Dunbar United v Oakley United
20th December 2008
East of Scotland Cup |
Oakley United Squad; Martin Parkyn, Kevin Connors, Alan Clarke, Chris Hughes, Peter Fyffe, Paul Thomson, Stuart Innes, Brian Ritchie, Peter Bannatyne, Greg Sinclair, Lee Celantano, Kevin Fotheringham, Mark Connors, Brendan Cusick, Alan Moody, Colin Campbell (GK).
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Front pair paying dividends
Due to the Dunbar Park 's pitch not having been used since the end of November; the playing surface was in an immaculate condition.
Despite the 116 mile round trip from Oakley, there was a healthy and vocal crowd, made up of both locals and the travelling Oakley faithful who made for a warm atmosphere.
Some of Oakley's fans had travelled a little further than others in that ex-player John Higgens (Jnr) had come all the way from sunny America …a warm welcome back John.
Dunbar United, like Oakley was a team completely rebuilt from the start of the season. They were coming into today's game after an impressive couple of wins.
One of their committee commented “although they are a young inexperienced team, they work hard for each other and with a little luck; they may be on the up”. This was going to be a hard game for Oakley.
Oakley team selection:- Martin Parkyn, Kevin Connors, Alan Clarke, Chris Hughes, Peter Fyffe, Paul Thomson, Stuart Innes, Brian Ritchie, Peter Bannatyne, Greg Sinclair, Lee Celantano
Subs: Kevin Fotheringham, Mark Connors, Brendan Cusick, Alan Moody, Colin Campbell (GK).
The game had but five minutes on the clock when the Oakley's flying wing back, Peter Fyffe, had to be replaced when initial diagnosis pointed toward a pulled hamstring. This meant the back four requiring a major reshuffle to accommodate the introduction of left half, Brendan Cusick.
Chris Hughes moved out to the right full back position, Kevin Connors came in from left back to join Alan Clarke at the centre of the defence with finally Paul Thomson slipping back into the vacant left back position allowing Brendan to slide into his regular left wing/half position.
If the first half had finished with Oakley being 3 or 4 up, I don't think the home team would have had any complaints, except for a minor left foot fumble at a bobbling ball by experienced defender Chris Hughes, Dunbar didn't really trouble Martin Parkyn in the Oakley goal. The Dunbar #9 however dragged it wide mainly due to the quick recovery and determination of Hughes.
A lot of Oakley's attacking prowess came down the left hand side through Paul Thomson and Brendan Cusick who were working well together in a pairing which improved even more in the second half. Whether the attacks developed down the middle, left side, or down the right, they always had the ever willing, and tire les s, target of Lee Celentano to aim for, ably assisted by a not fully fit but excellent Greg Sinclair - showing that the pairing is beginning to provide dividends for Oakley.
The breakthrough came in the 25 th minute when, from a floated left sided free kick, taken by Stewart Innes, saw Central Midfielder Brian Ritchie rise above everyone to direct a header against the right hand post with enough power to end up crossing the line, despite the best efforts of a number of defenders. Brendan Cusick also helped the ball back into the back of the net. Cusick was attributed with the goal but nobody knew at that point in time, none of the travelling support cared.
It was all Oakley, Central defender Alan Clark could've had a hat-trick on his own with the closest of which being cleared off the line.
But before the half time whistle, Dunbar had equalised through a series of Oakley players either not closing down or just poor marking, allowing the Dunbar striker to hit home with a bending effort from the right hand edge of the box.
The second half saw Oakley grow in strength. If they should have been 4 up in the first half, then the second should have been the same, if not more.
Oakley's dominance continued to grow, with sterling work from both centre backs allowing the midfield to push on, creating chance after chance.
Anyone looking for a negative from the day, may have looked to Brendan Cusick and Paul Thomson having a little more composure with the final ball, it would've put these two players into a different category.
Both were allowed the luxury of their forward play due to the exceptional game at the back by Kevin Connors in partnership with Alan Clark. They all but snuffed out the threat of Dunbar .
Kevin has to be singled out for his aggressive interventions, mixed in with his composure and delivery of his clearances from a very cultured left foot. This was indeed the day he stood up and declared that he was an Oakley player.
Two goals from Greig Sinclair put the O's into the driving seat, a six yard diving header, the other a great first touch with his back to goals, turn, move the ball out from under his body and a firm but composed side foot into the corner of the net, left the Dunbar keeper with no chance.
Alan Moody replaced the 2 goal hero and began to put a new sparkle into the forward play of Oakley. Alan worked back tire les sly for his team mates and will be happy with his first contribution since returning from a serious knee injury. It was as if a new player had just been signed…welcome back Alan.
A tire les s, solid performance from Stuart Innes also saw him replaced by the speedy Mark Connors. Innes had received a booking and to continue playing him, with his robust, no nonsense style, would have been folly. He had done his job and his replacement now had to make his mark .
Connor's work up and down the right side of the pitch allowed Peter Bannatyne to drift into the middle to help youngster Brian Ritchie tighten up the midfield.
The final goal was a pleasure to watch.
It started from a throw-in deep in Oakley's half. Brian Ritchie's good first touch fooled his marker into diving in for the ball. Ritchie dragged the ball backwards away from the opponent, knocked it a few yards forward and sent a through low powerful pass, which sliced the defence in two, allowing the ever willing Lee Celentano to burst clear, after intelligently bending his run. The rest as they say is history.
No defender was going to catch him and just like 10 minutes prior, the striker found himself one on one with the keeper. The keeper on the first occasion had come out on top pulling of a super save. The Oakley number 9 was not for repeating the keeper's fortune, faking to go right, he went left and rounded the keeper before taking an extra touch to steady himself before he blasted the ball into the net, ending any hopes Dunbar may have had of a comeback.
Dunbar did score a consolation 25 yarder near the end, their #9 severely dipping volley skimmed the underside of the bar, leaving keeper Martin Parkyn with no chance.
The game was marred a little with the second yellow card offence by Kevin Connors after he kicked the ball away.
All in all, a solid performance from Oakley ensured a well deserved victory.
Man of the match: candidates had to be either;-
Brendan Cusick: for his super display of wing wizardry, Paul Thomson: for his defensive and attacking display - or until his sending off, Kevin Connors.
But for this reporter, MoM must go the tire les s, hard working constant menace to the opposition's defenders and worthy goal scorer, Lee Celentano; a flaw les s display from a striker whose confidence is there for all to see.
Blair Wood |