Originally Posted by
AlanOB
Pike Rovers 1-1 JanesBoro
A poor tactical decision from Declan Considine cost the home side the three points here in what should have been a comfortable victory.
Both sides initially set out in a 4-4-2 shape, with Pike sporting the usual pair of Barry and Moloney upfront. The latter opened the scoring very early on after a goal-line scramble from a corner kick. Pike went on to dominate the play in a poor quality first half without creating any chances of note. Janesboro performed well in defence with Tom Clarke the standout performer, making a large number of successful tackles and headed clearances.
The second half brought a change of shape for the Boro. They went 4-5-1 with striker Lou Quigley dropping into midfield beside Aidan Hurley. Yellow Lyons dropped back to play as the anchorman. This was presumably to allow the away side to compete better in the middle of the park with the extra man. Pike responded quickly with a switch of their own, withdrawing winger Tommy Heffernan and introducing Dave Ryan in his place. This meant a 4-3-3 shape with three strikers. Baffling really from Considine. The move to prevent Boro from gaining an advantage in the centre was a sound one, but to switch to three permanent strikers when 1-0 up in a key game was just ridiculous and smacked of arrogance.
Boro immediately came into the tie and started to threaten down the flanks, particularly down the left with James Hayes staying higher on that side than David Donnan on the right. The away side knew that they had the advantage in wide areas. It was down the left that the key moment that led to the equaliser occured. Aled Harkin, who had an excellent game, broke forward from left full. Dave Ryan, realising that he had no direct marker, chased him down, and fouled him. From the resulting free kick, the ball eventually fell to Shane Waters, unmarked at the far post, who finished well.
Pike then laid siege to the Boro goal. Dave Ryan went close with a header, producing an excellent save from Glasheen, and Conor Moloney missed a headed chance from the resulting corner. But it was Boro who would have the best chance to win the game late on. Tom Clarke's far post header seemed destined for the net but Gary Neville in the Pike goal had other ideas. A great save, from a chance that again resulted from Boro's new found dominance of the wide areas.
Pike then went 3-3-4 by bringing on Doona but it wasn't to be.
Credit Janesboro. Noone gave them a chance today. But they battled manfully, defended well and took advantage of poor management from the home side.
A word about the referee. One of the worst performances that I've seen at this level. Wayne Colbert will be wondering how he escaped today's game without a yellow card. And everyone in attendance will be wondering if the LDMC have decided that a player can be offside from a throw in. Woeful.