Café Royale League Match 4
Monifieth V Dundee West Royals
Starting Line-up
GK - Nixon
LB - Tennant
CB - Crabb
CB - Hughes
RB - Chalmers
LW - Morris
CM - Johnstone
CM - Smart
RW - Mitchell
AM - Smith
ST - Gilmurray
Substitutes
McColl
Singer
Clark
Paton
Storrie
McManamon
MATCH REPORT
After a difficult run of games, and an indifferent run of form, Dundee West Royals 2006’s faced another stern test, with an away trip to Monifieth on Match day 4. Monifieth had the chance to go top of the league, depending on the Blairgowrie result, who faced West’s sister side, the Reds. The Royals were looking for their first league win, having drawn one and lost 2 thus far.
The first 5 minutes of the game were fairly even and tight, with no real threat for either side. West created one half chance, when Smith played a great through ball into Gilmurray, splitting the defence, but their keeper was alert and rushed out to pick up the ball before Gilmurray could get close.
On the 7th minute, Blairgowrie found themselves their first real chance from a corner, however Mitchell was able to clear the ball at the near post. Blairgowrie picked up the clearance on the edge of the area and shot for the far post, but, with Nixon beaten, Tennant was there to head the ball clear and avoid an early setback.
Monifieth continued the pressure for the next few minutes, they came into the game, but West defended well and reduced them to half chances.
A minute later, West had another chance from a wide free kick. The cross was headed clear, but it fell to Smith who settled the ball but couldn’t connect well enough to trouble the keeper and the shot was saved comfortably.
On 16mins, Monifieth burst forwards again, but Chalmers, the eventual Man of the Match, was on hand to tackle well and stop the attack up Wests left hand side.
Minutes later, Monifieth again had the chance to go in front. With their first corner being defended well and sent back behind, their second was cleared and fell to them on the edge, but Crabb rushed out to block the shot and was able to send the ball up the right hand side with a lovely ball into Gilmurray, but West couldn’t counter quickly enough and Gilmurray was crowded and dispossessed.
On 22mins, Monifieth again had a golden opportunity, when they played a short free kick to try catch West off guard, but West were alert and the attempted run inside was blocked and sent behind for another corner. Monifieth made a weak claim for a penalty in the box from the resulting corner, however the ref waved away the protest.
0-1: 3mins after an initial penalty claim, Monifieth were awarded a spot kick, when Crabb clumsily raised his hands in the box fumbling over the Monifieth striker as he advanced on goal. Although a soft claim, the otherwise solid Crabb was booked and penalised. Although Nixon was close to saving, guessing the right way, Monifieth dispatched the penalty well into the left hand corner of the net, to go 1-0 up.
The remaining ten minutes of the game were tight, with West’s attacks lacking in numbers, and ultimately resulting in no clear chances, as Monifieth remained organised and solid in defence.
Half-time: Dundee West Royals 0 – 1 Monifieth
0-2: 4mins into the second half, after a tight start again with not much between the two teams, Monifieth found themselves 2 in front, when their winger found space on the right hand side of the box and was able to lift the ball high over Nixon’s head and into the net.
West tried to get forward to get back into the game, but with Monifieth still pressing all over the pitch and continuing to attack, West found it difficult to get numbers up top to mount any real threat.
Substitution 44mins = Morris off, McManamon on. Gilmurray to LW, McManamon to ST.
2mins after coming on, McManamon’s pace was utilised with a great through ball between the defenders, but again the Monifieth keeper was alert and was able to rush and save tje ball to feet before McManamon could nick the ball away. Monifieth then hit on the counter, as West tried to push forwards to get back into the game. With a ball down the flank, Monifieth sent the ball into the box, but Mitchell cleared at the back post before Monifieth could capitalise.
0-3: With West high up the pitch after a failed attack, Monifieth lumped a ball through into the West half. Hughes retreated to clear the ball, but seeing Crabb rushing back marking the lone Monifieth striker as a precaution, he slowed his run to let Crabb deal with the ball, but unfortunately the striker was able to steal the ball away and round Nixon, who had also come out to collect the long ball.
Substitutions 55mins = Gilmurray & Mitchell off, Clark & Storrie on.
Substitution 58mins = Hughes off, Singer on.
10mins from time, Monifieth found space on the left flank, but substitute Clark chased down the winger and blocked the attempted cross for a corner. The corner was taken short, but West defended well and cleared the cross.
1-3: 7mins from time, West pulled a goal back to give hope in the dying stages. With a free kick wide right swung in by Smith, the ball landed at Storrie’s feet and he was able to sweep the ball into the net, with the keeper already beaten by the cross.
Substitution 63mins = Smart off, Paton on.
On 65mins, West could have seen themselves awarded a penalty kick but for McManamon’s honesty and desire to stay on his feet. With Monifieth attacking, Crabb fought well to dispossess the opposition and play a pass up the left hand side into McManamon’s feet. With his trademark run up the line and inside the box, the Monifieth defender clumsily tripped the striker, staying on his feet to try and find an opening for the shot, McManamon was awarded only a corner for his efforts.
1-4: With almost the last kick of the ball, Monifieth made it a flattering 4-1, after an evenly matched encounter drew to an end. Similar to their second, having played the ball into the left hand corner to see out the game, they found space on the right wing with a switch in play, and the player had space to line up a shot and lift the ball high over Nixon again.
Full time: Dundee West Royals 1-4 Monifieth
Scorers: Storrie
Man of the Match: Chalmers
Booked: Crabb, Chalmers
Dundee West again will feel hard done by, having matched Monifieth all over the pitch for most of the game. The catalyst for Monifieth was their ability to press high, as a unit, giving West no time to play and force simple errors to gain an advantage, something West struggled to do, sitting too deep for periods of the game.
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