No points yet
Team : Reynolds, Mazza, Taylor, Knott, Gaukroger, Donnelly Gallagher H, Gallagher D, McKeeney, Harbush, Deneffe.
Subs : Ross, Brian Thumbwood
MOM: Taylor
No points yet, but the team is up for it.
No Scott M or Kevin H so the back four had a “new” look to it. Shorter. And there is a first inclusion this season for Jim D.
The opposition has 9 points from the 4 previous games, so clearly, a challenge is in the offing.
Well engaged match at a decent tempo in the first few minutes – Hughie leaves the pitch with a calf strain without touching a ball. A chance for Bruce to show what he can do in the midfield.
Pharma are no slouches and we are pulled around from their centre, with good distribution down both of their flanks. Alex K and Steve M are kept busy. No real danger, but Colin in goal is required to be aware. Duncan T is solid on every challenge down the middle.
A couple of decent passing moves build up positive pressure, our best effort sees Frank H nicely set up Danny for his first Club goal. Perhaps too much time? The effort is wasted – comfortable save for their keeper. Next time Danny!!
Minutes later, our visiting guest Jack M. wins a good tackle, makes a great run only to blast over the bar from the edge of the box. In the same period, Frank also comes close with a shot past the left hand post ( as I saw it from the back ).
Pharma haven’t gone away and continue to build pressure from the centre down the flanks. Very late in the first half, their offensive appears to be stifled but a couple of consecutive “muffed” chances to clear the ball ends up with it being played out to their left wing on the corner of our box. Fabulous strike from their man and suddenly Colin is picking the ball out of the net. One minute before the interval.
Heads up lads!!!
This has been a hard fought first half with lots of graft from everyone. Good spirit and some decent football on occasions. We have had the better chances. Breath back now – regroup.
Second half and we are playing into the wind. Pharma start to take control, putting pressure on the back four. A dangerous through ball finds their centre forward and only a brilliant challenge from Duncan keeps us in the game. We are struggling to get Frank and Danny back into the game and the ball keeps coming back at the defence.
Having taken a fall on his shoulder in the first half, Jim D retires to make way for Brian T. Not easy to slot into a game like this. Their pressure builds., but Colin and the defence hold out. We are trying to play the ball out from the back and this does provide the midfield with some decent possession. Jack M. is causing them problems carrying the ball; Danny comes into it again and gets a couple of shots away.
We haven’t given up and they start to tire. Alex pushes forward, Danny makes a few runs but the goal won’t come. Pharma are trying to hit us with long balls down the flanks. No real trouble there.
An interception and suddenly Gaukroger unaccustomedly finds himself in the opponents half, only to get into a heavy tackle and come off second best. Down to 10 men!! Great defending, with the centre midfield working their socks off. Gaukroger back on after a couple of minutes on the bench, but to no avail, ref blows the whistle and we’re still looking for our first points of the season.
