Febuary 27th 2010 – Away

League

Bloomfield v Orangefield 1st XI

Three weeks since the last game and it was off to local rivals Bloomfield this week as Orangefield looked to stay at the top end of the table during the run in to the end of the season. Always a potential banana skin, Orangefield were lucky enough to come away with the three points at home earlier in the season.

Having been told to get the ball on the deck and show good passing and movement, Orangefield did the opposite and played too many long balls, which played into the hands of the Bloomfield defence who dealt with it comfortably.

The Bloomfield midfield also had a fair amount of possession in the first half, and when a ball down the left hand side wasn’t cut out, an in swinging crosses missed everyone in the Orangefield box and went in at the back post to give the home side the lead.

This gave Orangefield a wake up call, and 10 minutes later they were level when Clark Dempster stepped up and slotted home a penalty. Sam McNaul made a great run from the heart of defence, beating three men before slipping the ball onto a good run from Harvey. Harvey stepped outside the Bloomfield defender and was tripped just inside the box before he was able to get a shot off. The Bloomfield player was lucky not to receive a card and Orangefield were back on level terms.

Half-time: 1 - 1

With Ryan McNaul having a great game alongside Sam in defence, Orangefield’s other defenders and midfielders tightened up after half-time to allow the away side to push further forward. Nathan O’Neill, a half-time sub, came on and started to make progress down the right hand side, getting some good balls into the box.

After a period of attack from Orangefield, they took the lead through a great goal from Jonny Gibson. The ball bounced out to the 18 yard box from a Bloomfield clearance, and Gibson showed great technique to volley it back across goal into the top corner, to the great delight of a good Orangefield travelling support.

The home side were now very stretched and Orangefield were looking to wrap the game up. O’Neill picked the ball up inside the Orangefield half and ran at the retreating Bloomfield midfield. After slipping the ball past an onrushing player, O’Neill lashed a 30 yard strike towards goal, only to see it cannon off the top of the crossbar. Harvey was next up to try and win the game. He picked the ball up at the halfway line and made a great run into the Bloomfield box. He lifted the ball over the keeper, but it bounced back off the cross bar where Bryan Reynolds was running in and he managed to keep the ball down and stroke home with what was the decisive goal.

A much better performance in the second half and a deserved three points to keep Orangefield third in the table before next week’s break in the league which sees them travel to Hollywood in the Clarence Cup Third Round.

Full-time: 1 - 3

Lineup: G.Taylor, R.McNaul, S. McNaul, A.D’Arcy (Capt), D. Wilson, J.Gibson, B.Reynolds, D.Cousins, D.Tittensor , C.Dempster, C.Harvey Subs:, N.O’Neill, Dornan, D.Young.