DUNDEE WEST FOOTBALL CLUB
A Community Club for Boys & Girls
Dundee west U/13
Cup report from our victory over Arbroath, its a good un.
BATTLE FOR ARBROATH
With horrendous conditions to face, playing away from home, injurys to key players, down to 10 men and regarded as the underdogs, it could surely only mean a victory for the other team?!!!!!
Thankfully the boys of Dundee West U/13 were not reading the same script as everyone else and turned this cup tie around.
Arbroath layed siege to the west goal in the first 10 mins, with a few tactical changes in defence, it was a bit scrappy until the organisation sorted itself out, and admittedly it was against the run of play that Dundee West drew first blood in classic counter attack style. Time after time, when Arbroath had a corner they always left 4 at the back to guard Luke Davidson on his own, obviously aware of his goal scoring tally for the season so far, this "tactic" allowed jordan elder to wander away himself and when the ball broke from our defensive cleareance, LUKE sent the ball wide to Jordan who raced in on goal and despite pressure from the chasing defenders, cooly slotted the ball past the keeper. The game ebbed and flowed with both sides missing chances and cancelling each other out in defence, Arbroath eqauliser came from the lack of opportunity for the defence to get their laces through the ball and out of danger. 1-1 at Half time.
The second half started as much as the 1st half had finished, however Arbroath nudged ahead with a well crafted goal with only 20 mins left on the clock, surely they were through to the next round!!!!. After a lot of head scratching from the bench as to what to do, it was finally decided to change the formation to a 3-4-3, nothing to lose, you either go for it or just sit back and take the defeat. Within minutes of the switch, it paid off, young james Jones who had been playing left back, was now playing centre forward, luke davidson, threaded the ball to him from a wide left position and whilst everyone was expecting JJ to shoot, he calmly takes the ball round the keeper and slots home, 2-2 and the line went wild. West held on till the final whistle, now into extra time.
After a swipe from an Arbroath player on Gavin, who gave a verbal response back, Gavin was sent for an early bath whilst the offender was let off scot free. More re-organistion needed in defence, half time arrives and with a quick chat to the boys of DEFEND WITH YOUR LIFE, the boys through everything into each tackle and block, with minutes counting down and thoughts turning to who will be the penalty takers, it was finally on us.
Arbroath selected to go first and Robbie deployed his Bruce Grobbelaar line tactics, they miss, we then scored our 3 consecutive pens whilst they missed theres and it was game over. Arbroath must have felt like some of the fish they bring in.
GUTTED