A GAME OF TWO HALVES! 16-11-2008

MYS BLACKS 4 EASTHOUSES 5

An incredible turnaround saw Youngstars lose a four-goal half-time lead in a game that also raised a few questions over league rules.

After a great performance last week at Leith, Youngstars went into the game with a depleted squad. Cammy Brown was still injured, Connor couldn't play due to a back injury and David was also unavailable.

However, after a tight first ten minutes or so, Youngstars took control of the game and Scott slipped home the first goal after a neat through ball. The second goal came from a lovely interchange of passes between Jack, Seth, Lloyd and Scott. The keeper saved Scott's shot, but Blair followed in and controlled the rebound before smashing it into the net.

It was 3-0 soon after when Scott's shot was deflected in and 4-0 as Seth squeezed the ball home after Lloyd's shot was parried by the Easthouses keeper. Callum in goal made one great save towards the end of the half, but we had been very much on top and looked well in control.

Unfortunately, things changed dramatically in the second half. League rules say a team four goals down can bring on an extra player and this additional man made a huge difference to the match.

It could have been different if Youngstars had scored a fifth goal from three good chances at the start of the second half. Straight from kick-off, Jack hit a shot across goal which the keeper did well to save, then Seth crashed a cracker against the bar and Blair couldn't quite get on the end of a cross after a brilliant run by Scott.

We were made to pay as Easthouses pulled it back to 4-1 with just over 15 minutes to go and Youngstars were also hampered by an injury to Jason, who took a nasty kick just to the side of his eye. As usual, he was desperate to come back on and took his place in left defence after recovering.

Lloyd also took a whack on the knee and was off the pitch for a crazy last ten minutes or so, while Brandon and Blair were also hurt.

Easthouses pulled it back to 4-2 with the eight men - and although the extra player then left the
pitch, they very much had the upper hand. They scored again and Youngstars looked unable to get hold of the ball and play as they had done in the first half.

An Easthouses striker then charged down a clearance and put the ball into an empty net, though the rules suggest the keeper should always have the chance to clear the ball from his box.

This made it 4-4 and a powerful long-range shot squirmed in to give Easthouses a most unlikely 5-4 win.

There are a lot of lessons from today - and one is that our coaches must be crystal clear about the league rules (having said that, I have spoken to two other coaches today and they have different interpretations of the extra player rule). In a 7 v 7 game, we would undoubtedly have won well, but we have to learn to keep going when we come under pressure and also to learn to cope when our strongest players are off the pitch.

However, we also played superbly well for half an hour and just have to make sure that our level of concentration and effort - especially when the going gest tough - always matches some of the excellent football we are playing.

Blair won man of the match for a hard-working display in midfield.

Squad: Callum, Jack, Jason, Cammy Dunlop, Lloyd, Seth, Blair, Scott, Brandon.