May 2 2014
Mariners FC U-13 vs Clinton Cruisers U-14
MATCH REPORT
CQ MARINERS FC (U-13) VS CLINTON CRUISERS
As the players arrived at Brian Niven Park for this round two fixture the heavens opened up and panic set in about the possibility of the game getting called off. The surface at Brian Niven Park is one of the best so there was no chance the game was going to be called off. The Young Mariners were very keen to kick off their season having had the first round bye.
As The Referee Alex Neilsen and assistants Barry Collins and Drew Murray walked out onto the ground the rain came down in buckets.
From the kick off it was evident that these two teams were intent on playing a passing game and play out from the back, a real credit to both coaches. It was end to end stuff but in the 10th minute Mariners Ryan McClintock spotted a run from team mate Jacob Downey and delivered a perfect pass. Downey found himself one on one with the Clinton custodian Liam Gifford and tried to place a shot but the keeper made a fine save to turn the effort around for a corner.
The corner was delivered by McClintock and as the Clinton players cleared the ball it fell to Tegan Van Vegchel whose effort was again tipped over the cross bar by Gifford for another corner.
In the 20th minute Clinton number 6 Nathan Cobb cleverly chipped Xavier Townsend in the Mariners goal to give the Clinton side a 1-0 lead.
From the kick off a clever run by Bud Baubleys saw him dribble and weave his magic past Clinton defenders before being brought down and awarded a penalty. Ryan McClintock converted to equalise for the Mariners.
On the half hour mark Mariners skipper Ryan McClintock got caught in possession on the halfway and Clinton were swift in their counter when a fantastic through ball saw one of the Finlay twins hold his nerve when he found himself one vs one against the Mariners keeper to slot Clinton’s second.
Just before halftime Clinton again exposed the Mariners keeper when the other Finlay twin scored his team’s third.
The second half saw the Mariners push players forward in an attempt to salvage the game but in doing so they were caught on the break. It was not until the final minutes that Ryan Finlay scored the 4th and Whiting the 5th to give Clinton another three points.
The Mariners were valiant in defeat and kept playing out from the back as is the clubs philosophy. Clinton also played a great brand of football and it was pleasing to see that the long ball game is dead!