Match Report

Match : 1st XI v Omagh
Date : 2008-03-29
Venue : H
Score : 1-2
Scorers : Alan Burgess

By Kriss Leslie

East entered the game with high hopes of geting a win, and it started of with East and Omagh exchanging attacks. With about 20 minutes gone, East broke down an Omagh attack and hit them on the counter attack with a fantastic break away from Jamesy Greer, who then played a great cross-field ball to Leon who then majestically crossed to Bertie who finished in his usual excellent fashion. The first half continued in much the same way as it had began, and at half-time East found themselves 1-0 up.

During half-time East realised that it was a very tight game, and that we were by no means on our way to victory. Also, the importance of starting the second half brightly, and not as if we were still taking our half-time breather was noted.

However, once again, East did just that and Omagh, without East even getting a touch on the ball, launched an attack from their hit-off and scored. East were rattled and had gifted Omagh just the start they had wished for.

Though Omagh were not finished, and East had still not woken up, when Omagh again came at us minutes after their equaliser, managing to win a penalty flick after a short-corner attempt. Pablo almost got to it, but unfortunatley Omagh had taken the lead inside a nightmare five minutes for East.

After this shock, East re-grouped and began to push to get the equaliser. The rest of the game was all East Antrim, and Omagh launched a number of pacey counter-attacks. East were extremely unlucky not to get something out of the game on Saturday, as we had shots cleared of the line, numerous short corners which Omagh to their credit defended well, and applied constant pressure for around fifteen to twenty minutes. But again our failure to take chances, and to get players on the posts or in front of the keeper as good balls are played into the Omagh box, cost us.

Overall, even though we had a terrible five minute spell and failed to capitalise on our dominance in the second half, we did play well on Saturday and were extremely unlucky at times. Think what might have been if we hadn’t have walked out into the second half still scratching our posteriors, as we head into next weeks game against Ballymena. If we stop concentrating at any point in the game next Saturday Ballymena will be much more ruthless than Omagh. So we should learn ahead of next week that a few minutes of not concentrating can be very costly indeed!!!!!

James Greer