Match Report

County Cup 3^rd Round, 28^th October 2007

Final Result – FC Brimington 4 (Home) vs. SUJB Old Boys FC 2 (Away)

Venue – Boundary Sports Ground, Jordanthorpe Parkway, Sheffield

Managers View

The weather was bleak with wind and rain lashing down before kickoff. The surface was slippery and soft. FCB decided to warm up early in the rain and wind to acclimatise. Today’s game was against a very good and previously unbeaten side SUJB Old Boys FC. It was a stern test especially early on in the game.

Team formation today 4-3-3

The starting line for today's match was as follows:  

Match day reporters – Melissa mattock, Laurie mattock

Photographers – James Gebbie, Amy Lawrence

First Half

The game kicked off at 11.00am. FCB started and within a minute Andy Bath shot wide. After 2 minutes SUJB won a throw in which FCB cleared. 3 minutes later, SUJB had their first shot on the goal but it went over the bar.

8 minutes in SUJB won a corner. The cross was headed away by Dave Simpson but SUJB won it back and shot over the bar. After 12 minutes, SUJB won a free kick 30yds out and tried their luck with a shot but it went over the bar. 2 minutes later, Michael Gartlan received the ball from Matt Collier and ran at SUJB skipping past the right back but his final touch saw him overrun the ball out of play.

After 15 minutes, Andy Crossland’s shot was saved by the SUJB keeper. The ball came to Elliott Christie who crossed it back in and it was cleared again. Ben Thomas won it back again for FCB and delivered another cross, but is cleared again. FCB then won a free kick 23yds out which Collier took only to see his shot hit the wall.

A minute later, Thomas chipped the ball into the box which Christie received and knocked down to Bathy some 8yds out, but his shot was off target and flew over the bar. After 18 minutes FCB won a corner after some sustained pressure and Collier delivered in a perfect cross. Crossland the fox in the box lost his marker and came across the face of goal and head it home

1-0 FCB – SUJB Video

The game ebbed and flowed for the next 10 minutes see sawing FCB’s way then SUJB’s way. After the 29^th minutes, Christie crossed into the box and Crossland tried to get his head on it but he was just late. Several attempts by both teams with numerous free kicks and throw-ins came to no avail.

The half was finely balanced with one goal, and recent form suggested that SUJB were a team that had been behind in previous games but tended to come back later in the game to secure some of the spoils.

Second Half

I could see where the game could be won and made ready the bench for the 2^nd half.

The 2^nd half was much like the 1^st; Bathy had 3 attempts on goal in the first 5 minutes. After 48 minutes, Christie went on a run, shot but it went wide. Gartlan went on a run past two players and crossed but Christie shot over the bar.

52 minutes in, an attack from SUJB ended with a shot over the bar. SUJB threw caution to the wind and pushed further up the pitch for the equaliser. FCB defended very well on one such assault from SUJB.

During the 57^th minute, we won possession and broke out quickly. The ball was delivered to Gartlan in the centre of the pitch, who ran at the SUJB defence. With the defence backing off him they missed Christie’s run on the left which Gartlan saw and chipped over the top back to Christie who brought it down perfectly. SUJB’s keeper saw the danger and ran off his line. Christie spotted the opportunity and chipped the keeper.

2-0 FCB – SUJB Video

After 61 minutes, Christie was put through again by Collier which he put into the back of the net with a great drive from 14yds but is deemed offside and the goal was disallowed. View it here

After 63minutes, a substitution brought Ben Leversidge on for James Towers at left back. This was Leversidge’s first game since pre-season where he sustained ankle ligament damage keeping him out since July. Chris Kealey came on for Crossland who had aggravated a previous injury.

After 70 minutes, Leversidge ran down the left, linking up with Kealey only to be brought down on the edge of the box. The subsequent free kick was put wide by Collier who seemed in two minds whether to cross or shoot. 72 minutes in, Leversidge ran down the left beating the defender and crossing to Bathy who met it only for it to fly over the bar.

76 minutes in, SUJB’s corner from the right saw them send up more players looking to gain a goal back. The crossed ball was gathered by Simon Newton and a route one goal kick followed immediately as Newton saw that FCB had a numerical advantage in SUJB’s half. Newton’s clearance was so precise that the ball landed on the right, where Christie was making his run. The ball bounced in front of Christie some 22yds out to which the SUJB keeper started to come to collect, but Christie took the shot on the half volley and it bulleted into the top corner.

3-0 FCB – SUJB Video

After 73 minutes, FCB attacked again a run by Bathy on the left. He then passed to Christie in the box who checked back to Collier who struck over the bar from 25yds out. 76 minutes in Gartlan won the ball some 25yds out on the left and ran past two defenders. He darted into the box when the 3^rd tackle came in, but Gartlan was too quick and skipped past heading towards goal when another tackle caught him knee high as he was going past. Gartlan went down but no penalty was awarded.

From the sideline it appeared to be a cast iron penalty and video footage later confirmed this view it here.

After 80minutes, Gartlan received the ball centrally some 25yds out and chipped over the defence as he saw Christie running on the left. Christie volleyed with his left foot from 7yds out and scored.

4-0 FCB – SUJB Video

At this point we should have been more in front but we were in control of the game. SUJB’s star player number 7 then moved into a more offensive role and became a problem with some hesitation in our midfield. He took advantage and received the ball from a goal kick into our half. He ran past Bathy and Simpson centrally and got onto his left foot some 22yds out. He drilled the ball low and hard through a cluster of players on the edge of the box. Unsighted, Newton had no chance.

4-1 FCB – SUJB

FCB went on the offensive again with Christie bursting into their box and shot. Their keeper could only parry to Gartlan whose shot was blocked by a defender. The rebound went to Kealey who shot over the bar. After 82 minutes another substitution took Gartlan off for Flo Fadiga on.

In the 84^th minute, Newton played out another early goal kick after an attack from SUJB. He found Collier on the right who played an early cross field ball to Fadiga who was unmarked at the back post. Fadiga took the shot on the volley but with no power the shot was easily saved view it here.

After 85 minutes, SUJB took a shot from 21yds out. Newton seemed to have the direction of the ball in hand when Phil Hirons tried to intercept the shot sending the ball to the opposite side of the goal to where Newton was going.

4-2 FCB – SUJB

In the 88^th minute, Bathy ran on the left leaving two players in his wake and delivered the cross low into the box. Christie met the cross and hit the bar on the half volley and the ball went out of play view it here. After 90 minutes Fadiga received the ball from Leversidge on the left and ran past 4 players into the box and shot. The keeper only just made the save view it here.

Summary

A good game played competitively. We seem to be heading in the right direction and improving every week. I’d like to mention Ben Leversidge today, as this was a good come back by him. I am sure he will be back to full flow over the next few weeks.

The squad is now back to full strength with 20 of the 21 players fit to play; competition for places is strong which is producing better performances.

Thanks to Tom Simpson who although injured turned out to lend support. Thanks to the supporters and special thanks to match reporters Melissa and Laurie and photographers Amy and James. And big thanks to Phil and Isabel at the Brickmakers’ Arms, Brimington who laid on the best after match food yet, you shall be missed for the next 3 weeks while you enjoy your holiday in Australia.

Man of the Match – Same Taylor: a great holding role and man marking of number 7. The irreplaceable Mr Christie with another hat trick keep it going.