- OUR PARTNERS
Two months ago , Lusk Utd came to the Skerries Mills pitch, and a great game was played out where we lost by the only goal in a match we dominated. Today, In the return fixture in glorious weather, a team bursting at the seams with players took on a slightly different , and larger looking, Lusk Utd and came away with a 2-1 victory.
The match was closely fought, with Skerries , captained today by Alex, creating the early chances. Eamonn as always, going close with surging runs down the left and right wings. With Noah and Daniel both making fast attacking direct runs, and admirably chasing back to close an attack and restart another, we looked very sharp. The robust Lusk defence assisted Eamonn to the floor, but no free was given and the ball was cleared. In midfield for the first time Richard battled for possession and refused to allow clean breaks by Lusk. One of his tackles enabled Eamonn to break free, and he dribbled around two players before stroking the ball past the goalkeeper, only to see it hit the right post and then the left post – did it go in? To be sure it was tucked away by Alex, and in the interests of impartiality my son scored it.
Lusk Utd kicked off but struggled to get past the midfield. On the occasion that they did, Tomassin and Jack cleared the ball effectively. A couple of corners provided Lusk with chances, but their shots were comfortably collected by Jamie.
The referee was excellent today, and let the game flow, allowing both teams to play to their strengths. He was full of encouragement for the players, and also suggested Jamie bring the ball out further in his area, which was a nice gesture ( something which was reciprocated later).
Another of Jamies’ ground kicks set up another attack by Eamon, who tore past two defenders on the left side, and cut into the area where he was again felled. A penalty was given, and it was coolly slapped home by Eamonn, and we were two goals up with just 15 minutes gone. Lusk came into the match towards the end of the half, but with Daniel playing everywhere across the back and midfield, we looked secure.
Wendy looked after the substitutions in tricky circumstances because of the number of players, and made changes without weakening the team’s attacking instinct or shape, which is not an easy matter. Ola and Liam came on in midfield, Evan up front. Ola had a great opportunity to make it three with a great dribble around, well just about everyone on each team, but his shot just went wide, and the half finished 2-0.
Harry came on in the second half, and comfortably slotted into defence. Lusk brought on some of their bigger players, and looked much more of a threat. For the first ten minutes Skerries couldn’t get out of their own half, and Lusk were unlucky on several occasions, hitting the bar, just shooting wide twice ( both of which were well left by Jamie ) and block after block by the defence. On one attack, Lusk gained four corners, but their players couldn’t get space to attack with venom. The defensive display was excellent.
But finally the wall was breached and Lusk tapped the ball over the line, and our two goal cushion was gone, and the supporting parents’ anxiety returned. Lusk kept attacking, and the encouragement from the sidelines increased, but the players weathered the storm, with Jamie having perhaps his best match with several key saves, and Harry closing down on the right side of the pitch time and again.
Another Lusk attack brought controlled defence from Jack who took safety first, and put the ball out for a throw. Lusk pushed everyone forward looking for an equaliser, and a shot came in, but went wide and the ref gave a goal kick. In an impressive ( or maybe confident ) gesture, Jamie informed the ref he touched it last and a corner was given. In times where diving and sneakiness is accepted as part of the game, Jamie’s action should be applauded.
As Lusk seemed to tire, Skerries gained the initiative again, and broke at pace, the ball falling to Daniel , then Noah ( who was excellent today ), and it was left to Liam to run with the ball and shoot high and hard at the goal, only for the keeper to palm it out to safety.
From the restart, again Skerries drove at the defence, and with Lusk players back in numbers, the ball bounced around the area. It took Ola’s guile to control the ball and slam it into the back of the net for his second goal of the season, and the team and supporters got carried away, knowing it was the winning strike. However it was not to be, as the referee called play back for a slight handball, and the score remained 2-1.
Moving some of our more tired players back into defence after having run their legs off , Tomassin was moved into midfield to make sure we kept more of the ball up the field for the final two minutes, and with great relief, the referee blew up, and we had won.
A very enjoyable match again, and apart from the attacking skills which we show in every match, there was a huge improvement in defence. The man marking has hugely improved, and the team is getting fitter. We can see a real hunger in the team to want the ball, and this allows us to do what we can do best and play with pace.
When we come up against teams who are physically bigger than us we struggle, but today we did well, and it was a deserved victory against worthy rivals in a game played in the right spirit.
One more match left in the league this year, and we can go into it with confidence.
Well Done.
Team: Jamie, Jack, Tomassin, Daniel, Richard, Eamonn, Noah, Alex ( captain ), Liam, Harry , Ola, Evan.
