MATCH REPORT : RED home to Oxgangs, 11 September 2010...

First home game of the season and someone called Tae-kwon Doegrading caused a RED team shuffle.  The first half looked okay though - Ali the Goalie started in goals, Ollie and Jack patrolling around at the back, Kjartan, Danny, Eyvindur in midfield, Struan as the striker and Hector as the sub.

Oxgangs looked pretty good in the early stages.  Red team started slowly but Jack and Ollie were solid.  Struan had an early shot well saved by hte Oxgangs goalie but a quick break from Oxgangs looked like danger - but Jack tracked back brilliantly and snuffed out the danger.

Some neat work from Kjartan and Eyvindur set Struan free.  A cracking shot followed but it was too close to the goalie who saved well.  A nice period of play from Red though and they were starting to take control of the game.

Hector came on and was immediately very industrious.  A fine pass from Eyvindur setup Struan again who had his shot blocked.  Your correspondent then turned to his sub to impart some excellent tactical instruction only for Danny to wheel away on the pitch celebrating!  Turns out Struan's shot was saved, then another attempt was parried and finally Danny sorted things out by smashing the rebound past the goalie.  1-0 RED.

Yahoo.  Much better start than last week.  Lots and lots of effort from everyone and lots of great tracking back to snuff out danger.  Some nice play in midfield from Kjartan released Struan out wide.  He took on the left back and made it to the by-line before firing in a great cross.  Before you could say "Ach, who is that too?" Hector arrived at the back post and smashed the ball home.  What a superb goal - nice midfield play, a great cross and a superb run off the ball from Hector and a great finish.  2-0 RED.

Comedy moment followed.  Struan was substituted, Ollie replacing him.  "Just go upfront for the last few minutes before half time...".  Ollie tripped over himself "Upfront?!" he screamed.  "You'll be fine..." we tried to reassure him.  Moment later the ball breaks to Ollie, who was frankly wandering around upfront in a daze.  The ball is fired into him, no-one around but the Oxgangs goalie.  Ollie composes himself and very unselfishly lays the ball off to an imaginary right winger when others may actually have shot.  "Ok Ollie, just drop back into any other position you want...".  "Phew, thanks" came the cheerie reply.

The first half finished with Ollie slotting back into the heart of defence.  2-0 RED.

Second half we had a real change around.  Ollie took over in goals, still chuckling about his time as a striker. Kjartan and Eyvindur in defence, Jack, Danny and Struan in midfield and Ali as the striker.  Hector finished the first half puffing away so dropped down to the bench for the start of the second half.  This new formation started nicely but a quick break from Oxgangs caught the defence pushing up a little too much and the Oxgangs striekr left Ollie with no chance.  2-1 RED.

A nice dribble from Struan released Ali who put in a great cross for Danny who fired the ball just over.  So close.  Hector and Eyvindur were playing well, bringing the ball out through midfield.  Kjartan was enjoying having a little more time on the ball and played some excellent passes through midfield.  Jack was having a great time in midfield, breaking forward at every opportunity and tracking back really well.

Some fast breaks from Oxgangs allowed Ollie to demonstrate his excellent positioning and judgement.  He was happy to leave anything that obviously wasn't going in and decided to catch things as they rebound off the post or bar.  Great strategy.  On one memorable occassion an almighty, thunderous shot from the midfield giant whizzed past him and thudded off the bar, bounced down, hit Ollie, rebounded onto the post, was scrambled onto the post again before Ollie calmed everyone down by picking the ball up.  Great entertainment for everyone.

Ali dropped into midfield and started to see more of the ball.  Some excellent play from Kjartan fed the ball through to Ali who turned and started to gallop forward.  "Pass" we shout.  "Wide" we yelled.  Ali skipped past a couple of Oxgang midfielders.  "Out wide" we screamed.  Ali looked up and smashed the ball into the net from 25 yards.  "Shoot..." we suggested part way through the celebrations.  Superb goal.  3-1 RED.

Eyvindur and Kjartan were looking good at the back and playing their way out of trouble.  A lucky blocked clearance fell to the Oxgangs striker who left Ollie with no chance.  3-2 RED.

Uh-oh.  Two minutes to go.  Oxgangs grab the ball in midfield and unleash another thunderous shot.  Ollie watches happily as the ball sails over him and thuds against the bar, before catching the rebound.  Very cool.  Great distribution from Ollie to Kjartan, Kjartan finds Hector, who plays in Danny, who passes to Struan and a snap shot is saved by the Oxgangs goalie.  Oh, so close to a great finish just as the ref blows for full time. 3-2 RED.

Great performance, with a few more chances taken in either half it would have been a convincing win, but Oxgangs showed some great touches and forced the game into an exciting finish.