Match Report

Match : 1st XI v Cookstown 3rds
Date : 2003-01-25
Venue : A
Score : 1-4
Scorers : Burgess

By Independent Review

Cookstown 3rds are currently sitting in 2nd place in Junior League 1. They've also reached the final of the McClements Cup in each of the last two seasons (winning it once). There was no doubt that this was going to be a tough match.

The first half saw the green macineh put plenty of effort into the match, but all too frequently, the effort was misguided. Panic in defence, no structure in midfield and a lack of imagination up front. When Cookstown attacked, they attacked with purpose and (more importantly) as a unit.

3-0 at half-time, yet the men in green were not despondent. Strange...

The second half was a different affair. The midfield worked hard, won tackles and drove forward. The defence stood strong and the forward line were a constant threat. A neutral would've struggled to determine which team was the well-coached, well-drilled team!

Burgess had a chance from a short corner (routine number 3), but missed. Another short corner (again number 3) was missed again. Finally, however, Burgess did convert a chance - albeit the trickiest of the 3! Game on...

Burgess was dominating midfield with Cookstown struggling to handle his dribbling ability. He always looked a threat and managed to unleash 3 strikes on target, but a second goal did not come. In fact, it was Cookstown that broke with pace and restored their 3 goal advantage.

The game ended 4-1 to the home team, though for large spells of the game, it was Cookstown that were under pressure. The big question is "How Come East Can't Play Like That Each Week?". The answer seems relatively simple based on the performance. The simple fact of the matter is that the team played like a team. There was no arguing, chittering or bad-mouthing. There was total concentration and 100% effort.

Also the midfield broke into attack with pace managing to support a forward line that has been starved of company for most of the season.

In fairness though, Cookstown allowed the Green Machine to try to play hockey - the same cannot be said of the culturally different Senior 2 teams!

J Hamill
A Murphy
P Fraser
D Menaul
M McDonald
J Greer
A Burgess (capt)
N Hermon
S Swann
L Currie
P Irwin
B Watters

A Burgess