FERNIESIDE TOO STRONG

MYS BLACKS 3 FENIESIDE 6

In our three previous games with Fernieside, we had won one, lost one and drawn one, with the teams always evenly matched. Today, although the game was a bit closer than the score appears, our opponents out-played and out-fought us with some neat, skilful football combined with a tough-tackling approach all over the pitch.

Youngstars struggled to make an early impact and Connor and Jason found it hard going as the nippy Fernieside strikers made darting runs in behind the defence. They took the lead when one of them found space to slot past Cammy Brown and went 2-0 up after a scramble following a corner.

Youngstars then showed some steel as Seth made a great run down the left and cut the ball back for Scott to steer it home. We had lots of corners, swung in well by Lloyd, but couldn't get on the end of any of them. Fernieside could have been further ahead, but Cammy did well in goal and Jason in particular put in some great strong tackles.

We were 2-1 down at half-time and re-organised things at the break, putting three men at the back (it was an 8-a-side game) to try to deny space to the visiting strikers. This worked well for 15 minutes as Cammy Dunlop (and later David) pushed up if they were free to allow our midfield to close down Fernieside further up the pitch.

We dominated the early period of the second half and scored a great equaliser as Lloyd put through a brilliant ball for Jack, who took his time and picked his spot perfectly. Unfortunately, a loss of concentration allowed Fernieside back ahead before Scott ran through on the left and lifted a great shot over the keeper and inside the far post to make it 3-3.

Again, we were unable to hold on to the lead and an unlucky ricochet off a defender saw Fernieside go 4-3 up. Youngstars then had another great period and Seth, Scott and Jack all missed clear chances to draw us level. The boys fought really hard but conceded two late goals, as the ball squirmed unluckily past Callum, off the post and straight to a Fernieside player to tap in - and then Jason was very unfortunate to see an attempted clearance slice into his own goal.

We did some good things today, but this game showed us we have to be tougher all over the pitch. Too often, we allowed Fernieside to win possession when we should have had the ball - and as we keep saying to the boys, if they don't have the ball, they can't start playing the good football we all know they are capable of.

Squad: Cammy Brown, Connor, Jason, Callum, Lloyd, David, Seth, Scott, Jack, Cammy Dunlop