top top drawer, really nice to watch!!! The bench goes wild, King ROBERTS points to the bench as he runs back to re-start....REAL DUNDONALD now know this game is theirs for the taking, BLAKEBROUGH face contorted with determination goes on one of his "come on then" dribbling escapades out of central defence feeding the ball to HARVEY who again crosses low King ROBERTS again sharply on to it with a good first time sweeping shot but ROBINSON is equal to it, UNITED had a chance themselves from a good cross, a near post header going wide, it looked like RADFORD had it covered but it was a scare all the same, another chance came for them after a free-kick was given away by GRAHAM just in his own half, the free-kick went straight into REAL's danger area but no UNITED player was their to pounce, the ball was safely collected by RADFORD......HARVEY had another good chance to open his own account this term after a superb turn on a UNITED defender, completely leaving his opponent for dead,, HARVEY's shot was hard, low and accurate but ROBINSON made a good save from the angle....the following corner resulted in a bit of to and fro with headers, YOUNG heading back towards goal a defender clearing with his head, King ROBERTS heading back in then GYLES's header going over the bar from a tight angle........with 10 minutes to go the manager gave M-O-T-M GUADAGNO a much deserved rest and introduced GILKS who too showed a good maturity for his years in his thinking, his application of how to play this beautiful game, GILKS continued to pull out really wide when REAL DUNDONALD had the ball, this in turn gave the clever YOUNG and GRAHAM even more room to dictate and see things ahead, this left the UNITED midfield properly stretched as they were congesting the middle of the park at times after the equalizer......with minutes on the clock left to play skipper YOUNG plays a nice ball into MICHEAL GYLES, GYLES with his back to goal 18 yards out controls the ball with his chest, the ball drops, he turns his marker like its basketball, defender now is wrong footed, and unleashes a very vicious shot right in the corner of the goal, the ball hits the side netting of the inside net, ROBINSON dives well but is always reaching, GYLES runs away celebrating with a look of "pick that out mate"..... REAL DUNDONALD played out the remaining minutes with a steely concentration, confidence and air of class about them........REAL DUNDONALD are now unbeaten in 3 games.
Although some observers would say REAL DUNDONALD made hard work of this game, I wouldn't go so far as to say REAL won ugly..... but REAL are clearly not at their best yet, however there are promising signs that there best is not too far away......
Tonight REAL DUNDONALD sit in 3rd place in the league.
HAYES, AL-MAJALI, HOOPER, INGRAM, MARK JAMES, ALDERSON, MUDY ADEM, KIT GURRIN were all unavailable today, These are top players.
REAL once again have a very large Squad which is what's needed in this day and age of modern football, so this can only be a good thing.
REAL are back in another Cup Competition this Sunday 10th November at HOME v Old Wimbledonians Reserves (Tom Lawson Cup) 10:30am kick off
"its sure to be entertaining"
follow on twitter @THERDFC
B. Harriott
