CLONTARF VILLA

FOOTBALL CLUB

THE DOC'S POSTMORTEM

15th November 2003 - Chanel SSC (A)

A typical November day - cold, wintry and windy, a heavy pitch with a considerable slope did not make for the most inspiring football match.

Having won the toss we decided to kick into the wind in the first half in the hope that we could take advantage in the second half. Unfortunately, this did not materialise as we played our better football attacking into the stiff breeze. We went a goal up after great work on the deadball line by Kieran who dug out a cross that John O'Reilly got his head/shoulder to the ball and looped it over the stationery goalkeeper.

Prior to that Chanel had the two best chances, firstly a great shot from the edge of the area smacked the underside of our crossbar and rebounded nicely into the welcoming arms of Hylo and not long after that a wickedly inswinging corner rebounded out of play off Hylo's near post. Chances were pretty much at a premium for both teams throughout the game, with neither 'keeper being called into serious action.

Chanel did manage an equaliser not long after we had taken the lead, a through ball from midfield saw their No.8 miss the initial chance but he made no mistake with the rebound. It was disappointing having worked so hard for the opening goal to let the lead slip so easily and soon after scoring.

An uninspiring second half again, produced very little in the way of clear-cut chances, with both teams trying their luck from long range without much success. In truth we had by far the better of the game and really should have won, but we never tested their 'keeper and he sure wouldn't have been up to the test had we done so!

As was said in the dressing room after the game "we lost that game 1-1". I think that summed it all up.