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Santos Open With Win

Sunday 21st September 2008

The first League encounter of the season saw a great tussle lacking only in a glut of goals to make it a classic. With an almost full squad Santos, although hit bt the withdrawl of both centre backs, shrugged off this set back to produce a performance full of character and skill.  Makeshift defenders Conor McCormack and Michael Burns (normally midfield players) emerged as the star men.

McCormack’s great ability in the air coupled with Burn’s speed and ability on the ground made it the best partnership for Santos for quite some time. Indeed it was this combination that settled Santos, showing an early hangover from the previous week’s heavy defeat, that proved to be the rock upon which Santos confidence was rebuilt.

Temple were stylish and attack minded. A great 4-3 away win the previous week had been a great phillip to them and they were purposeful and inventive. But Santos with vetern Gary Hunter and youthful “Lazio” McCarthy up front were holding up the ball beautifully and allowing the midfield to settle.

Still it was Temple who struck first, Skillen robbed a hesitant Theis in midfield and delivered a great ball into the box. As McCormack stumbled Hartley struck leaving the stand in Santos keeper helpless with a lovely placed shot.  Yet Santos calling on their experience continued passing accurately from the back but now at a ‘stepped up’ pace.

Five minutes later straight from the training ground a most exquisite cross from Mc Geehan was bulleted home with a supreme header by Aaron Harmon for a “Goal of the Season” contender already.

The play swung from side to side Santos protecting their vunerable keeper and McCarthy’s pace oozing danger in ever Santos counter. Then the telling moment of the game as Santos were caught ball watching and a Temple cross to their unmarked striker seemed to signal a goal. But young Michael Kane at 17 making his Santos debut made a magnificent saving header to deny the striker knocking the ball over his own crossbar in what was a vital intervention for the Candystripes.

The move coming from sloppy play from young Harmon could have ended the tie but Harmon himself showing great resolve immediately collected the kick out and stroked a 60 yard pass to McCarthy. The young striker outpaced the Temple defenders and planted his shot in the far cormer for an inspitational goal.

So halftime saw Santos hold a 2-1 lead

If the first half had the goals the second half had action and excitement and near misses on both sides. In a brilliantly exciting 45 mins Santos had a midfield general in skipper McGeehan. Winning all the midfield duels he set up a constant supply line to his strikers and truth to tell 4 easy chances were squandered. The substitution of the vetern Hunter by Paul Brady immediately saw a period of Santos domination but again one on one chances were squandered and Temple always looked like they might snatch a goal and indeed had 5 corners in succession as they went after the equalizer.

But the Santos back four with sub Ciaran McCartan outstanding now, at left back were superb. On every break Santos were a threat as first Brady then Harmon then Mc Geehan powered great efforts narrowly over and the Temple keeper covered himself in glory with a string of great saves.

So the match ended 2-1 when a possible scoreline of 6-4 might have been possible. Another highlight of this pulsating game was the excellent refereeing keeping this scintillating game flowing, much to both team’s delight.

Manager McGeehan was full of praise for his side, “ we were all hurt by the previous week’s heavy defeat but we will not let our heads drop at Santos. The displays of the senior men McCormack and Burns inspired the rest and the influence of skipper McGeehan who was a towering figure re-established the self belief in the others especially into the youngsters McCarthy, Brady and Kane who responded magnificently.

I feel with a full squad now available to me every week we will go on from this victory with renewed confidence.