WE DIDN’T GET THE CHERRY….BUT WE HAVE THE TWO-TIERED CAKE

Dunbar Rovers 0-2 Southern Districts
State League 2 First Grade – Grand Final
Valentine Sports Park (Field 2)
Saturday Sept 5

Southern Districts came out of the blocks with purpose, as we knew they would – they needed to salvage something from their season. Within 5 minutes they were ahead after the Dunbar defence failed to deal with a Districts corner and top striker Mitchell McLintock bundled the ball over the line. A poor goal to give away so early.

Our original formation of 3-5-2 was changed pretty quickly as Districts’ wide men exploited some gaps. We continued to try to play our game – slick, fluid passing but there was something not quite right on the night and people could sense it. Southern Districts organised themselves very well. They usually had 10 men behind the ball and defended very well against us. There was no occasion where they were caught on the break. They didn’t need to chase the game. The early goal had made sure of that – and it played totally into their hands.

In truth, we didn’t create any chance of note in the entire first half that forced their keeper to make a save.

The second half continued much like the first. Dunbar trying to play football – occasionally succeeding to put some good moves together but often having uncharacteristic mistakes in midfield causing us problems at the wrong end.

On 55 minutes, the Districts striker Mitchell McLintock scored his second when he turned on a sixpence to slot home, despite close marking from Adam Smith, after a long ball, flick on header and good cross into the box.

Craig Mooney’s introduction gave Dunbar a real spark. He was at the heart of every good thing we did creatively. Sean Burke was a constant threat on the right side of midfield.

It took almost 70 minutes for us to register the first real chance, when Robbie Deasy drilled the ball just over the bar from outside the box.

The key moment for us came on 73 minutes when a fantastic move down the left resulted in Stephen Liu storming into the box and slotting home from an acute angle. Inexplicably the assistant referee’s flag raised for an offside that only he saw.

A few minutes later, Sean Burke won a 50/50 ball in a tough challenge, got up and turned and hit an absolute screamer from 25 metres that the Districts keeper got a hand to and turned around the upright for a corner.

It was not going to be our night. A few half chances came and went, but Districts also had a few of their own as the game came to a conclusion. Congratulations to Southern Districts on their Grand Final win.

Dunbar Rovers has not tasted defeat often over the last few seasons, so it is a good reality check as we hope to be part of a higher level competition next season. An outstanding season for everyone connected with Dunbar Rovers FC State League and we didn’t come away with the cherry but we got the most valuable thing – the two-tiered iced cake that is the First Grade League Championship as well as the all-important Club Championship.

LINEUP:
S.Deasy – A.Smith, Delaney, Clayton – J.Smith – Burke, Euripidou, Miller, Liu – Sealy, R.Deasy.
Subs: O’Shaughnessy for J.Smith, Mooney for Euripidou, Niyonsaba for Miller. Glasheen, Arcila Lopez both unused.

Match Reporter: Peter Hennessy.