23rd January 2010

 

Kircubbin hosted Dundonald FC in the first round of the Clarence Cup last Saturday, and with the visitors currently sitting top of Division 1B not many would have given the home team a chance. But Kircubbin have successfully came through these "David and Goliath" matches in the past and had nothing to fear from their opponents.

In the opening twenty minutes of the game Kircubbin were dominating without creating clear cut opportunities. Then from a set piece Cahal McGrattan missed a golden chance to give Kircubbin the lead, but the ball looped over the bar. Matthew Clarke was next to try his luck but his snap shot from the edge of the box was saved comfortably by the Dundonald keeper. Kircubbin kept constant pressure on the visitors, not allowing them any time to dwell on the ball. This upset the team's rhythm and consequently they didn't create very many chances in the opening half. Kircubbin got the break through goal that their hard work had merited just before the break. A long clearance from Eugene in goals was chased down by Matthew Clarke, and he skilfully volleyed the ball into the roof of the net. 1-0 at the break.

Being three divisions above Kircubbin, the visitors were always going to create a couple of chances, the first of which came only five minutes into the second half. A cross ball from the left wing was headed low into the corner of the net by the big centre forward. Kircubbin were not shaken by this stumbling block and again pressed the Dundonald team back, forcing hurried clearances and misplaced passing. Turlough Bell was almost on the score sheet when he combined well with Matthew Clarke, resulting in a powerful shot which struck the outside of the post. Matthew then blazed a shot over the bar as Kircubbin went in search of a winner. Adam Arthurs beat the offside trap and rounded the Dundonald defence to go clear through on goal but the keeper managed to parry the shot round the post for a corner. From the resulting set play Kircubbin took the lead with a near post flick from Turlough. Dundonald pushed extra men up front in search of an equaliser, but Kircubbin changed their formation and made a few changes to the team with Philip McCarthy, Fintan Bell and Jamie Fowler all coming into the action for the last quarter of the game. These changes paid dividends as the Kircubbin lads comfortably held out for a well deserved win. Dundonald's frustrations boiled over in the dying minutes of the game when a shocking challenge in midfield resulted in a straight red card. But it is Kircubbin who progress to the second round with a mouth watering tie away to Barn Utd of 1A.