"Lovely day for a game of football..." commented one Red follower as the Red team set off for game v Oxgangs. some last minute team changes and unavailability meant that we had to draft in a new loan signing with Robert making his Red debut in a reshuffled Red squad. We welcomed Hector back from his Highland training camp and soon saw the benefits of his
mid-season break. Red started with Keir the Goalie in goal, a back pairing of Jack and Robert. In midfield we had Danny in the centre, Kjartan on the right, Hector on the left with Struan up top. Eyvindur started out on the bench but was soon involved. Oxgangs seemed to have one or two giants in their team but since when are the Red team intimidated by a big of muscle?
The game opened up with both sides looking sharp, and one or two meaty challenges from the home team resulted in a series rolling substitutions with both Robert and Kjartan suffering
from some agricultural challenges. First major chance fell to Kjartan after a great run down the right he exchanged passes with Danny and then fired a shot narrowly passed the post from a tight angle. Nice play and it signalled a period of pressure from the Reds. Another great passage of play saw the ball being fired from the right to Eyvindur arriving quickly at the back post who couldn't quite divert his shot on target. The Red team continued to apply pressure. A great move saw Hector spreading the ball wide and Kjartan fired in another cross - Struan dummied at the front post and - Eyvindur arrived once again at the back post and fired the ball just past the post. Getting closer though! Another fine series of passes from Kjartan, Danny and Struan saw the ball fall to - guess who? Yup, this time though Eyvindur hit the target…but the Oxgangs goalie made a great save.
It wasn't always one way traffic though. At the other end Robert and Jack were coping brilliantly with a rather robust series of challenges from the Oxgangs forward line. Play was being built from the back with Robert's superb distribution being a great asset to the Red team. Danny burst through midfield, cut inside the defensive midfield player and fired in a great shot. The Oxgangs goalie saved well but spilled the ball. Uh-oh. Struan reacted first and fired the ball home. 0-1 RED.
Great start. Most unlike the Red team!
Oxgangs were looking dangerous on the break though and the Red team had to be careful matching the strong running of the 'big number 9' who was rampaging through a series of challenges and peppering shots around Keir's goal. Some excellent keeping and fantastic defensive pressure ensured that the Red goal remained intact. Some nice forward running from Struan was stretching the Oxgangs defence and it wasn't long before the Oxgang goalie was tested again. A great turn and shot from Struan had the Oxgangs goalie scrambling the ball clear but Danny controlled the ball on the edge of the box and fired home. Great goal. 0-2 RED.
Oxgangs turned up the heat now. Some very robust challenges saw more substitutions! Keir raced out of his box and cleared the ball - only to be flattened by the ‘big number 9’. Robert reminded the Red coach of his goalkeeping skills as Keir was taken off for ‘treatment’. The Red coaching team were worried - Oxgangs were peppering the Red goal now. One certain
goal was avoided when Robert carried out what we call the 'casual wonder save'. What happened was that we let an opponent smash one into the top corner from just inside the box. Robert spots it nice and early and waits. And waits. And waits. At the last minute as the opponent is wheeling away to salute the crowd Robert casually sticks out a paw and grabs the ball! Wooo, what a save!
Half-time 0-2 RED.
A great start. Keir is fit again, Robert slots into defence and the game kicks off with Oxgangs piling forward looking to get back into the game. Keir has a couple of wonder saves to deny the 'big number 9' but was helpless when a series of shots eventually results in the ball breaking unkindly in the box to the big number 2 who fired the ball high into the net. 1-2 RED.
More Oxgangs pressure. Keir and his defensive cover hold firm. Oxgangs can't find a way through and resort to taking wild shots from distance. One speculative effort is being ushered wide when it inexplicably swings inside the far post! Disaster. 2-2.
Now the RED team really didn't deserve that. However Oxgangs have the oxtails up now. For the next five minutes the Red team were literally battered by Oxgangs. Tackles flew, players raged and the Red team hung on for dear life. Keir made some outstanding saves, Jack played brilliantly, Hector was busy mopping up anything nearby, Eyvindur worked hard trying to snuff out danger and Robert helped organise things with very useful direction and encouragement. Kjartan meanwhile was being whacked all over the place by some very robust tackling. The RED team held firm and always looked dangerous on the break. In one brilliant flowing move Kjartan and Danny linked well in midfield and after a series of passed played the ball wide to Struan, who beat a defender and fired the ball across goal to...Hector! How did he get there? Hit it first time? No, take a touch? No hit it! The coaches couldn't make up their minds and nor
could Hector - so he just whacked the ball but it just slid past the post. What a tremendous move and where did Hector find the energy to get into the box?
That moved signalled a turnaround. Red team re-grouped and started to play again. More great midfield play from Danny saw Eyvindur blast one into the arms of the keeper, Struan fired just over, Kjartan had a rocket shot saved. This was much better. Suddenly we relaxed. Kjartan played the ball through to Danny who cut the ball back to Struan who fired the ball home first time from a tight angle. Yahoo. 2-3 RED.
The game then became very feisty! Oxgangs tackling grew in ferocity but the Red team continued to play well and soon had a fourth goal to celebrate. A free kick on the left after Kjartan was fouled was played into the box, the ball was half cleared to Danny who stepped inside one player and fired the ball into the bottom corner. Great, great, great finish. 2-4 RED.
With the RED team firmly on top now the ref blew the full-time whistle. A great win for RED team over a good Oxgangs team. 2-4 RED FULL-TIME.
Well played to the entire Red squad Keir, Jack, Robert, Hector, Eyvindur, Danny, Kjartan and Struan.
No comments:
Post a Comment