25/09/2022
DCS Rapid’s second game of the season was against our old foes Newsman Celtic, who we beat and lost to in our fixtures last season. Today’s lineup was as follows:
Sephton (I had 10 pints, 4 shots, a Jaegerbomb and some pink gin. Got in at 2.30. I was wasted)
Parke
Hazel
Watts (c)
Taylor
Everett
Dekeya
Roberts
Fiddy
Guest
Warr
Subs
Cochrane
Mangham
Mallett
This game was not a classic by any stretch of the imagination. Neither side ever really found their rhythm, and it resembled more of a game of ping pong than a football match. DCS at least attempted to play some football, but a series of miscontrolled passes and lack of support for the player on the ball meant that Rapid were often limited to playing it around in their own half. Newsman pressed high but created few (if any) clear cut chances in the first half. Rapid’s only real chance of note in the opening stages was a good Roberts header from a corner.
That DCS were 2-0 up at half time mystified all in attendance. Their first came after the ball was worked down the right to Warr, with the front three pressing the opposition defence well. One of their defenders then shinned it towards the byline, with Warr giving chase. He cut the ball back across goal, with the onrushing Roberts blasting the ball into an empty net at the far post.
The second goal followed more play down the right. It seemed as if most of the 22 players on the pitch were attempting to stand in the same place near the corner of the box, with Everett managing to somehow wriggle free with the ball. With a look of instant regret on his face, Everett played the ball to Guest. However, still buoyed by last week’s tap-in, Guest looked up, saw the keeper off his line and hooked the ball over him into the net.
As the half drew to a close there only remained time for Watts to inexplicably give the ball to his opponent, then chase him down and produce a good slide tackle in the box. Unfortunately Rapid’s Captain Fantastic took a knock making the tackle, so Cochrane came on to shore up the defence just before the whistle.
Despite being 2-0 up Rapid were aware they were nowhere near their best. Praise was duly given to Guest for his strong running down the left, but there were few other standout performances. Sephton made two changes with Mangham replacing Dekeya and Mallett on for Fiddy.
The second half was not an improvement on the first. Celtic continued to press high but lacked any real quality to make their pressure count. It was clear that they would have to capitalise on set pieces to break Rapid down, which they duly did early in the second half. A knock down from a free kick led to their goal, despite Watts flagging for offside. The referee ignored all protests, seemingly making up a new offside rule to save face.
Despite conceding early this new look DCS side did not crumple. Nor did they do much else to be honest, but it was a clear improvement on the side that slipped to a 3-2 defeat after being 2-0 up against Newsman last season. There were only a few highlights for the remainder of the game. Taylor inexplicably allowed the ball to roll under his foot and out for a throw, then pretended to be injured in the hope we all forgot about it. He then got injured for real and was subbed off for Watts. The returning captain got overexcited in his new left back slot, and charged forwards before unleashing a long range shot… which almost went out for a throw.
Dekeya replaced the exhausted Everett, and with Guest suffering from cramp Taylor somehow returned to the field. He showed there’s still some life left in the old legs as the Newsman keeper tipped his left footed shot onto the bar. Hazel led by example in the closing stages, charging around the pitch and making countless interceptions while Cochrane looked on in awe.
The ref finally did everyone a favour by blowing the final whistle, and Rapid chalked up their second win of the season. It wasn’t pretty, but 3 points is 3 points and we can look to the next game with confidence. There was probably a man of the match awarded at some point, if anyone wants to claim it for today be my guest!
By Adrian Watts
