All Gone Wrong

I was glad the blog was unavailable for the last while because it meant I could put off writing a report on our last couple of games. Our recent good run has come to a crashing halt and we've left ourselves with little to play for until the end of the season.

UCFL Div. 3
24 March 2012

Terenure FC 3rds 3 – 6 Arthur Griffith Park FC 2nds

In the weeks before this game I was talking about the huge difference a settled back four has made to us and with two of those four missing on Saturday it was more evident than ever. AGP looked dangerous every time they attacked as they countered at speed and their six goals in no way flattered them. Yet we had chances and fought back from 3-0 down at half time to 3-2 and then 4-3 but each time we got within a goal we gifted one straight back. We were too gung ho when we should have been looking to keep our composure with AGP suddenly finding themselves under pressure but we didn't do it, having learned nothing from a similar comeback against Siemens earlier in the season.


Graham Maher was one of a few to take away some credit from the game scoring twice to maintain his excellent record since regaining fitness. The changes to the back four left things a bit out of shape but it would be unfair to level all the blame at them, they never received enough protection from the midfield and we didn't keep the ball well enough in the final third to give them relief. AGP were sharper to everything and maybe we had the wrong attitude on the day, Mr. Trapattoni like to talk about the mantalitee and ours was all wrong as AGP fought harder and though faster.

UCFL Div. 3 Shield
24 March 2012

Phoenix FC 1 – 0 Terenure FC 3rds

The shield now represents our only chance of silverware this season and losing our first game has now made winning it a huge task. Once again we were very disappointing as we failed to play any good football, despite seeing the opposition reduced to 10 men less than half an hour into the game.
We started badly conceding a penalty in the first 5 minutes; Niall saved brilliantly and also blocked the rebound as we totally failed to react. This should have been a wake up but things got worse as we lost possession sloppily in our own half and Phoenix punished to take the lead after 10 minutes. After that we started to play a little better and caused some problems for Phoenix, Graham set me up inside the box but I clipped it over on my left foot. There was also a scramble from a corner when Phoenix somehow cleared from their line a couple of times and I had a free kick comfortably saved by the keeper.

The sending off should have seen us dominate the game but despite being marginally on top for the rest of the half we rarely looked like scoring. The second half again should have seen us pushing on and pressing Phoenix back but it never really happened and as the game wore on they were looking more likely to add to their lead. The same side await in the league on Wednesday and hopefully things will get better for us. My knee is banjaxed so I won't be playing, which on current form can only be a benefit to the team.