19/11/2005

Waveney Swifts 4 - 2 Lisnafillan Swifts

Lisnafillan slumped to their second league defeat of the season up at Waveney in a poor display but proved with a spirited finish to the game that there is yet light at the end of the tunnel.

Just lately Lisnafillan's league form has taken a bit of a dip. Maybe due to personnel changes or getting used to a new formation, but all credit to the Swifts from Waveney who well deserved their victory today. Waveney showed a hunger for the tie that Lisnafillan couldn't match. The visitors started off well enough and for ten minutes seemed to be on top of the fixture. They utilised the wings well and troubled the Waveney defence with telling crosses into the danger area. Waveney packed the defence though and were not really threatened as their sweeper was first to almost every ball.

Lisnafillan could not penetrate the Waveney defence and were always in danger of being caught on the break with Waveney opting to leave three men up at all times. As the half wore on, Waveney began to control all areas of the pitch, due in part to their hard work but also helped by Lisnafillan's inability to perform as a unit. Lisnafillan continually looked to individuals to take control of the game instead of letting the ball work for them. This lead to a scrappy half of mostly counter attacking football in which Waveney were unlucky not to score.

Half-time: 0-0

Lisnafillan took to the pitch with a new shape in a bid to put a bit of pressure on Waveney's defence. Unfortunately this was to work to their detriment as it became apparent that some of the players were unsure of their roles. Waveney created attack after attack with some excellent movement up front. Their pressure eventually paid off when Waveney penetrated after a lovely interchange of passing 30yards out which gave their forward a clear run at goal to leave Damien O'Hagan no chance in nets.

Not long after this blow, Waveney extended their lead. Chris McQuoid was caught out of position at left back as he raided forward allowing his man freedom on the right. As before, Waveney were quick to get the ball forward and found their man with an accurate direct pass. Trevor McAleese worked back excellently to win back possession, but unfortunately in a carbon copy incident to that of the previous week, he played a dangerous blind pass across his own 18yard box to gift the Waveney forward a goal out of nothing.

With Lisnafillan visibly dejected it was inevitable that Waveney would extend their lead further given the possession and pressure they exerted. Indeed they shipped a further two goals before the Lisnafillan fighting spirit was restored. Substitute, Jay Russell muscled his way through the Waveney defence making himself some room to despatch a well delivered cross from McAleese. Unfortunately this was only fifteen minutes from time so even when Greg Marrs popped up to slip in a second for Lisnafillan it was going to be a lot to ask for any kind of positive result from the game. Lisnafillan can take pride in that they finished the game stronger, but it was very much a case of too little too late!

Full-time: 4-2