An injury ravaged Weekenders eventually ran out of steam after battling manfully for most of the game. Missing players of the calibre of Jamie Wilsher, Mike Hogan, Regan Leslie, Phil Douglas, Zeb Small and Scott Allan would leave a hole in any side, let alone one with a small squad. Gerry O'Donnell made a very welcome return to the side. Kane Thomas made himself available despite working night shift Friday. Playing against a much younger and fitter City Development, Weekenders took a while to find the pace of the game. Despite talk before the game about the need to be quicker in passing while in possession of the ball, Weekenders continued with their tactics from training of trying to dribble around the opposition whilst shutting their own team mates down at the same time. They need to learn from this, one touch control then pass, follwed by moving in to space.
The first half was a fairly even affair. Both teams had chances, Scott Burney unlucky with a couple of strikes, while at the other end Golden Boots Kinnerly was at his magnificent best to keep City at bay. City lost one of their strikers early in the game after being on the receiving end of a crunching tackle from centre back Mark Allan which left him with a broken leg. Matt Jefferies came off after a groin injury, with Tarf Pohio stepping in to an unfamiliar role of full back, where he played well. This left the team with a very inexperienced back four, who all stepped up the the challenge. Weekenders started to struggle understanding some the calls going against them. It appeared that any challenge was awarded towards the City team, even if the Weekenders were in possession. Offsides can be difficult to call, but the shirt pulling, kicking at ankles and shoulders in the back were easily spotted on the sideline but were apparently much harder to see on the field. It was generally felt that the Weekenders were being punshed for being bigger and stronger than their opponants, despite City being faster. Half time saw the teams deadlocked at nil all.
Upon resumption of play, Weekenders played well. Passing the ball was swifter, players were moving off the ball, the talk increased. The result of this was a deserved goal by Geoff Smith. Nice play down the right hand side saw Pohio find himself in space. Rather than cross he rolled it inside, straight in to Smith's stride who thumped an unstoppable left foot piledriver inside the near post. Frustration levels increased as calls continued to go against the Weekenders. Roared on by a vociferous crowd they were unable to keep the lead for long. City took the advantage of a tiring opposition with 2 quick goals. A thunderous Scott Burney strike from long range went screaming inches past the the far post. City then scored a third goal from a freekick, the player a good yard offside, depsite this being pointed out to the ref before the kick was taken. With Weekenders chasing a way back in to the game City hit on the counter-attack, a bungled clearance after a goalmouth scramble dropping to a City player who slipped it beyond the reach of the unlucky Kinnerly in goal. Full time saw the score at 4-1. A clearly frustrated and dissapointed Weekenders left the field to mull the result over a cold beer or 2, during which they declared themselves the moral victors.
Next game - 12.30pm v Cosmos, No. 9
MOM
3 - Geoff Smith
2- Kane Thomas
1- Mark Allan
Mentioned in Despatches
Tarf Pohio, Gerry O'Donnell, Brad Muirhead, Peter Kinnerly, Peter Ellicott
Results of Match Day 3
Hammers v Collegiate 2nd XI
Marist Celtic 3 v Braves 2
Csomos Classics 1 v Castlecliff 2
Cosmos 15 v Thirsties 1
Marist Casual Nil v Collegiate 1st XI 3
