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eircom National League First Division

Date	26/10/2001
Score (Blues First)	2 - 0
Venue	St. Colman's Park, Cobh
Kick Off	7.30 PM
Attendance	275
Weather	Mild night
Referee	D O'Hanlon
Goal Scorers	Bradley, Dempsey
Cards	Yellow: Fitzgerald W, Frost
Pitch	Very soft with tractor marks

After recent good wins for both clubs this was going to be a crunch game as the looser would find it hard to get back into the promotion race. But with Kabia and Golden missing from the Cobh starting line up this was always going to be a stroll in the park for the Blues.

With about 200 of the 275 supporters at the game from Waterford it was no real surprise that we took control from early on and led the Ramblers on a merry dance. Dempsey and Fitzgerald got possession of the ball and never gave it away and we attacked the Cobh goal with purpose. The back four Breen, Whittle, Rea and Frost must now be the best in the Division as they cut out every Cobh move with ease and started numerous attacks on the home goal. Colin O'Brien who started on the right wing, (which much have left David Moore devastated as he played his best game for the Blues last week against Sligo in the RSC and was given the much sought after man of the match award on tubbritt.net), will need time to settle into a new team. Colin played on the sideline for most of the game and didn't receive the ball enough as we are not used to have someone hugging the touchline for 90 minutes. On the left Paul Leahy was playing out of his skin, defending well and getting up to support the front men at every opportunity. But it is in attack that we now need to strength our team, movement was poor and at times nonexistent as the Cobh defence mopped up poor first touches and bad control. If anyone needed a goal to boost his confidence, it was Big Eric and late in the first half with his back to goal he took the ball on his chest, turned and shot into the top left hand corner of the net from 22 yards. It was no more than we deserved and every Blues supporter was delighted for Bradley who has struggled to get in among the goals this season.

The second half started with the Blues again pushing on to Ramblers and causing them all sorts of problems in Midfield and not giving them a sniff of our goal as Binder went on to keep another clean sheet. Our second goal was scored by Dempsey who arrived into the box after a great passing move by Leahy and Fitzgerald to head the ball passed a stranded Cobh keeper. Dempsey must now be the find of the season, not only his scoring ability but his range of passing and movement around the pitch is a pleasure to witness. After this we could and should have gone on to win the game by more but for poor finishing. Barry Wood may give his all for the Blue jersey but surely now after half the season were he has got a good run in the team and failed to score, PP should ask Woody to pack his bags. Woody miss in the dying minutes was the worst I have ever witnessed, Breens shot hit the crossbar and the ball fell to Wood 7 yards out with the keeper lost and no one within in 5 yards of him, he managed to miscontrol the ball and let the defender tackle him and loss the ball. Everyone in the ground could only laugh but seriously if the game was scoreless at the time it would have cost us 3 points, and this could happen again later in the season and could cost us promotion. Thomas Fitzgerald, Ian Barry and Aaron Moroney must surely be near full fitness now and must be part of first eleven before the second half of the season starts in two weeks time.

Noel Hunt who was signed by Shamrock Rovers in the summer is about to be loaned out by the Hoops to gain first team experience. More than likely Richardson will send him North, but why don't the club contact Rico and ask him to leave Hunty back home for his loan spell? I know it mean cutting off our face after the trouble in the summer, but the club must come first and promotion is still our goal this season.