A CLOSE CALL AGAINST HADDINGTON

MYS Blue Stripes 5 - 4 Haddington Athletic Clarets (2May09)

Last week we played Haddington Athletic Sky Blue at home, this week we hosted Haddington Athletic Clarets. Although Owain was absent through holidays, we started really brightly and with the wind at our back we pinned Haddington back in their own half. We had lots of possession in midfield with Ben, Cameron and Jason all playing there together for the first time with Lennon who was playing as striker, linking up well with them. It was following a period of good possession that we forced a corner which led to our first goal. Jason took the corner from the left and used the wind to his advantage by crossing the ball with good pace and direction which the goalie could only palm into his own net. Shortly afterwards, Cameron and Jason linked up well and with Ben in space, his shot from just outside the box was too good for the goalie and we doubled our lead. We looked very comfortable with Scott and Ethan doing a great job in defence, and we looked the team most likely to score. However our defensive frailties as a team surfaced again as from their goalie they managed to pass the ball up the pitch and score a very good goal. Whether it was complacency or a momentary lapse in concentration we had undone a lot of our good work in the first period. Jamie who started in goal had very little to do in the first period as from memory, this was Haddington’s only real attack.

At the beginning of the second period we made various changes including Ethan going in goal and Brendan and Scott taking over in defence. However we lost 2 very quick goals in almost identical fashion, with the ball being played down the middle through our midfield and defence and Ethan ending up being one on one with the attacker. Both goals were poor goals for the team to lose as we simply didn’t defend well enough as a team. At this stage however from going 3-2 behind, we then dug deep as a team and although we were playing into the wind, we managed to restore our lead through goals from Keiron and Ben. Whilst Ben’s shot took a fortunate deflection and ended up dribbling over the line to allow us to end the second period 4-3, Keiron’s goal was as a result of a flowing move involving Jamie & Jason, expertly finished off courtesy of a great shot from Keiron. It truly was an action packed crazy 15 minute period which had everything. However all credit to the boys for digging deep and getting us back in the game.

The third period was relatively calm in comparison and despite having the advantage of the wind at our back Haddington scored the only goal to even up the score at 4-4 going into the last quarter.

We made the obligatory changes at the break and now despite playing into the wind, we completely dominated the last quarter and created loads of chances for Brendan, Cameron, Ben and Lennon. Scott and Jamie were very solid at the back and Keiron as our fourth goalie of the game had little to do. However it was only after we reintroduced Jason for Brendan that he scored the winner courtesy of some individual skill to beat a couple of defenders after collecting the ball just outside the box, and hitting an unstoppable shot high into the net.

Once again when we were asked the question as to whether we had the desire to go out and win the game, we delivered. I am acutely aware that many of the boys are asked to play in so many different positions in a game because we don’t have a regular goalkeeper. However to their credit they simply try to do the best they can in whatever position they find themselves.

Teamsheet: Jamie, Scott, Ethan, Ben, Cameron, Jason, Lennon, Brendan and Keiron

Goalscorers: Jason (2), Ben (2) & Keiron