Match Report : Red and Blue

Sciennes P4 Reds 4 v Sciennes P4 Blues 2

A last minute goal from Struan finally settled a fantastic match at the windy Meadows this morning.  Two evenly balanced sides battled against the weather to produce the best match of the season so far.  If this is the standard of football these teams can provide then we are in for a fantastic season.
The day started with dramatic new team announcements.  In for the Red team this week were Ali, Oliver, Jack, Struan, Kjartan, Danny, Eyvindur, Hector and Sasha.  It was an exciting looking team that looked more solid at the back than in previous weeks.

The Blue team had also been busy in the transfer market - their new team contained Joseph Br, Murdo, Robert, Hamish, Sam, Joe SH, Roddy and Jude.  This team looked like it now had some goals in it.  However a dramatic late call off from Coll (who was preparing intensely for his tae kwon do grading) threw the Blue Management Team into a frenzy of late tactical alterations.  Eventually they decided to go with only 1 sub...which proved to be a very costly tactical error.

The match started brightly with both teams passing the ball well.  Murdo made a few fantastic tackles in midfield for the Blue team and passed the ball well, setting up an early chance for Jude.  The deadlock was broken when Danny made the score 1-0 Red when he fired in a shot from close range that gave Joseph Br in the Blue goal no chance.



It was now end to end stuff with some excellent attacking play from the Blue team really testing the new Red defensive partnership of Jack and Oliver.  Could they be the answer to the Red problem? Danny scored his second goal to put Red 2-0 up following a spell of pressure and a defensive mix up.  The Reds were beginning to dominate and were now being driven along in midfield by Hector and Kjartan.

However, the Blue team refused to give up and a period of excellent play from Joe SH, Hamish and Roddy stretched the Reds defence again but Ali saved well in the Reds goal. Struan's shot was well saved by Blue keeper Joe Brun who was extremely unlucky to see the rebound fall to Struan who cooly slotted home the Reds third goal.

The Blue management team were not sure where to turn but they threw caution to the wind by drafting in new signing Alex H from the Orange team and throwing him into the heart of midfield alongside an excellent Sam.  It was an inspired move as it gave both sides 2 subs and the game reached new heights.  The Blues got the game by the scruff of the neck and were piling forward.  Alex H was spraying passes around the pitch and dribbling through the nervous Red defence.  The Red line held - surely the Blue problem of sticking the ball in the net wouldn't return?

Just after half time the match changed.  With his team 3-0 down Hamish dragged the Blues back into the game with a couple of well taken quick goals that really gave the Blue fans something to cheer about.  3-2 Reds but the Blue team had the upper hand.  Jude dropped a little deeper to help the Blues in midfield alongside an excellent and energetic Roddy.  The Reds responded by moving Eyvindur and Sasha into the middle to tighten up their midfield.  Surely the old Red defensive problems were not going to return?

Danny was keeping the Blues out with some fantastic saves, while Alex H nearly scored on his Blue debut but a fantastic shot crept just over the bar.  On the wing Struan was battling with double Joe trouble - Joe SH and Joseph Brun were tackling like professionals and it was fantastic entertainment for the large crowd.  With time running out, and the Blues chasing the game, Struan set off on another run and finally broke through the Blue defence and flicked a shot into the net to make it 4-2.  By this stage both sets of players had given their all and tactical changes were limited as some from each side had to be substituted to dash across town for tae kwon do gradings!  The game ended a minute later as the Blues continued to mount attack after attack in a desperate attempt to get back into the game. 

Neither team deserved to lose and this game will go down as one of the matches of the season.
(Team photos taken after match when a number of players had left for tae kwon do gradings.)