This is what Sunday football is all about. Both teams started with ten men and ended up scoring 11 goals, unfortunately most were in Dundonalds favour.Once again we missed key players, away on holiday or having to pull out at the last minute. So with a patched up side yet again it was some relieve to face a similarly depleted opposition.
Dundonald started brightly but we soon found space to pass the ball around and after a good move we won a corner. Ade knocked the ball down to Malcolm for the veteran to sweep home.
This inspired us to produce some good football and although none of the long range efforts tested the keeper it was clear that we could produce further openings.
However, (there's been a few howevers this season) Dundonald broke to level. At a time when we needeed to stabilise their eleventh man turned up. This gave Dundonald an extra injection of pace and after a lack of communication the ball bounced to at least one player to run through and score.
Not being vocal enough is something that we need to work on. It's every players job to encourage and tell the player on the ball what his options are.
Dundonalds third quickly followed with a low cross from the right that found two of their players against one Torres in the centre. We at least held out to half time.
The restart saw us attacking, or defending, into the sun which should have encouraged Dundonald to try long kicks as the ball was incredibly difficult to see. After a calm period Dundonald soon increased their advantage to 5-1.
Another problem this season is that our second half performance has been much stronger than than the first. We did better in the first half and the second could easily have seen us give up. Dan worked tirelessly as the lone striker and Jims incredible staminer kept us alive. It was good to see the youngsters Terry and Glen continue to the end and Terry was rewarded with our second goal of the match.
Dundonald re-established the four goal margin almost immediately but again after good play the ball was chipped over for Jim to slot home.
Yet again Dundonald scored with the wind just helping to take the ball away from any despairing tackles and left the forward with a simple tap-in. But, we don't know when to give in and after holding off the left back, Jack "the Mullet", powered home.
We kept posession for much of the last ten minutes but the goal we needed to even the second half never came.
This was a much more relaxed atmosphere compared to last seasons highly charged cup match. Most of the players involved last time didn't play today and the friendly rivalry we have enjoyed with Dundonald over the years seemed to return. We still want revenge for this defeat and our chance comes quickly as we play again next month.
We should believe in ourselves as we know that with a full side we have little to fear. Next week we should have a number of players returning so Christian should be able to take his place on the bench.
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