DBFC 2 – 0 Goodfellas FC
3rd February 2018 at Happy Valley Pitch No.2 with 16:30 kick-off
Squad: Toni (GK), David and Thierry (CBs), Luke (RB), Morse (LB) Pascal (Captain and CM), Christian (CM), Darius (RM), Mac (LM), Matt H and Syd (forwards). Subs: Scotty, Matt Z, Adrian, Nathan S, Nathen H, Steve L.
Scorers: Thierry (penalty won by Darius) and Christian (assist Matt Z)
This was a good win by DBFC to keep the Legal League number 2 spot and keep the pressure on leaders Forward FC. With only 7 games to go and Forward FC to play, the league title is still on for DBFC.
There was a very good turn out this week so it was difficult to share game time for all, especially as the win was necessary and Goodfellas FC were 4th in the table and hitting a run of form.
DBFC dominated the first half with their front two, Matt H and Syd, constantly putting the Goodfellas defenders under pressure and winning possession. Darius and Mac were effective pressing down the wings with Christian and Pascal bossing the midfield. Goodfellas long balls were getting dealt with very effectively by the DBFC back four, David and Thierry winning all the headers and Luke and Morse first and fast to everything that came their way. DBFC for the most part were camped in the Goodfellas half and pressing their goal but getting the ball into their net was proving difficult. Eventually the goal came; Luke Thurley played the ball from right back down the wing for Darius Agbeko to skip past his man and drive to the byline and see his cross strike the defenders hand for the referee to give a penalty, which was accepted by Goodfellas without much protest. Thierry Jacquemin stepped up to coolly blast the ball into the top right corner over the Goodfellas keeper who had dived the right way. DBFC pressed for a second goal and had a number of half chances; a shot from Syd that he pulled wide of the near post when the goal to the far post was open and a header by Luke from a corner that he put over the bar but felt he should have had it on target. Notwithstanding all the pressure, DBFC finished 1 – 0 up at half time.
At half time break, Gaffer Gaz asked the team for more of the same intensity and not to take the foot off the pedal in the second half. The score only being 1-0 meant Goodfellas were still in the game and would be looking to get back into the game so we needed a second goal. The front two of Matt H and Syd came off for Matt Z and Scotty. Morse came off for Nathan S at LB and Luke came off for Adrian at RB.
The second half started and it was Goodfellas that seemed to get the upper hand by pressing from midfield. Goodfellas had changed their shape with a 5 man midfield. The DBFC defence, marshalled by Thierry and David, held firm under a lot of pressure and Christian and Pascal worked hard to get tackles in. DBFC still held a 4-4-2 formation and looked to get the second goal to give the cushion. The tactic paid off when the second goal arrived at 20 minutes in. Darius was tripped trying to go past the Goodfellas left back and Matt Z stepped forward to take the free kick, which he sent towards the far post with a slight curl away from goal. It dropped over heads to Christian Romano to volley into the net and give DBFC a 2-0 lead. Goodfellas pressed for the remaining 20 minutes but all DBFC players worked hard to defend the lead and the game finished with a 2-0 vital win.
Everyone was immensely satisfied with this win and most made it back to the Pier Bar for celebratory drinks.
MOM: There were a number of contenders for this but principally the two Centre-Backs Thierry and David and also the two Centre-mids Christian and Pascal. However, manager’s choice and a decision confirmed later in the Pier Bar by a general vote and a shot of tequila, the honour goes to David for a very strong performance in winning every ball his way and letting nothing passed him.
DOD: This week only a couple of contenders but again a decision confirmed in the Pier bar with a shot of Tequila was that the award goes to Big Mac from Dundee, for somehow getting Goodfellas forward “Ronald Weasley” wound up into serial killer mode and looking around at the DBFC bench and the referee with a face of innocence “wasn’t me”. Nathan Sharp was very close to getting this as well, for believing that Victoria Harbour was a river.
