The first game in Division 4 saw REAL DUNDONALD welcome St Helier to King Georges Playing Fields for a 10:30am Kick Off, a lively confident start to this opening day fixture saw REAL dominating things in the early part of the first half, fully enjoying the lions share of possession, AHMAD, making his league debut for REAL, constantly caused problems down HELIER'S left side, linking well with HOPKINS, ALDERSON, GYLES and AL-MAJALI, within 14 minutes of play the lively AHMAD found GYLES on the inside GYLES leaving his pursuers to feed AL-MAJALI who done well to lose his marker, although the pass was straight through the middle AL-MAJALI dragged his shot wide, a warning and a let off for St HELIER....just a few minutes later ALDERSON this time turning provider for the busy AL-MAJALI, a great ball from the centre of the park sliced open St HELIER'S defence, this time AL-MAJALI'S shot was on target but saved by the keeper....what happened next was totally against the run of play, St HELIER found themselves 0-1 in front from a long ball but tidy composure nevertheless saw them go ahead, just 7 minutes later 0-2 to St HELIER after a mistake by ALDERSON (which is rare for him) allowed St HELIER to easily convert home....REAL fought back strongly throughout the remainder of the half, AL-MAJALI going close again, GYLES should of opened his account from close range with a header after a good move down the left involving AL-MAJALI, HARVEY and WHITE, WHITE swinging in the cross which St HELIER found hard to defend although their keeper denied GYLES this time......a short while later GYLES was unfortunate not to score after fine play between himself and AHMAD both toying with, then penetrating St HELIER'S defence...as the half came to a close WHITE found himself making a last ditch tackle to stop a goal-bound strike from St HELIERS number 9, good defending, Big BEN RADFORD (captain) made a "vital save" from the following corner after a screamer from St HELIERS number 10...the half finished with REAL having 5-6 attempts on goal, St HELIER 3
The second half saw REAL come out almost offended, now fully switched on and raring to go, REAL were playing with flair and dominating proceedings yet couldn't find a goal, however this team has so much quality throughout it was really just a matter of time before more opportunities came their way, within 5 minutes the consistent HARVEY had to be replaced after sustaining an ankle injury, another injury!!!?????...Harvey was replaced by MARK JAMES (returning after a long long lay off), The Gaffer put him at LB which drew a very funny remark from his twin MICHAEL JAMES, Michael saying loudly in all seriousness "why you putting him there?, he's too f***ing slow", MICHAEL JAMES himself now operating at CB after starting the game in CM, NUTTALL slightly more effective in CM today after the switch by the two Hardmen mid-way through the 1st half, although both men played well this morning, they will both tell you there is more to come from them, saying that, THERE WAS MORE TO COME FROM REAL DUNDONALD THIS MORNING, a lot more.....moments after this unexpected substitution REAL introduced two fresh players, number 7 B. HAYES for the impressive yet tiring Khalil AHMAD and P. GUADAGNO the man with tooooo much energy for the ever improving and reliable K. WHITE.....it wasn't long before REAL'S hard work, imagination and desire to comeback paid off, tidy sure defending by 16 yr old Mudeser ADEM (also making his league debut for REAL) started the move by strongly winning his challenge then distributing the ball to HOPKINS, HOPKINS found NUTTALL in the middle of the park, NUTTALL fed HAYES now at RM, HAYES played a one-two with GYLES then passed to ALDERSON who was arriving out on the right flank, ALDERSON cut in on that sweet left foot of his and curled a nice cross to GYLES who was now at the far post to nod the ball back to where it came from 1-2 GOOD FINISH, GAME ON .....REAL continued to ask questions, GUADAGNO should of pulled the trigger earlier when he found himself in a good shooting position just outside their box, ADEM'S effort cleared off the line from a corner kick, the equalizer came from another lovely through ball from ALDERSON to GYLES, GYLES with a defender pulling and kicking out at him could of went down for a sure penalty but firmly stayed on his feet, he attempted to round the keeper, the keeper stuck out a foot and deflected the ball up high for GYLES to simply nod home 2-2, AL-MAJALI promptly picking the ball out the net (nice work) "AL-MAJALI sensed blood"....St HELIER were now starting to argue amongst themselves because they were, had been seriously under the cosh for quite some time....REAL'S fitness levels and spirit was clear for all to see, with ten minutes to go REAL kept pressing and pressing St HELIER back into their own half...NUTTALL and RB HOPKINS coming more and more forward looking for the goal...in the final 10 minutes GYLES found himself chasing a ball over the top from NUTTALL'S pass, it was a 50-50 between their GK and REAL'S number 10 both men arriving at the ball strongly but fairly, the goalkeeper using his hands but then spilling it!!!! almost immediately GYLES got closed down by defenders but instinctively poked the ball towards the on-rushing HAYES who accurately hit a "first time" shot from 30 yards!!! GREAT FINISH, GREAT GOAL!! 3-2
As with Joy sometimes can come Pain.
Football can be cruel....almost with the last kick of the game a very bad decision by the Referee cost REAL all 3 points (St HELIER could also tell you about the Ref today, some crazy decisions and unnecessary stopping the flow of the game) Referee Tony Best awarded a throw in to St HELIER which was deflected out of play by a St HELIER player in the first place (not the first time)...this resulted in a long throw being headed in to make the game 3-3..St HELIER got out of jail today and they knew it, although to be fair, it was a decent finish.
Maybe REAL are guilty of arguing this pathetic decision instead of defending, organising which they had done so well up until then??
REAL DUNDONALD HAVE NOT LOST A LEAGUE GAME AT HOME FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.
