YFC 4 – 1 Firefighter C-letcs

Yaletown continued their impressive start to the new season with a comfortable 4-1 victory over the Firefighters C-lect. The game was played Friday evening under lights at YFC’s new home field, the recently resurfaced Andy Livingstone Park. The game started strongly for the home team who dominated play early on with some crisp passing and good movement. A physical C-letcs team defended well early on playing with a deep midfield that frustrated YFC in front of the opposition goal. This frustration eventually led to YFC conceding a careless free kick in their own half mid-way through the first half. The ball was curled in to the box where the C-lect striker capitalised on some uncharacteristically sloppy YFC defending to head home unchallenged. The goal came against the run of play and caused the home team to temporarily lose their shape and concentration as they pushed hard for an equaliser. Order was restored shortly before the break when Antonio Rabelo swung in a long diagonal cross ball into the box where striker Simon Doran eluded his marker to head home from six yards.

The goal meant that YFC went into the half time break with momentum swinging firmly back in their favour. This continued into the second half with YFC making use of the full width of the pitch, spreading passes from left to right with both wing backs pushing forward and linking up well with their respective wingers. Central midfielders Adam Jennings and debutant Peter McHugh worked extremely hard to stem any C-lect attack through the middle channels, tackling hard and distributing clean ball out to the wings and strikers. About midway through the second half it was one of these passes that reached Antonio Rabelo who peeled away and delivered a low precision shot on the edge of the box that sailed past a fully outstretched C-lect keeper.

For the second week in a row YFC’s superior fitness levels began to show in the latter stages of the second half with excellent movement and communication opening up space all over the field. This possession pressure eventually took its toll on the C-lect defence who conceded a penalty after a well controlled YFC build up. Up stepped right winger Will Meredith to calmly dispatch two clinical penalties – the first of which was called back for an infringement. With the game sewn up YFC finished as strongly as they started with the inclusion of some fresh legs, notably YFC old boy Masa Egami who made a welcome return after a two season absence with knee surgery.

Simon Doran capped off the excellent performance with a second headed goal of the game after some great skill from centre-back Adrian Moore who turned his defender to deliver a pinpoint cross from the by-line. It is now three goals in two games for the new Yaletown striker. His important fourth goal ensured that YFC stayed top of the division by way of goal difference. Next friday YFC will be back in action looking to maintain their 100% record at the same time, same place against an unbeaten PCOV team.