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League - Saturday 12th April 2008 14:00 Venue: Quieens

BACK ON SONG

Queens 11s  1   Santos  3   Sat  12^th April 08

 In the second of their “derby” games Santos and Queens served up  exciting fare, a sharp contrast to the previous week’s game. Queens struggling to avoid the dreaded “drop” played with great fire and enthusiasm but lacked a cutting edge and certainly had no luck at all.  Santos on the other hand hit two purple patches and showed all their old swashbucking style ( if only  in patches). Welcoming back their manager Santos  were then hit  a swinging blow as no fewer than 5 first teamers were forced out at the last minute. Manager Mc Geehan was forced to field a totally new midfield line in G. Brady  Stevie Walker and Ciaran ( Lofty) Mc Cartan ,( making his debut).  He was also forced to press into forward service the injured ‘Lazio’ Mc Carthy and Paul Brady a victim of food poisoning. Still the magic touch seemed to seep into the team as in the first 15 mins the Candystripes went two up… both goals scored by the new midfielders.  In 7 mins  a clever corner kick by Ossawy was played back to the edge of the box to Centre Back Maguire who delivered a delightful curling cross to the far post where Walker rose majestically to power a header home… training ground work fully rewarded.  But better was to follow as both the dynamic O Gorman and Mc Carthy used their pace to carve out chances that were just wide.  It was obvious Santos would score.  And so it was .In a bewilderind interpassing movement O Gorman shielded the ball superbly before laying it off to G Brady on the edge of the box. The make shift midfielder gloriously drilled a swerving shot to the top corner of the net, a real Goal of the Season contender.  With Santos now on top more goals should have followed, but a dogged defence by the students in which player manager Roger Theis was inspirational kept Santos out.  Anxiety crept in and the passing game spluttered and died as players, hitherto confident, made elementary errors on the glorious surface. Queens sensed they were back in the game and were re invigorated.  Keeper Aidan Hughes captaining the side for the first time then had to reproduce his Man of the Match performance of the previous week with three fine saves to keep Santos alive. Yet Santos did manage to miss two open goals while in their lethargy .young Mc Carthy outstripping the defence ,drawing the keeper then under hitting his final shot only to see it stop on the goal line.

 So Half Time saw a 2-0 score line to Santos

Unusually at Santos harsh words had to be used at the break to galvanize the side and the defence tightened its grasp on proceedingsat once. Unfortunately Brady and Mc Carthy up front were now showing signs of exhaustion and with O’ Gorman withdrawn deeper to reinforce the midfield Santos were making fewer forward attacks. Passing movements were breaking down and the students were fitter and more eager now.  Thankfully the arrival of the disciplined Paddy Parker was to change the game. Coming off the bench Parker’s crisp tackling and instant distribution was instrumental in Santos hitting a 15min period of sustained possession. With O Gorman freed again to help his attack Santos  produced the fluency that was missing. Prompted by Parker and the re-energised G Brady Santos’  passing game returned to its best. Unfortunately the wasteful nature of their attack returned also, as 3 open goal chances were spurned before  in a sudden break Hughes advanced too far off his line and Queens striker Sean Bowers lobbed in from all of 30 yds.  The goal failed to upset the tight Santos rearguard however and on 78 mins a 7 man passing move saw Mc Carthy play a telling pass through the  heart of  the student defence for Paul Brady to sweep in  for what was his 10^th goal of an injury ravaged season.  So the match ended comfortably for Santos and a win for returning manager was a real tonic. The Man of the Match tag was shared by Aidey Hughes and the tireless Manus O Gorman. With the mid weekend of season pile up now started Santos play Annalong at Drumaness on Thursday before facing top of the table Bangor Swifts at Blanchflower on Sat next. A punishing programme is to follow and the hope is that injuries will clear up so a full strength Santos can advance further up the  Div 2b table.

Lineup
		Player	Position	Rating	Info
		Aidan Hughes	Goalkeeper
		Conor McCormack	Right Back
		John Ossawy	Left Back
		Nigel Stevenson	Sweeper
		Liam Maguire	Centreback
		Gerard Brady	Right Midfield
		Ciaran Mc Cartan	Left Midfield
		Stephen Walker	Center Midfielder
		Paul Brady	Target Man
		Conor McCarthy	Target Man
		Manus O'Gorman	Attacking Midfielder
		Barry Doherty	Left Back
		Patrick Parker	Attacking Midfielder

Substitutes
		Player	Position	Rating	Info
		Robert Clarke	Striker
		Robert Clarke	Right Back

Man of the Match
		Player	Notes
		Gerard Brady	superb control and passing and a wonder goal