The Tuesday before the game news came into club management that Stephen Parker had not fully recovered from an ankle injury sustained during the teams 3-2 win over BareArseAlona last week. After a fitness test in Crosshaven the morning of the game, Parker ruled himself out. Paul Dawson was called upon as cover, previously playing in the victory over Premier Auto Parts a few weeks ago he got on the score sheet, so hopes were high that he could fill the gap left by Parker. Later news that JD, John Duggan injured his ankle too during an international CIT training camp before the game meant he could not make the game. So the team lined up...
The match itself started out terribly for Balaga as Upsetters went 1 up very quickly. But this seemed to focus the Tongolese as they quickly hit 2 back. Both goals were from players who were recently failing to find they're early season clinical scoring ability.Rory Browne equlaised for the cucumbers, controlling the ball wide on the left flank before curling a peach around the keeper and into the far corner of the goal, as videoed by Balagas No1 fan and keeper Damos wife Ashling Kennedy. The second was a David W strike again from the left and shooting the ball down the keepers left to make it 2-1.
Not too long later the third goal came for Balaga, again from David W , this time on the right he shot down the right side of the keeper. 3-1.
Dawson was superb when he came on the pitch half way through the first half, involved in a lot of attacks he got his name on the scoresheet with a tidy finish. Philip recieving the ball on the left side of the box heard a call and managed to get a quick cross in to the awaiting Dawson who made no mistake. 4-1.
The Upsetters showed again though that they are no pushovers scoring again to make it 4-2.
But it was Balaga's continuing pressure that was the deciding factor in the match, David W made it a hattrick as he finished with a neat flick over the keeper as the ball rolled into the far corner it was Balaga 5, Upsetters 2.
O'Driscoll continued his goalscoring form with a left volley to make it 6-2. Lovely job game over. Oh no wait the Upsetters scored a consolation in the closing minutes, Treacy scrapping the ball in for them.
A more solid performance again from the Tongolese outfit as Damo made some great saves, Broderick continued his good run of form as he had the tough task of managing the Upsetters strong striker, and O'Callaghan did enough on the other side of the defense.
This let the sides attacking players show their skills. Rory was bang on form again and looked confident, David W was back to his best harrying players up and down the pitch and you cant go wrong with a hattrick, O'Driscoll continued from last week - really getting stuck in, showing his previous unseen aerial ability, and controlling the centre of the park, Webz was all action as usual and will be disappointed not the get on the score sheet but I'm sure he will be hungry to change that next week.
Sub Dawson was fantastic, showing brilliant passing ability and scoring his second in two games for the club.
Elsewhere in the league main rivals Mercer clocked up another victory, this time against Rosies, to stay 1 point behind Balaga. Callas cowboys got their second win of the season beating BareArseAlona. In the other game DouglasMortgage won a close game with Premier Auto Parts. This leaves the table like so after 12 games...
With only two games left Balaga Tongo will be concentrating on getting two wins and nothing less to secure the trophy. After losing in the first half of the season with a very poor performance to next weeks opponents Rosies, the Tongolese will be focused, eager to put in the work and show what they can do this time around.
Hopefully there will be an even better crowd of supporters for the big match after this weeks medium sized crowd of three.
Some Match Highlights...
Brownes opening goal in Balaga HD...
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment