Match Report Valley D vs. KCC C

Damage 2 - KCC 1

Pre match team talk started with Howard informing us the KCC team were 11 in TOTAL with no subs but more importantly, no keeper with 3 old boys at the back and rest youngsters from their development squad. Damage thought match in the bag!

Jiten did quickly remind us to not think that way and the final score line confirms those were wise words from our inspired and guru-like captain.

We welcomed back Jono in the back line and Vulture made it on the pitch this week vs. his cameo role last week dazzling us in the warm up only to injure himself before the start. Solid backline, Belgium “Guy" in goal and 15 players so plenty of subs to rotate so Damaged looked good for the 3 points.

The boys started well and way better than the previous week when we didn’t really start playing till half time.
Good movement, passing and we looked in total control. KCC were full of energy though with their youngsters so we didn’t really have as much time as we would like but still all good.

A steal in their half by Muenz (yes - Muenz in their(!) half!!!) quickly found George who then dribbled past 2 defenders and into the D and a nice flick and finish. 1 nil.

Flood gates opening? We continued to move the ball around, good passing and probably should have been 3 up after 20 mins if not from a couple of saves by their post.
Unfortunately not having a keeper might also have confused Damage a little too much as we played like we had to smack everything with power inside the D which led to plenty of missed opportunities as we just missed that final simple pass to tap in.

When we did slow the ball down we scored with G talking it into the D then laid on a simple tap in by Dan for 2 nil and so it stayed at half time.

Not sure what happened at the start of the second half but Damage somehow decided to make a game of it and a lapse in defence allowed KCC to work the ball down the left and with some poor clearances, gifted their striker a free shot into the near post making it 2-1.

We started to doubt ourselves a little and started losing shape and for a period just making silly mistakes, not passing to players, trying to beat their players or just simply passing it straight to the opposition.
English “Guy" did ask at one point who was playing centerback only to find Don on the right wing right by the corner flag ….. yes, Vulture on the right wing!! (we found out later that he did stop running once he hit half way but momentum took him all the way).

Luckily we did get our shape back and if not for a few fine edges from the defenders sticks on nice balls into the D, we would have scored 2-3 more.

No drama at the end as Damage defence was solid but plenty of work to do ahead of the next game as we really should have been 6-1 up at least.

As our guru said at the end, that’s 3 points in the bag so let’s move on, go to training and play better next Sunday!

- written by Teenage Wongie -