Juno United vs D&C ATHLETIC

Juno United 4-2 D&C Athletic
Sunday 27th September 2009
William Scholes Playing Field

After the massive boost of a win the week before D&C were looking confident as they stepped onto the pitch today. They faced a new team to the division, which on most occasions works in the favour of the established team.

With Juno being a young team, D&C aimed to use their strength and long ball game to cause problems for the young inexperienced kids. It was Juno however who took the lead first, after 2 minutes, pouncing on a seemingly over confident and sleepy defense as the Juno striker beat any D&C defender to the follow up of a spilled shot to round the keeper and place easily into the goal.

This woke D&C up, and they started to look slightly more dangerous. Jordan Clough won repeated free kicks on the left hand side and was duly rewarded. Around 20 minutes into the game Atem Eyong rose at the back post to head a Tom Owen free kick across the 6 yard box so that Clough could poke it home for the equaliser.

D&C could have had a second identical goal but Gareth Harley was adjudged to have been offside. Jake Taylor saw a snatched volley flutter by moments after. Dean Couling snatched nothing but saw his strong right footed volley saved by a full stretched Juno keeper.

At 1-1, D&C looked in control and kept using their height advantage and long ball to trouble Juno. On 40 mins Adam Cummins' long goal kick from his hands found its way to Atem Eyong who was released one on one down the left hand side. Eyong, who scored an identical goal last week, saw his Henry-esque side foot palmed away but only as far as a switched on Jordan Clough who reacted quicker than any Juno player to calmly side foot his second and celebrate with a working mans flip. HT 1-2.

D&C encouraged from taking the lead into the half, again came slow out of the blocks. Within 5 mins, Juno took advantage of some more confused marking and their striker managed to bobble an equaliser over Adam Cummins.

Despite this set back D&C dominated possession, yet without really creating many chances. Atem Eyong saw most of his shots blocked or closed down and Mike Burt saw his biggest chance gobbled by an oncoming Juno keeper. It was Juno who took the lead in the second half when a mistake by Tom Owen at the back allowed the Juno striker through on goal. Adam Cummins was more than equal to the shot and the rebounded shot but a third was too much as Juno lined up to take turns.

After a flurry of substitutions, D&C went for broke. Pushing further up the pitch and had plenty of chances to draw level. Most notably was when Nick Kiefer was played in 8 yards out and struggled to get a kick at the ball eventually being dispossessed. As they kept pushing Adam Cummins came up for a final corner, leaving an empty goal behind. Juno played the ball ahead (to a player who the Referee later admitted was offside and he had made a mistake) and placed the ball into the empty goal to finish the game.

D&C will be disappointed to not take at least a point from this game. They will be looking to the the return fixture at home with the idea of getting some points in mind. Take nothing away from the new boys, they showed grit and determination and hopefully D&C will learn from this game and move forward.


GK - Adam Cummins
RB - Mark Stanley
LB - Dean Couling (C)
CB - Tom Owen
CB - Jake Taylor
RM - Martyn Barlow
LM - Jordan Clough (Matt Davies, 70)
CM - David Slater (Andy Barlow, 65)
CM - Gaz Harley
CF - Atem Eyong
CF - Mike Burt (Nick Kiefer, 60)

Unused Subs - Paul Watkins

TO