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D&C Athletic 2 - 1 Richmond RoversSunday 4th October 2009
Lacey Green
The weather held up for this fixture and the pitch was perfect for a match up between developing rivals. While not being the closest derby game (lets face it, every team is a derby of sorts), Richmond have developed into one of our biggest games on the fixture list. After a heart breaking defeat and awe inspiring comeback last year, the script was set for another interesting affair.
Both teams started awkwardly, with D&C taking most of the possession. A few rough challenges from both sides set the tone and it wasn't until Matt Davies made a storming run down the left hand side on 20mins, his cross was spilled and Atem Eyong took full advantage nodding over the recovering Richmond keeper.
Both teams had a few chances and Richmond's strikers were unlucky to be called offside on an occasion when it appeared to be flicked back by a D&C player, however, they did spend a lot of the game stood offside and had a few go their way which shouldn't. Gaz Harley and Eyong had chances in the first half but neither could keep their shots on target. HT 1-0
In the second half, D&C squashed the game with further dominance. Dave Slater and Harley bossed the midfield and while they were outnumbered in midfield, they didn't seem particularly phased. They restricted Richmond to long balls and shots from distance, none of which troubled D&C too much. One long ball nearly made D&C pay as they failed to clear at the back and Richmond's striker, fresh from filming the 4th Lord of the Rings movie, hit his left footed shot off the crossbar. That will teach him not to treat the ball as "his precious", however it will do nothing for his Napoleon complex...
D&C made a few changes and brought on Paul Watkins and Jon McAuley for their debuts, taking off a hardworking-but-lacking-fitness Jordan Clough (been practicing his celebrations, prefers the 'Rich Mans Toss' to the 'Working Mans Flip', lets hope he doesn't score...on or off the field) and an injured Matt Davies.
After a few more minutes, with D&C desperate to hold on, the returning captain Nick Hughes came on and instantly made an impact. He rampaged up the fielding beating no less than 4 Richmond players before picking out Harley from 20yards on the left wing, leaving a cool finish for the second D&C goal.
While D&C were clearly on top, they were desperate to keep their first clean sheet in over a season but alas, this was not to be. Richmond worked the ball up their right flank nicely and crossed it in, Tom Owen headed clear at the front post but only as far as the edge of the area and thanks to some loose marking Richmond's midfielder half-volleyed the ball into the far corner past an outstretched Adam Cummins. This goal was almost identical to the one conceded against Edgeley, another game that could have been a D&C clean sheet.
After a nervy few last minutes, D&C survived. It can be said for the first time in a long while, that every player on the pitch played well and worked together. The back four were communicating well and had very solid performances, especially the aerially dominant Dean Couling and the equally commanding Jake Taylor. The midfield were also impressive, plenty from the flanks and as said the centre was moving up and down all game. The strikers offered someone to pass to and wanted the ball.
This is what confidence can do for a team and D&C will look to take this into the future. D&C won today and were swimming in clear blue tide of beauty. Please feel free to come again. No Really. Do.
GK - Adam Cummins
RB - James Wallis
LB - Dean Couling (C)
CB - Tom Owen
CB - Jake Taylor
RM - Martyn Barlow (Nick Hughes, 75)
LM - Matt Davies (Jonny McAuley, 70)
CM - David Slater
CM - Gaz Harley
CF - Atem Eyong
CF - Jordan Clough (Paul Watkins, 65)
Unused Subs - Matt Wharton, Nick Kiefer
Both teams started awkwardly, with D&C taking most of the possession. A few rough challenges from both sides set the tone and it wasn't until Matt Davies made a storming run down the left hand side on 20mins, his cross was spilled and Atem Eyong took full advantage nodding over the recovering Richmond keeper.
Both teams had a few chances and Richmond's strikers were unlucky to be called offside on an occasion when it appeared to be flicked back by a D&C player, however, they did spend a lot of the game stood offside and had a few go their way which shouldn't. Gaz Harley and Eyong had chances in the first half but neither could keep their shots on target. HT 1-0
In the second half, D&C squashed the game with further dominance. Dave Slater and Harley bossed the midfield and while they were outnumbered in midfield, they didn't seem particularly phased. They restricted Richmond to long balls and shots from distance, none of which troubled D&C too much. One long ball nearly made D&C pay as they failed to clear at the back and Richmond's striker, fresh from filming the 4th Lord of the Rings movie, hit his left footed shot off the crossbar. That will teach him not to treat the ball as "his precious", however it will do nothing for his Napoleon complex...
D&C made a few changes and brought on Paul Watkins and Jon McAuley for their debuts, taking off a hardworking-but-lacking-fitness Jordan Clough (been practicing his celebrations, prefers the 'Rich Mans Toss' to the 'Working Mans Flip', lets hope he doesn't score...on or off the field) and an injured Matt Davies.
After a few more minutes, with D&C desperate to hold on, the returning captain Nick Hughes came on and instantly made an impact. He rampaged up the fielding beating no less than 4 Richmond players before picking out Harley from 20yards on the left wing, leaving a cool finish for the second D&C goal.
While D&C were clearly on top, they were desperate to keep their first clean sheet in over a season but alas, this was not to be. Richmond worked the ball up their right flank nicely and crossed it in, Tom Owen headed clear at the front post but only as far as the edge of the area and thanks to some loose marking Richmond's midfielder half-volleyed the ball into the far corner past an outstretched Adam Cummins. This goal was almost identical to the one conceded against Edgeley, another game that could have been a D&C clean sheet.
After a nervy few last minutes, D&C survived. It can be said for the first time in a long while, that every player on the pitch played well and worked together. The back four were communicating well and had very solid performances, especially the aerially dominant Dean Couling and the equally commanding Jake Taylor. The midfield were also impressive, plenty from the flanks and as said the centre was moving up and down all game. The strikers offered someone to pass to and wanted the ball.
This is what confidence can do for a team and D&C will look to take this into the future. D&C won today and were swimming in clear blue tide of beauty. Please feel free to come again. No Really. Do.
GK - Adam Cummins
RB - James Wallis
LB - Dean Couling (C)
CB - Tom Owen
CB - Jake Taylor
RM - Martyn Barlow (Nick Hughes, 75)
LM - Matt Davies (Jonny McAuley, 70)
CM - David Slater
CM - Gaz Harley
CF - Atem Eyong
CF - Jordan Clough (Paul Watkins, 65)
Unused Subs - Matt Wharton, Nick Kiefer
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