Disciplined Balaga Bully Dulleas

The biggest game of the season so far for Balaga as they came up against Ma Dulleas last night in Garryduff. With a crowd of zero the pressure was on the Balagaonian-Tongonian team to perform after last weeks loss. Despite Ma Dulleas goalscoring record and no loss recorded in the first 5 games for them, the word on twitter and facebook pre-match that Balaga would go for the 3 points. 

With Tristan Hurley picking up a Rib-Cage injury over the weekend and David W continuing to have issues with his rotting ankle, the squad was reduced to the bare 7, Rory OBrien was drafted in again for his 4th game in a Balaga shirt. JD moved into a more attacking role behind O'Driscoll as Webz and Parker were charged with controlling the midfield behind.

The game itself lacked quality at times but made up for it in spades with all sorts of action as it turned out to be very competitive as Balaga looked to keep the dangerous Dullea's attackers under wraps. After Going 2 goals down within 4 or 5 minutes in the first half, Balaga woke up a bit and came back into the game and with a goal from Webz and two from JD before half time the game was Balagas to lose.


The second half saw more of the same, determined defending from Balaga and quick attacks. O'Driscoll score d the only goal of the second half as Dulleas went a man down soon later with their usually calm main playmaker Joe losing the head with Parker and threatening an after game car park showdown.  This eased the pressure and with Damo in goal pulling of some great saves and controlling his area, the 3 points came soon later although Webz got a yellow and sin binning for an instinctive handball 3 minutes from time . 

The team looked strong and although it wasn't they're best game ever it was a well won game with everyone playing their part. Interviews with the Goal scorers and man of the match Damo Kennedy.

Reporter: On the score sheet again, can you run me through your goal last night?

Webz: Eh well basically I think there was a hoof from back left to front right and once I taken it down I stroke it with my left across goal and it came off some feen and into there net. Yet to score with my right foot this year.

Reporter: What do you think made the difference between this week and last week?

Webz: What made the difference? JD returning was good. Rory in the team was nice. Parker had an outstanding game (even if it may cost him his life.), Phil was live-o and damo put in a man of the match performance. Of coarse the 2 bys at the back battling the shit out of it. We also played a very good passing game and this was the biggest difference.

Reporter: You are on a hot scoring streak Philip, one more last night, can you run us through the goal?

Philip: the goal? we had a good break away and it ended up with parker in right midfield so i made a run away from him to give him space.. ran up to right wing he slipped me a beauty pass, one touch, saw the keeper come out with legs spread open like a cheaper whore and i slotted it home..

Reporter: You have got a good run upfront and seem to be enjoying playing as the Cucumbers Striker, more than in the midfield?

Philip: very much enjoying the run upfront now i must admit.. getting great service from the lads behind.. midfield and defense.. loving the ball into feet and over the top to run onto.. must just get better at shoooooooooting and playing in the lads coming through....

Reporter: 2 goals last night John, both opportunistic, can you run us through them? Did you enjoy playing in a more advanced position?

JD: Well I'm just delighted we won the match last night. Great result for the team. The lads were all brilliant. I've been playing up there in my last few internationals so the gaffa musta seen something he liked. Delighted to grab two goals maybe i was a bit lucky with the 1st one. their keeper scuffed it a bit and luckily i was in the right place at the right time. Great ball from phil for the second, happy to be there to put it away. AVE IT!

Reporter: Man of the match performance Damo, congrats, it was a good performance what do you think made the difference? Clean sheet soon?

Damo: Well wot did it for me was the fact tom and Kev listen to me for once and picked up their men and the fact that i hitting form again so a clean sheet is on the way but at the end of the day its a team game and if it wasn't for me we would of lost haha.

Other results across the league saw DouglasMortgage beat Balagas next opponents, Passage Rejects 10-5. Temple Inn got their second win of the season against Abtran 5-2 and QEF hammered Friars walk 5-0. This leaves the league like this after 6 games. Very close.

ViVA LA BALAGA