DBFC 4 – 0 Spartans

28th February 2015

Venue: Po Kong Village Road Park Football Pitch 1 — 5:30 pm KO.

Squad: Travis, Christian, Jamie W, David, Steve, Robbie (Jonny 45), Stu, Will (Pascal 40), Jordon, Matt, Oli (Capt.) (Jamie H 50)

Scorers: Robbie x2, Matt and Jonny.

As DBFC piled onto the team bus at 4.15 on Saturday, Gazza revealed that Rafa had failed to recover from a knock sustained on Thursday and decided to rest out. He then made a head count to find that we were two light: Jordon and Scotty (with his crutches) contrived to miss the bus from the plaza even though they had arrived there over 15 minutes early. Jordon blamed the slow service in 7 – 11 which was exacerbated by Scotty insisting on buying beer for his team bus trip! Nevertheless, we made it off and arrived at Po Kong Village in good time to fit in a quick 15 minute warm up before kick-off. This warm up was essential for a strong start against a strong Spartans side that was coming off the back of beating FWD (2nd place) last weekend.

Robbie selected the starting eleven with Travis making his debut in goal for DBFC and Steve his DBFC team debut. The game started at a fast pace with DBFC exerting dominance. The ball was worked out to Robbie on the right who cut in and almost released Will over the top. Another ball over the top found Jordan from which he won a corner and took himself sending over a ball that Robbie flicked on at the near post to be cleared off the line. More DBFC pressure saw Matt fire a shot over the bar and from the resulting corner (outrageous decision to give it) the ball broke to Oli offering a volley at 5 yards out but he only managed to stab it wide. Christian then saw a good effort from outside the box well saved by the Spartans keeper. Spartans changed players and formation after only 10 minutes and started to settle into the game after weathering 15 minutes of DBFC bashing. They threatened down their right and put a couple good crosses in to the DBFC box, one of which found their striker free at the back post that he could only head back into Jamie W and out for a corner. Stu released Oli with quickly taken free-kick over the top that the referee called back for off-side when Oli was in our own half (second horrible decision). Travis did well to catch two long range Spartan shots while Oli at the other end received the ball to take around three players, each of them fouling him, before he lost the ball and his temper at the injustice and kicked out at their defender to earn a yellow card. Half time – 0-0

Half-time team talk:  Robbie made the point that our early success with direct balls had led to us trying to force that ball through and long when we needed to settle and take more care in possession so this was required in the second half. The midfield wide men were told to tuck in more when Spartans had possession and the two forwards were to alternate coming short and long for the ball. Gazza provided the motivation asking players to reflect on how well the team was playing and keep working hard for the goals to come. On that note and with no immediate changes to the squad DBFC set up to go at Spartans again.

The second half started competitively with both sides struggling to keep possession. Robbie came inside and drove through the Spartans midfield to release Jordan, running behind the Spartans full back, for him to whip the ball in across the face of Spartans goal for Matt to tap in and put DBFC 1 – 0 up. DBFC went at it again as good work in midfield by Stu and Will saw Matt receive the ball on the left of the box. He twisted away from his marker and put in a good cross which found Robbie 8 yards out to place his header in the bottom corner and DBFC were 2-0 up. Will, who had provided loads of energy and control in the middle of the park, came off for Pascal.  As Jonny was warming up to come on, Robbie went through the midfield again playing a neat one-two with Jordan and lifted it over the keeper for a 3-0 lead. It was a cue for Robbie to come off for a wound up Jonny who had an immediate impact when good work down the left resulted in a cross that Jonny got to at the back post, just before the Spartans’ keeper, to smash the ball in the goal from a tight angle and put DBFC firmly in the driving seat at 4-0. Jamie H came on with 20 minutes to go for a relentlessly worked Captain  “who wants to kick me next” Oli and his  fresh legs and energy proved worthwhile in midfield as Spartans rallied and sustained some pressure. However, the DBFC defence were well marshalled by Travis and dealt firmly with the Spartans’ long balls and crosses. At the other end a great through ball by Christian released Matt who chose to cut back and selflessly plays a pass into Jordan who was just closed down by Spartans defence before getting a shot away. Some good passing in midfield between Jamie H and Jordan resulted in Steve getting the ball and pressing forward to play  one-two passing first with Robbie and then with Matt to find himself on goal with only the keeper to beat. The excitement of scoring on his debut proved too much and he smashed the ball over the bar as the keeper came out. Final whistle 4-0.

Man of the match –this was difficult as all played good football in a great team performance.  Contenders were; Matt with a goal and two assists who played great football up front. Jordon who was always dangerous going forward especially in the second half: Robbie who was ubiquitous supporting players and chipped in with two goals; David who was sharp as a razor today, winning countless headers and nullifying all Spartans’ attacking threat. The honour of man of the match this week goes to David at the centre of the DBFC defence. A defence that must be recognised for another great defensive display and not conceding a goal in 2015, bloody marvellous!!

Dick of the Day – Always plenty of contenders for this: Scotty for being late for the team bus due to buying beers but this was offset by his dedication in coming to watch the game and support his team mates. Robbie and Matt for being in a post-game dispute over the third goal which Gazza settled by contacting the Spartans’ GK and Centre-Back to get their verdict that it was ‘well over the line’. However at 11.11 pm David stole this award after sneakily running off home because he had to get home before his girlfriend as she would expect him to be there; a mutiny of the highest order. Steve came very close with pinching this award when he fell as sleep on the DB ferry and at 5:33 am Robbie and a random lady shouted, prodded and then lifted him off his seat in an attempt to wake him up. It was not working until under pressure from the ferry crew to get off Robbie and this random Lady made a fireman’s lift to get him standing and frog march him off. At this point Steve miraculously woke up and made the bus. No man left behind – but the award still goes the Mr. Rollinson junior.

Great win boys —– 6 games to go

 

Robbie / Gazza