Southgate County 2 - 2 Old Ignatians

Southgate County 2 – 2 Old Ignatians
(Urul, O’Leary)

Southgate’s first league game saw us taken on Old Ignatians with a fully fit match squad available!

The game started well with both teams getting the ball down and trying to play football. We were unlucky not to take the lead when a great run from Ardit saw him feed Urgan who turned past his man and send the ball towards the bottom corner only for the keeper to make a decent save. Chances were at a premium for both sides despite the football on show. Our first real mistake saw us fall behind on 30 minutes; we failed to clear the ball from a long throw and then didn’t put in a challenge in the box…leaving a simple finish for the Igs striker. We then had a 5 minute wobble before finishing the half strongly in the last 10 minutes. A good shot from distance from Arnold and another effort from Urgan were the closest we came to an equaliser but in truth neither were ever likely to go in.

We spoke at half time about continuing exactly as we played in the first half but just increasing concentration at the back and taking a bit more time with that final ball. We played really well in the first 10/15 minutes of the second half and some of our football was outstanding. On 60 minutes we scored a deserved equaliser; brilliant work-rate from Urgan saw him intercept a back-pass and expertly slide the ball under the onrushing keeper. Unfortunately we only held our lead for 5 minutes. A hopeful long ball was only half cleared before it ricocheted of one of our defenders who had slipped, leaving another simple finish. We came back brilliantly; continuing to play our passing and high pressing game. We equalised again with 15 minutes to go; a fantastic run from Julian at right back; fully 50 yards, ended with him sliding a lovely ball through to O’Leary who smashed the ball high into the top corner; a really great finish. The last 15 minutes was played at break-neck speed and the game became very stretched, in truth both teams could have won it.

It was a fantastic game to play in and watch. Some of our football really was outstanding…a draw was probably a fair result in truth. Man of the match was Julian; excellent in defence and attack and really suited to the wing back formation.