January 30th 2010 – Away

League

Dunmurry YM v Orangefield 1st XI  

A slip up in the last league game away to Newcastle cost Orangefield three points and it was vital to get back on track today away to Dunmurry YM. Credit to the groundsman for getting the game on after some snow the night before caused some games to get called off.

Orangefield started very well, playing at a high tempo and causing the Dunmurry defence problems from early on. Some excellent early balls from the midfield allowed the Orangefield front men to do what they do best, using their pace and movement to create openings. Clarkey was first to take a chance and put the away side one up, sliding the ball underneath the on rushing keeper.

Davy Tittensor started the game at left midfield and from the first whistle caused the right back all sorts of problems, using his pace to go outside and inside the poor fella. It was from a good ball by Jonny Gibson at left back, filling in for the absent Wilsy, that sent Tit off for another good run, cutting inside the box and finishing well at the near post. By this time the home defence was all over the place, and Orangefield looked like they might run riot. Clarkey again found space and slipped another past the Dunmurry keeper to make it three for Orangefield and two for him on the day. With captain for the day Dean Cousins and Tony Craig breaking up any play that Dunmurry could muster through the middle, and Brian Reynolds working well on the right, the home team were limited to playing the long ball. This however didn’t trouble the Orangefield defence, well marshalled by Sam McNaul and young Dorny who made his first start for the Orangefield 1st XI in the absence of Andy D’Arcy. And with Hardy playing his usual game on the right of defence, it was hard to see where Dunmurry would get a goal from in the first half.

Another burst of pace from Tit on the left saw him deservedly get his second of the game, and Orangefield’s fourth. Dunmurry almost responded with a goal back when their forward got free in the box, but young Dorny did very well to get back and clear from goal line.  

Half-time: 0 - 4

With instructions from the manager to go and kill the game off, it wasn’t long before Orangefield got another. About two minutes after the restart, Orangefield moved the ball well and from outside the box Clarkey had a good strike blocked by a Dunmurry defender. The ball fell to Harvey who made no mistake and slotted it home, making it number five for the visitors.

Dunmurry had no choice but to throw everything forward looking for a response. Taylor was beaten to a through ball by a Dunmurry front man, and caught off his line there was a bit of a melee in the box. Eventually the ball fell to a Dunmurry foot and it ended up in the back of the net. Ten minutes later and with Orangefield having taken the foot of the pedal, the home side struck again to make it two. Orangefield tightened up after this and the rest of the game was played out with neither team coming very close to adding any more, the referee making sure of that with some ridiculous offside decisions.

A good three points for Orangefield, with a super first half performance all around the park, a treat to watch. The only sour note of the game came when the Orangefield coach entered the field of play to treat a player before the referee had signaled him on. After telling him to go off, the coach ‘dropped his bags’ in frustration and the referee had no choice but to send him to the dressing room. Tragic.

Full-time: 2 - 5

Lineup: G.Taylor, R.Hardy, S. McNaul, Dornan, J.Gibson, B.Reynolds, T.Craig, D.Cousins (Capt), D.Tittensor , C.Dempster, C.Harvey Subs: D.Finlay, R.McNaul, N.O’Neill