Café Royale League - Match 3

Dundee West Royals V Dundee United Social Club

 

Starting Line-up

GK - Nixon

LB - Morris

CB - Smart 

CB - Hughes

RB - Chalmers 

LW - Tennant

CM - Johnstone

CM - Smith 

RW - Crabb

ST - Gilmurray

ST - McManamon

 

Substitutes

McColl

Paton

Mitchell

Storrie

Gibson

Singer

 

MATCH REPORT

After almost 4 weeks without a game Dundee West Royals 2006 were well up for getting back on the pitch, to face a top DUSC team, at home, in their third league match of the season. It would be a tough game in cold conditions, but the West boys were confident in putting in a good performance to get something out of the game.

 

 

Dundee West started very well, and pressed DUSC high up the pitch from the get go.

 

With only 2mins gone, West created their first clear chance, when Gilmurray put a lovely through ball into McManamon’s path, but the striker was on his weaker left foot, and his shot was tame and drifted wide of the post.

 

With West continuing to press, on 4mins another couple of chances came their way, when Johnstone’s shot from distance was well hit, but the keeper watched it and caught the ball comfortably. From the goal kick, West regained possession and Gilmurray had another effort saved, from a good half volley.

 

DUSC looked to be shocked at West’s fast start, and couldn’t handle the pressure, with some defensive mix ups almost giving West an opening. On 7mins McManamon received the ball from midfield, and took a great touch past the defender into Tennant’s path, but his shot was weak as he tried to position himself with defenders closing in.

 

A minute later, DUSC finally pushed up the pitch, but a hopeful through ball safely rolled into Nixon’s path and he cleared before the strikers could latch onto the pass.

 

DUSC mustered up another few chances as they tried to counter from West’s dominance, with a shot wide right from distance causing no trouble, and then a good save from Nixon down to his right to push the ball behind for a corner. The resulting corner was defended well, with a headed clearance.

 

On 14mins, West almost made a breakthrough, pressuring the DUSC defenders into some slack passes, and forcing the goalkeeper into a mistake to clear it behind for a corner.

 

1-0: after 21mins, West got their highly deserved opener. Working up the left flank, Tennant and McManamon combined with a 1-2 pass sending Tennant up the wing. Turning inside, Tennant shot well into the far corner, but having made a good save, the keeper couldn’t recover to stop Smith running in smashing the ball in off the bar at the back post.

 

1-1: Almost from kick off, and well against the run of play, DUSC equalised, with a wonder-goal which left Nixon no chance. Having never been in the game, the DUSC striker hit from distance with a superb left footed shot into the top corner.

 

West reacted superbly, and got back on the front foot to try and gain the lead again. Tennant went close a few minutes after the equaliser, forcing a decent save from the keeper, and, after another DUSC mishap at the back, Smith was unlucky to shoot wide after picking up a loose clearance. On 26mins, McManamon again almost capitalised on a slack pass, but the keeper was there just in time before he could nick it away.

 

3mins from HT, having made some superb tackles throughout the half and subduing DUSC for most of it, Chalmers was booked for a mistimed challenge on the DUSC winger. The resulting free kick was cleared well by the West defence.

 

On the stroke of half time, a long goal-kick from Nixon was latched onto by McManamon on the left-hand side of the opposition penalty area, but his touch was heavy and the ball rolled out for a DUSC goal-kick.

 

Half-time: Dundee West Royals 1 – 1 DUSC

 

West continued to press after half time, and 2min in Crabb made a blistering run up the line, but the defender caught up and wiped him out to concede a free kick on the right-hand edge of the box. The resulting cross was missed, however, Morris collected the ball at the back post and forced a great save by the DUSC stopper.

 

On 38mins, DUSC should have went in front, when their striker took a lovely tough and turn inside the box, but his touch was poor and he shot wide.

 

West continued to control the game however DUSC did start to string together some passes, but Smart, Hughes, Smith and Johnstone were solid in the middle of the pitch, putting in some smart, strong challenges to halt any attacks.

 

On 45mins, DUSC yet again broke through and fumbled a shot wide inside the box.

 

Substitution 47mins = Chalmers off, Clark on. Crabb to RB, Clark RW.

 

2-1: On 47mins, West regained the lead, and deservingly so, having dominated the match. A good ball up the line by Clark to Gilmurray, was collected by the DUSC defenders, however Gilmurray chased the ball down resulting in another slack back pass to their keeper. The keeper, rushing to clear, let the ball slip between his legs and McManamon reacted swiftly to pass the ball into the empty net.

 

DUSC started to try and press higher to search for another equaliser. Some good play down the left flank was shut out by Crabb. A strong penalty claim from DUSC was waved away, having seen the same player go down easily too many times, the ref waved play on.

 

2-2: 58 mins gone, and DUSC scored another undeserved equaliser, latching on to a West clearance which rebounded off of their midfielder and into their striker’s path, who only had Nixon to beat, and he slotted it inside the post. 

 

The game continued to flow in Wests favour, as they pushed to try and get the win. 6mins from time, Smith was unlucky with a lobbed shot from wide right, having countered well on DUSC’s high line.

 

Substitution 65mins = Gilmurray off, Storrie on.

 

Substitution 66mins = Tennant off, Paton on.

 

The remaining few minutes saw some close chances by West, but unfortunately they were unlucky and couldn’t snatch the win. A last minute free kick from DUSC was cleared well ,and the final whistle blew. 

 

Full time: Dundee West Royals 2-2 DUSC

Scorers: Smith, McManamon

Man of the Match: Smith

 

Booked: Chalmers

 

Dundee West went into the game knowing their opponents were a well organised, talented team, and they would need to be at the top of their game to get something from the match. They rose to the occasion, and can feel proud of their performance, and the fact that a draw, which would have been a good result before the game, felt like a defeat, having totally dominated in all areas. The game could have been won comfortably had West taken some of their early chances, but overall it was a great team performance and a great point against one of the strongest teams in the league.

 

 

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