Dundalk game

Sheridan · 05/10/2003, 12:33 AM

Big crowd tonight, despite the freezing weather. Game wasn't great, Robbie Farrell started up front with Al, Cottsy in for Barry Burke (who was suspended) in midfield, Griffin and McGauley at the back. Cottsy had a poor game, but scored from a deflected free two minutes into the second half. Thereafter, we just choked the game, Dundalk didn't have the guile to break us down and we just settled into a pattern of soaking up pressure and stretching Dundalk with long balls over the top for Robbie and Alan (both of whom held it up splendidly.)

Ringo and Bertie both AWOL (to the best of my knowledge) again - this is getting serious!

TheRealRovers · 05/10/2003, 1:35 AM

Big crowd tonight

I'm sure there was. What was it 100 200 people with crowd's like that you should be top the premier league

**Ringo** · 05/10/2003, 6:52 AM

Even with all Sligos cheating you've still no chance of going up.

i wasn't able to go due to family matters. Great to see your back, look forward to the review.

**A face** · 05/10/2003, 2:19 PM

City regain top spot

Dublin City 1-0 Dundalk
The Vikings of Dublin City reclaimed top spot in the First Division from Finn Harps with a narrow - and slightly fortunate - victory over struggling Dundalk at Whitehall on Saturday night.

The only goal of the game came three minutes after the break, and the Lilywhites Scottish defender Stuart McLean was the unlucky one to put through his own net.

A shot deflected off the big defender, giving Andrew Bayliss in the Dundalk goal no chance.

Read more on www.eleven-a-side.com

**Maynard** · 07/10/2003, 5:59 PM

Seeing as we haven't won a match all season by more than two goals (and I don't think we've scored more than 3 at any time) would I be right in being a little worried heading very much into the buisness end of the season?
I realise that it's important to grind out results when the points are all that matters, but seeing as we have to play Harps, Limerick, Kildare and Bray in the run in, surely one goal will not be enough to see in games such as these? (hence all the draws against our nearest rivals?)

**Ringo** · 08/10/2003, 12:13 PM

We do seem to lack finishing up front. But i feel Robbie Farrell might come into form. it all very well being like Finn Harps, with Mc Hugh scoring hat tricks, but if he was injured they would probably be in a worse position than us. We are grinding out results & at the end of the day, it might'nt be pretty but we are top of the league. It'll probably go down to the last game if recent results are anything to go by. Its getting harder to beat lower table teams as they've trying to get scalps for pride. If we start finishing all the chances we make we'll go up. We just need a bit of luck.

**joeSoap** · 08/10/2003, 1:18 PM

Luck is when you scrape out a result by the odd goal...which is exactly what ye've been doing. To be honest, I'm absolutely astounded that ye're top at this stage, and practically guaranteed a play-off spot. All credit to ye, but getting back to the 'luck' thing-I'd be getting worried that its about to run out, rather than ye finding some.

p.s. Any of ye get a bet on at the start of the season when ye were 20/1??

Sheridan · 08/10/2003, 4:21 PM

Originally posted by Ringo
We do seem to lack finishing up front. But i feel Robbie Farrell might come into form.

If he keeps getting the ball with his back to goal, he can hardly be expected to hammer in 20 a season. We're basically a counter-attacking team, relying on long passes to the strikers to set up an attacking platform, hence the lack of goals. Worked okay so far, though.

In terms of finishing, Robbie Collins and Keith Maher are probably the best bets out of our entire posse of strikers. I'm afraid that Graham Dunning might be let go at the end of the season, he doesn't seem to figure in Gill's plans much. Hope I'm wrong, as he's got the neatest touch and control at the club.