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Having been moved up three divisions, Skerries Town met previous higher league team Balbriggan at home on a windy, wet, miserable morning. With our favourite referee back in charge, Skerries lined up with Ola in goal, and captain for the day Henry in front of him in defence, assisted by Richard in his usual left back role.
However, straight from kick off, and with the wind behind them, Balbriggan flew into a lead, with a bit of confusion in the backs. It was a lead which was quickly doubled with an outstanding goal – an over the head, backheel lob ( I think ) over players and keeper, from an acute angle by the goal line. Imagine Van Basten showboating and you’d be getting close to how good it was.
This seemed to wake Skerries up, and from kick off, Daniel passed out to a determined Eamon, who ran at pace up the left wing, past two players and cut in to the area where he was knocked to the floor by defender and the sudden gusting wind, and our first penalty of the year was given.
Eamon stood up to take the spot kick and wacked it high into the net : 2-1.
Tackle after tackle smashed in from both sides in midfield , and with few breaks from both teams, an even contest played out. One break from Balbriggan led Richard to take goalkeeping duties on himself, and another penalty was given. Our OCD referee marched the requisite yards to the spot, and the Balbriggan playmaker stepped up to shoot against Ola. The goal suddenly looked enormous, but the stand-in keeper stretched up magnificently to palm the ball away, and the score remained 2-1.
But as Balbriggan took control of midfield, their little striker met a long cross and completed a hatrick with a dinking header as he crept around the back of our defence – another good , but avoidable goal which tight marking would have prevented.
At this point, changes were made to put a bit of bite in midfield. Ola was put in midfield, and Samuel came on in goal. Noah dropped into midfield. This immediately gave us more of the ball, and the passing and movement was impressive, as Skerries made use of both wings to try and pierce the balbriggan backline. With Noah, Liam and Eamon skinning their markers, shots rained in on goal, but the wind took most of the zip from the shots, and the score remained 3-1.
Another long ball from Balbriggan got caught in the swirling wind, and caused Harry to marginally handle the ball in the area, and the third penalty of the match was tucked away , leaving Samuel with no chance. 4-1.
Daniel moved back into a sweepers role, to help the defence and launch the next attack, and from this moment, Skerries dominated the match. A foul on the left hand side of the Balbriggan area gave Liam the opportunity to take a long range shot – the facing wind making it more tricky. But an absolute screamer of a free, curved over the players and keeper and smacked the crossbar, and the ball went out for a goalkick. And this was just the first half...
After a rousing half time team talk, the same players took the field, and with the sun out, the wind dropped. However Skerries continued to press, and Balbriggan looked a little less of a threat. Skerries had more possession, more guile, and were unlucky not to score as Ola, and Noah tried in vain to get the ball through a packed penalty box.
At the other end, some crunching tackles by Henry and Jack prevented Balbriggan from stretching their lead. Another interception from Daniel allowed him to break from defence and set Noah free on the left wing, and he was bundled to the ground a few yards from the angle of the area. Ignoring advice from the touchlines to let Liam have another pop , Noah, looked up and belted a peach of a free kick low and around the entire Balbriggan team into the net. Eventually he was allowed up from the floor by his teammates, and the chase was on.
With the wind on our side, Samuels’ goal kicks allowed us to peg Balbriggan back, and when they did get in range of our goal, attacks were comfortably dealt with by Daniel, Henry, Richard and Jack. With Harry on his debut now making space up front, drawing defenders away, we looked sure to score.
Another attack, and another penalty after a foul on Eamon on the goal line. Again he stood up to take the kick, but perhaps still shaken from the challenge, hit the shot high but straight and the keeper did well to keep it at 4-2.
An enthralling match finished in the sunshine, and Skerries ended on the wrong side of a 4-2.
So, six goals, four penalties, crossbars hit, great saves, and a goal of the season all made for a good match – what else would you be doing on a cold ,wet, windy Saturday morning?
But it didn’t seem like a defeat, as Skerries played some great football and bar a couple of mistakes could have come out with more from the match.
Something to be worked on in training will be man marking and closing down defenders. But once this is tweaked, as we showed against a team who took us apart last year, we can play good football, and cause problems.
Our goal difference this year would point to a decent team : scored 17 conceded 16 ( the differential +1 makes us the Swansea of the league, which is nice ), and as we go forward to play new teams in the new league, we should be optimistic about the season.
Team:
Ola, Richard, Henry ( Capt ), Eamon, Daniel, Liam, Harry, Samuel, Jack, Noah.
