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eircom National League Premier Division

A brilliant match in the RSC saw us gain 3 valuable points against St. Pats in what must be said was a thriller. I was worried that in the Premier that we might not be able to score goals but to score 4 at home to a well established Dublin team gives me great hope. But the challenge of UCD in Belfield would be a different kettle of fish. This was going to be a dog fight and a game we felt we had to get something out of. Pressure was on for the first time this season, how would we react?

Fans before kick off wave new flags

The same team took to the field that started against St. Pats and no one could argue with Jimmy about this decision. We started the game at a great pace picking up where we left off form last Monday afternoon in the RSC. It didn't take us too long to score either as Vinny broke down the right and cut in on goal. He had a bad angle but shot across the keeper who fumbled the ball as he dived to his right and Gary O'Neill was on hand to tap the ball into the net. After this we passed the ball around well picking out players in space and had UCD chasing shadows. This UCD team are very poor and had little to offer in attack or midfield and looked shaky at the back, but the Blues players were starting to drop to their level and became very scrappy. Our second goal arrived later in the half when a mix up between the UCD number 4 and the Keeper saw the defender head the ball into the net under very little pressure. This was now the time to lift the team and finish off the Students with a third as they looked down and out. The opposite happened and maybe we thought the game was over and we had collected a handy 3 points. UCD should have scored at least once if not twice in the later stages of the half and it was not by by good movement or passes by them it was our lack of concentration and relaxed attitude.

Dan Connor Blues No 1 who was Man of the Match

Steady heads and composure was all that was needed in the second half from the Blues players and we would be traveling down the N11 with all 3 points. To their credit though UCD came out fighting and took the game to Waterford. It wasn't long before they got one back after bad defending saw them have a couple of chances, only for Dan Connor to keep them out, but only for so long. Martin slipped the ball under the outrushing keeper to give UCD a lifeline. We were now second rate and not passing around the ball at all only booting it up field for it to come straight back into our box. Changes were needed to lift the players and they duly came with Frosty and O'Brien removing their tracksuits. The strange thing was the players Jimmy decided to take off and the way he rearranged the team. Clifford was having a nightmare on the right and Wayne was not up to the pace of the game at all. While he took off Wayne he also decided to withdraw Alan Reilly. Frost went into his usual left full while O'Brien came into the centre with Waters pushing up to left wing. This left us with no ball winner in midfield and pushed the opposition on to us more. Maybe he should have put Reilly in the middle, he seems to be composed on the ball. Darryl replaced Vinny near with 20 minutes remaining, but at this stage we were counting down the clock and hoping the referee would blow this match up early. We created one more chance which Gary O'Neill should have scored from. Dan Connor was over worked in the last 20 minutes as he had to deal with numerous crosses and balls over the top of out defence. He made 2 great saves in the closing minutes to prevent the Students grabbing a point from this game.

Bring on the Champions

"Escape" was one word that probably best described the Blues departure from Belfield. From a game we should have won comfortably if we played our game and not drop to the level our opponents we were lucky to find at team whose strikers are so poor in front of goal. We have taken 9 points from our opening 4 games which is a major achievement and hopefully we can go on further to gain around 30 points which should see us regain our Premier league status. Next Friday night Bohemians visit the RSC and this will be another massive challenge for our young team. Lets get behind the Blues and cheer them along on what will be a rocky road for the summer of 2003.