eircom National League First Division

Date	22/11/2002
Score (Blues First)	1 - 0
Venue	RSC, Waterford
Kick Off	7.45pm
Attendance	1,300
Weather	Showery
Referee	D. Deady (Cork)
Goal Scorers	Di Lella
Cards	Yellow: None
Pitch	Sticky

The way other results are falling for us at present is a dream, just when a team starts to get close to the top they lose the next week. We had a five point lead at the top before the Sligo game and if we could beat them and win in Dublin next week and then beat the Town, we would win the league. This would give us a 10 point gap at the top with 7 games left. Sligo are always a tough team to beat and always physical under Don O'Riordan. A large crowd should cheer the Blues on to victory.

This was the first time all season that we field an unchanged team for 2 games in a row and we found our rhythm from the start. The Breen Byrne partnership in defence is working a treat and David is now looking like the player we all know he is. Leahy has been outstanding all season, his tackling and passing have been a joy to watch, while captain Frost is as strong a left full as you will see around. Our two wide men are typical wingers who drift in and out of games, but both are playing well at the moment even though none could say they were outstanding tonight. Gus has really found his feet while Kev as the song goes has the heart of a Lion. Up front Vinny looks the business with his movement and ball skills and Darryl needs more time to settle down after his return from Luton. With Rea, Watson, Fitzgerald, Mario and Fennelly on the bench we have enough in reserve to bring in if players are not performing. But this is without doubt our strongest 11 at the moment and with a bit of luck they can stay free of injury for the next 9 weeks.

It's fair to say that during the 90 minutes Wayne got very little to do, it was only in the last 15 minutes that Sligo pegged us back trying to score an equalizer. If you could criticise anything in the Blues play of late it is that we are unable to kill a game off. We always give opponents the chance to get back at us. Gus scored a wonder goal from a half cleared corner as he took the ball under control side stepped the on rushing player and drove the ball into the net from 21 yards. This was the second occasion that he found himself in space just outside the Sligo box in the matter of a few minutes. We had chances after this but failed to take any but were comfortably ahead at half time. With Sligo attacking from the start of the second half we got a couple of breakaway chances which we should have finished, especially Darryl who squandered a super chance after cutting open the visitors defence with a few quick passes with Vinny, but his first touch was shocking and the keeper smothered the ball. Mario was brought on fro Murphy after this and while he has a few nice touches I'll prefer to see him in centre midfield and his distribution looks very good. As the clock ran down it was another victory and 13 undefeated in the League for Jimmy McGeough's Blue and White Army.

Next up is Dublin City who should really be no competition for the Blues and our next home match is against the Town on Thursday 5th December. Promoted by Christmas it's over to you Jimmy.