Home v 3D Dynamos

Result - Reddish North End 2 3D Dynamos 8

Team coach (James) views on the game:

Well they do say football is a funny old game and today proves the point. Despite a heavy defeat, the boys actually played much better than the previous week (when they lost by less). However, our inability to defend especially in wide positions cost us time and again, so that was disappointing. 3D got far much too joy attacking from the flanks and all we can do is keep working and working on it. I have got a few thoughts so it is by no means too late to turn it round, but it will still require a massive improvement. We were again indebted to goalkeeper Callum Williams for a number of good stops and some brave dives at players feet, and we have a good base to work from in that regard.
However, on the positive side, I reminded the boys that when we played 3D earlier in the season (our third game) we barely got into their half and didn’t have a shot on goal all match. So to get another two goals today and have several good passages of pressure was hugely encouraging. We played some lovely passing movements to get the ball forward and went close on quite a few occasions, and at times genuinely caused a good side real problems.  

We were 3 down in no time – bad defending on the flanks – and I feared a real hammering, but the boys somehow kept in the game and when Michael fired a superb free kick into the six yard box, Daniel was on hand to calmly sidefoot the ball high into the net for his first of the season. It was well deserved and I was especially pleased as getting on the end of set plays was what we had talked about beforehand. We then conceded a fluky one but came back again, this time Jake taking on a player and being tripped, Michael doing the business calmly from the penalty spot.
Early in the second half the ref confused everyone by awarding us a free kick outside the area when he adjudged their goalie to have held on to the ball for too long. It was a completely bizarre decision – why a free kick outside the box for an ‘offence’ (if there was one) which took place inside it? Anyway, Michael put a beautiful kick right into the danger area again and their goalie only just clung on with Reddish players all around him. Had that made it 4-3 it might have been a bit different but our defending out wide again let us down and we just made it too easy at times for 3D, who took some of their chances well but were denied others by a mixture of good goalkeeping, some good defending, and some wayward finishes.
I was pleased with so many of their side for their application and determination despite always being behind, and even when the game had gone the boys kept trying, their heads up, their resolve still good. They still passed the ball and were unlucky not to score one or two more. That takes some doing when you are losing. 

Just to say also that I have kept in touch with Steven Donegan and his son Mark who suffered that dreadful injury last week. Mark is at home now and hopefully his appointment this week will confirm that his leg has set properly – no need for it to be ‘pinned’ thankfully – which means that he may be able to get about on crutches in a few weeks time. Steven has asked me again to pass on his thanks for all the messages of support and the gifts from RNEFC.