Match Report
Match Report - 11 Nov 2012, Dunfermline City Hockey Club Dunfermline City First Team beat Inverurie
Dunfermline City headed North on Sunday with a depleted line up to face Inverurie in the District
Cup. Due to injuries, holidays and other family Commitments City could only muster up the bare
eleven to make the trip North. Debuts were handed out to Robbie Swinton and Jordan Baird – which
Brian Brown being a shock call up to complete the squad.
With the normal skipper Brent Walker missing Adam Rintoul took over the captain’s armband. City
lined up with a 4-5-1 formation in order to frustrate the opposition in midfield – and this appeared
to work right from the off.
The game was pretty scrappy to start with – City were looking menacing on the attack with Green
getting forward from midfield to help loan striker Miller – while the Midfield and Defence were
stopping Inveruries attacks outside the 25 yard line.
City won a short corner midway through the half after some good build up play – Miller pushed the
ball out to Rintoul inaccurately at the top of the D who collected the ball and played it back to Miller
who deflected the ball past the helpless keeper to put City one nil up.
Inverurie were causing some menace on the attack by now trying to get back into the game – but
the rear-guard were providing difficult to get past. Campbell, Fleming, Edwards and Swinton were
talking strongly and distributing the ball well – and adhering to the motto when in doubt smash it
out.
The five man midfield of Baird, Rintoul, Graham, Green and Brown – were starting to gel together –
Baird was linking up brilliantly with right back Campbell on the right hand side while Brown wasn’t
letting the Right midfielder get passed him without a solid tackle being put in place to divert his
path.
City almost added a second when a through ball from Rintoul to Miller – Miller reversed sticked the
ball first time from the edge of the D with the keeper charging out – the ball went past the keeper
but just failed to dip under the crossbar.
Brian Brown was next to test the Inverurie defence as he surged into the D and unleashed a shot
which the Inverurie keeper knocked past the post. Green then had a diving effort in the d which he
just failed to convert – but came up with some nice astro burns.
City then got a lifeline when an Inverurie ball was played across the face of the city goal – Campbell
missed the ball with his stick and knocked it away with his feet – and a short corner was awarded –
on another day it could have been a penalty – however the defence managed to deal with the short
corner.
Rintoul almost blasted City two nil ahead with a late run into the d and a power drive which was well
saved by the keeper.
Half time arrived and the 11 City men were relieved to get a breather – as Inveruries 14 men kept
their legs fresh on the park at all times.
The second half started and the game was pretty even. City as the half progressed City were getting
pushed further and further back. Relying on the counter attack. It was from a counter attack that
City got another short corner – good play by Rintoul and Graham saw the ball reach Miller in the D
who was stick tackled. A short corner immediately awarded – Miller pushed to Rintoul who played
the ball wide to Ryan Green – Ryan progressed with the ball before dropping it back to Rintoul who
calmly pushed it past the keeper into the goals.
This gave City a cushion they much needed. Inverurie now started throwing more men forward
– however to a man the defence stood firm. Swinton took on a man marking role of one of the
Inverurie attackers and wouldn’t let him get more than a metre away from him – so this relieved his
threat. City were to lose a goal however when good play allowed an easy finish past Athol Murray in
goals.
2.1 and game on for Inverurie as the continued to press.
City were on the break were unlucky not to add a third – Good work found Graham ready to apply
a finish in the d – before he was wrongly called up for kicking the ball when in fact it was the
defenders foot the ball had hit.
Graham was finding himself everywhere in the second half – defending constantly – but also surging
forward to support every attack – this helped take some pressure of the rest of the midfield as well
as the defence as they were looking to get some relief.
Another City break found Miller surging from the half way line towards the D – three McDonalds
Edwards surged forward this time in support – but Miller opted to shoot – and the shot was well
saved by the keeper with Edwards just failing to convert the rebound.
Green then was sent through on the keeper by Miller – but the keeper was quick to block his path at
the edge of the D.
Inverurie then right at the death almost found an equaliser – but Athol Murray made a great save
to keep them out. City then finished the game with Rintoul playing keep ball by the Inverurie right
corner flag for a few minutes.
The final whistle went and City had won 2.1.
This was a sterling effort from the 11 man squad – every player could be proud of the part they
played in this cup upset.
City in the first half were by far the more threatening of the two teams – and worked hard as a unit.
In the second half the rolling subs of Inverurie meant they could keep the pace up against a tiring
City side – however the City players dug deep into their energy reserves to fight through the pain
barriers.
Even though Inverurie dominated the second half possession City created the more clear cut
chances – Miller, Campbell, Graham and Rintoul all coming close to adding to Citys lead.
We can now look forward to the draw for the next round of the cup. It’s just a shame that Carnegie
were knocked out in the last round denying City the chance of a local derby. Where next for
City.....the draw will tell them in due course.
City ones are Back to league action next week away to Kinross.
Inverurie 1 - 2 Dunfermline City Hockey Club Dunfermline City First Team
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