Dundee West Royals V Dundee West Reds
Starting Line-up
GK - Nixon
LB - Crabb
CB - Smart
CB - Hughes
RB - Chalmers
LM - Tennant
CM - Johnstone
CM - Smith
RM - Clark
ST - Storrie
ST - McManamon
Substitutes
McColl
Paton
Mitchell
Singer
Morris
Gilmurray
MATCH REPORT
Dundee West Royals 2006’s started the new year with a derby match against their sister club, the West Reds 2006’s. It was the first time the teams had met in a competitive match since the start of the 11-aside season, and both teams were keen to show their worth.
The Royals started the match well and dominated the opening few minutes, pressing the Reds high up the pitch.
4mins in, McManamon found himself in space up the left flank, and running in on the keeper he squared the ball into the box, but the Reds cleared for a throw. The resulting throw landed at Storrie’s feet, but he was unable to get a clear shot on goal
1-0: A minute later, the Royals opened the scoring, with their pressure paying off. A goal kick from the Reds landed awkwardly on the edge of their box, and with the defence failing to clear after the bounce, McManamon was able to lob the keeper and score with a half volley.
Only minutes after going ahead, the Royals were inches from their second, when Tennant received a one-two back from McManamon on the edge of the box, and having faked the keeper, slotted the ball underneath him, but unfortunately the ball flew back off the near post and away to safety.
8mins in, the Reds created their first chance, gaining a free kick wide on the right, but the cross ended up sailing wide of the goal.
1-1: the Reds found themselves back in the game a minute later, when another free-kick ,this time from the left flank, wasn’t dealt with by the Royals defence, and left an easy finish past a helpless Nixon.
The Royals were determined to gain the advantage again, and McManamon found space on the edge of the area 13mins in, but his shot was clear of the bar and never troubled the keeper.
On 15mins, the Reds almost went ahead, with yet another free-kick awarded by the ref. From wide on the left again, the ball was fired in high to the back post, and Nixon misjudged the flight and was beaten, only for the ball to ricochet off the inside of the back post, and the Royals defence were able to turn the ball behind for a corner. The resulting corner was dealt with this time, and were awarded a free kick in their own penalty area for a foul.
On 18mins the Royals were awarded a free-kick on the left-hand side. Tennant played it short to Smith, who went for goal from outside the box, but the Reds keeper held it well.
23mins in, Royals had a golden opportunity from a corner, when the ball fell to McManamon at the back post, but he was unable to connect properly and his shot was wide of the post.
4mins later, another corner fell to McManamon in the box, but with no clear shot he knocked the ball back into Smith’s path to unleash a shot, but his drive was blocked by the onrushing Reds defence.
4mins from half-time, Royals had another free kick opportunity, just on the edge of the box. However, Smith went direct, but the shot was too central and the Reds stopper caught it comfortably.
With a minute to go until the break, McManamon was found by a lovely through ball over the top, but his shot with the outside of the right boot was wide as he failed to connect cleanly.
Half-time: Dundee West Royals 1 – 1 Dundee West Reds
After the break, Royals continued to try and dominate the game, bursting up both flanks in the opening minutes, but the crosses were either wide of the goal or too close to the keeper to cause any real threat.
7mins into the second half, Smith played a lovely low through ball for McManamon, but it was just too quick and the Reds keeper reacted swiftly to reach the ball before McManamon could cause a problem
1-2: On 44mins, the Reds took the lead with a counter attack, as the Royals continued to push, the ball was played between Smart and Hughes and with Nixon hesitating to rush and clear, the Reds striker took a touch to the side to round Nixon and slot it in the net.
1-3: Moments later, the Reds added a third again on the counter, when the ball was played up the right flank, and with Crabb high up the pitch, Hughes tried to cover but the Reds striker was first to the ball and finished powerfully from outside the box, into the bottom corner, giving Nixon no chance.
On 47mins, the Royals should have clawed a goal back, when the Referee wrongly disallowed a goal for a foul inside the box. With the cross dropping at the front post, the Royals fumbled the ball over the line before the Reds defence could get a clean foot to the ball, but the Ref was convinced of a foul and blew for a free-kick.
A minute later, Smith yet again found himself in space for a shot, having received a cross from the left-hand side, but the hit was saved well by the Reds keeper.
Substitutions 49mins = Clark and Hughes off, Morris and Gilmurray on. Morris to LB, Crabb to CB and Gilmurray to RB.
On 50mins, the Royals were denied yet another goal, this time for offside. With the keeper beaten, McManamon nudged the ball over the line from a yard out, but was deemed offside, unfortunately denying a certain goal from Gilmurray’s initial shot.
2-3: 3mins Storrie was rewarded for his hard work as he found himself on the scoresheet (debatably!), when he found space from a cross at the back post. With his shot goal-bound, the Reds defender sliding attempt to clear was fired into the roof of his own net.
3-3: 55mins in, Smith forced a spectacular save out of the Reds keeper, when his volley from just inside the area was pushed around the post for a corner. Gilmurray was on hand again at the back post from the resulting corner, to put ball into the empty net. This time his goal stood and Royals we’re back in the game.
3mins later, the Reds keeper pulled off another brilliant save to prevent the Royals taking the lead again. Tennant took the free-kick from wide right, but his effort was tipped over the bar for another corner. The corner yet again reached the back-post, with everyone failing to make contact, McManamon slid in but sent the effort wide as he lunged to get a foot on it.
6mins from time, McManamon made great progress down the left-hand side, and gained another corner after a soft penalty claim by the defender. The Reds were awarded another free-kick for a push in the area as the corner was fired in.
3-4: with only 4mins to go, the Reds scored against the run of play to win the tie, when a shot from the edge of the area was too high for Nixon, and his hand to the ball wasn’t enough to send it over the bar.
Full time: Dundee West Royals 3-4 Dundee West Reds
Man of the Match: Storrie
Scorers: Gilmurray, McManamon and Storrie/OG
The Royals will feel aggrieved to walk away with nothing, from a match where they were more than deserving of a win. Having been the better side for most of the game, the difference between the sides were some fast breakaways for the Reds, and some refereeing decisions against the Royals, that may well have swung the game on another day. Overall, the game was a hard-fought contest, between two good Dundee West sides.
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