SAVAGED
|
Glentoran |
1 |
Fenwood Town |
3 |
|
Hudson - 26 |
Jefferson - 10
Blackwell - 66
Mackintosh - 87 |
|
Matthew Burns
Darren Nixon Bobby Holmes Jack Morgan Adam Stewart
Joel Glass Ross MacCallister Dave Savage Luke Jefferson
Jay Carpenter Reece Blackwell
SUBS:
Bruno Cairns, Butch McGovern, Brian MacDonald, Ronnie Cartwright, Aaron Hinchcliffe, Harold Mackintosh
|
Fenwood Town successfully managed to put the disappointment of their midweek defeat behind them with a hard fought victory against the rugged Glentoran.
The word 'friendly' was banished from both sides vocabulary as they battled for 90 minutes, each searching for their first pre-season win. Not much 'pretty football' was on display as tackles went flying in regularly throughout the encounter, and on three occasions the referee had to halt the match to warn both captains and managers about their teams' conduct.
Town's trial captain Dave Savage was the first culprit of rough challenging, but his no-nonsense attitude contributed to the opening goal of the match. Glentoran were enjoying a good spell of possession in midfield until the veteran delivered a ferocious sliding tackle on Leigh Morton. The challenge was hard but fair, and the loose ball rolled kindly to Ross MacCallister. The home side were outnumbered 6 to 3, and the Scotsman drew the opposing defenders narrow before releasing Luke Jefferson. The winger was onside, and like a whippet he raced away from the defence and towards goal. Goalkeeper Darren Harvey stood tall, but could only watch as Jefferson lashed the ball past his head and into the net.
The game remained end to end, and 16 minutes later Glentoran were level. Inexperienced Joel Glass, in for the rested Ronnie Cartwright, played a poor cross-field ball that was headed instantly back into the Fenwood half. The hosts took advantage of the nervousness of Darren Nixon at right-back, playing a lovely one-two to leave the 16 year old out of position. Josh Finley's cross could have easily been collected by Matthew Burns, but the rookie stayed on his line and allowed Mark Hudson a free header for 1-1.
Despite being held, Barry Collins decided to rest Bobby Holmes and Ross MacCallister in the second half, a decision that alarmed many of the 200 odd travelling supporters. Butch McGovern relished the opportunity to get stuck in, shoulder barging Liam Kelly off the pitch and over an advertising hoarding minutes after coming on. Aaron Hinchcliffe shone in his more familiar attacking role, days after having a nightmare as The Lumberjacks' anchorman. His ability to find a pinpoint pass out of the blue provided Reece Blackwell with his first proper chance of the day. From a Jefferson pass he looped the ball over the Irish sides defence with a first touch, outside of the boot effort, setting the alert Blackwell on his way. With all the experience of someone double his age, the striker waited calmly for Harvey to dive to his right before slotting the ball home with sheer ease.
Still very much in the game at 2-1, Glentoran became a bit more urgent and their tackles grew more and more dangerous. Town gave as good as they got though, with several one-on-one wars developing across the pitch. Savage's scraps with Morton were the fiercest, but McGovern keeping Hudson quiet and Jefferson exchanging fouls with his man marker Robbie Colne were also rather heated moments. Colne was clearly agitated, having had rings run round him by the pacey duo of Jefferson and Adam Stewart, who seem to have formed a good understanding. Unlike Blackwell and Jay Carpenter upfront, who being two quite similar players, could not gel. Harold Mackintosh was introduced at the expense of the latter with 20 minutes to go, and he and Blackwell hit it off immediately. They understood everything each other did, as Mackintosh dropped deep to flick long balls onto his partner, while Blackwell’s pace opened up the previously solid home defence. Three minutes of normal remained when substitute Ronnie Cartwright set the 18 year old away down the right and the forward eventually found himself clear through on goal. With just Harvey in goal to beat, he unselfishly slipped it back to Mackintosh, who slammed it into the back of the net against the side he had a trial with under a month ago.
The Lumberjacks travel across the water to play Shamrock Rovers in Eire next week, and another performance like today’s one would do wonders for Barry Collins' reputation amongst fans.
PLAYER RATINGS:
MATTHEW BURNS - Young, inexperienced, and it showed when he failed to collect a cross for the first goal. Did little else wrong though. 6/10
ADAM STEWART - Has become the 'forgotten man' at Fenwood in recent years, but his link up play down the left with Jefferson was phenomenal. His pace can terrorise opposing sides. 7/10
BOBBY HOLMES - Another impressive display by the teenage centre-back. Taken off at half time for a rest after some solid work at the back. 7/10
JACK MORGAN - Playing only his second game, he shone against a slow Glentoran attack. Not comfortable when faced one-on-one, but as an all-round defender he has potential. 7/10
DARREN NIXON - At 16 years old he should really be enjoying his summer holidays from school! Should be part of a youth academy to develop his talent, because today he was too nervous to deal with experienced wingers. 6/10
LUKE JEFFERSON - Came out of his shell and contributed to a much-needed Fenwood win. Scored after 10 minutes and ran rings around Robbie Colne. He and Stewart seem to have formed a solid left side in Town’s team. 7/10
DAVE SAVAGE - Extracting blood from a stone with a syringe would have been easier than getting past this man today. He was a rock, and led by example. Refused to pull out of any challenge and inspired every player around him. Could be the man to pull together the riffraff Fenwood squad. MAN OF THE MATCH, 9/10
ROSS MACCALLISTER - When he plays well, Fenwood play well, and he was back to his best today. Passing the ball around freely, doing silky backheels, even used kick ups to get past one defender. 7/10
JOEL GLASS - Has the pace that Ronnie Cartwright doesn't, but at 17 he is too young to feature in the first team. His development has been slowed by the disruption of the last few years, but hopefully one for the future. 6/10
JAY CARPENTER - Like Darren Nixon, he is only 16 and has no experience whatsoever. Plucked from Sunday league football out of desperation by Pete Lawson last season, he needs to go out on loan to a lower league club to mature properly. Lanky and has plenty of pace, but did nothing. 5/10
REECE BLACKWELL - His inexperiance on the big stage causes his form to drift between good and poor, and today it was excellent. With the ball at his feet he could outplay the best of defenders as he did to Glentoran, but REALLY shone when Mackintosh came on. 8/10
SUBS:
BRIAN MACDONALD - Came on for Nixon at half time, did nothing wrong but all Fenwood attacks seemed to be down the left. 6/10
BUTCH McGOVERN - Has lost weight in the three weeks he has been at Town, but still needs another month or two to regain full fitness. Made up for his lack of speed by sitting back and muscling strikers off the ball. 6/10
AARON HINCHCLIFFE - Is not a natural attacker of defender, but seems content to sit in the middle of the park and spread the ball about. Played well when he came on and created the second goal. A unique sort of player. 7/10
RONNIE CARTWRIGHT - Only featured for the last 20 minutes, and like MacDonald, suffered from the fact Town attacked down the left. Still contributed to the third goal though. First choice for the right midfield slot definitely. 6/10
HAROLD MACKINTOSH - Has gone from goal poacher to goal provider over the years. His lack of speed means nothing, as he drops deep and flick on balls to the wingers and Reece Blackwell. Partnership with the teenager seems to be developing. 7/10
