10 from the last 12 league points is the current form of Allenton United. Not even the other United; Manchester, can boast such a return from the last 4 league games!
The match started on another pleasant evening, for this midweek game in Ballyogan.
Allenton began by moving away from their usual 4 4 2 formation, instead opting for an attack minded 4 3 3 / 4 5 1.
After a tentative and scrappy start, tempers had started to flare, culminating in a sending off for one of the Grazzmatazz forwards for kicking out at Allenton's Robert Dwyer.
A great save from 'keeper Steven Brady, tipping the ball onto the bar from a well struck volley, kept the score at 0-0, and he was called upon another few times to keep Allenton in the game as Grazzmatazz pressed for an early opener.
Grazzmatazz pushed on, passing and moving well but unable to break down the solid Allenton defence.
Allenton had a couple of breaks down either wing, and half chances fell to Mick Horgan and Alan Dundon, with Lee O'Sullivan hitting the post after latching onto to a free kick sent into the box by Jon Redmond, but the first half ended goalless.
Soon after the restart, Allenton began to pressurise the Grazzmatazz midfield and back line, and the pace up front started to expose cracks in the Grazzmatazz defence.
The deadlock finally broke.
Mick Horgan started a trademark winding run on the right of midfield, skipping by one defender, and powering into the box before being taken down when just about the pull the trigger. Penalty.
As seems to be par for the course lately, Andre Caminiti stepped up to convert the spot kick, sweetly slotting it in the bottom left corner.
That's 4 penalties from the last 4 league games slotted in by 'Dre, and 5 from the last 5 games if the shoot-out at W FC is counted.
By this stage, Allenton were well on top of the game.
Grazzmatazz could still not break down the sturdy Allenton defence, with Barry Dwyer having Grazz's best player in his pocket for the entire game, reducing him to shooting from distance.
Davide came on for Fran Villena - who had been playing solidly in defence, to give Allenton even more attacking options, and take advantage of their growing domination. O'Sullivan switched to a wing-back role on the right, while Davide focused his attention up front.
Soon after, Allenton were 2 up. Billy Cunningham slid a ball through for O'Sullivan, who cracked a shot across the 'keeper, who in turn parried the shot straight in front of the waiting Mick Horgan & Davide. Davide knocked the ball to his left to Horgan, who obliged by neatly slotting the ball past the Grazzmatazz 'keeper.
Grazzmatazz at this stage, were out on their feet, and Allenton were harassing and winning everything through the midfield, with the usual strong performances by Andre Caminiti, Billy Cunningham and Rob Dwyer. The Allenton back line soaked up everything Grazz had to offer, and Brady had possibly his quietest game in goal to date, though two saves from shots were required, even if the ball was struck pretty much straight at the Allenton stopper.
Some more good play down the left by Dundon resulted in Allenton winning a string of free kicks near the edge of the Grazzmatazz penalty area, and Allenton piled the pressure on.
This period of strong play eventually led to a lofted ball from the left over the defence which landed kindly for Horgan, who volleyed across the Grazzmatazz 'keeper, sending the ball flying into the inside of the far post.
0-3 and Allenton were beginning to run riot.
A few more half chances came, and possibly the best chance came to Davide who ran onto a through ball from Horgan, and only for some good reactions from the Grazzmatazz goalie, he would have put Allenton 4 up.
By this stage, Allentons back line of Rob Dwyer, Jon Redmond, Ritchie and Lee O'Sullivan were barely troubled, but when called into action, kept the Grazzmatazz front men from creating anything but half chances.
The midfield of Barry Dwyer, Andre Caminiti and Billy Cunningham battled for the full 90 minutes, giving little to their opposite numbers. The forward line of Alan Dundon, Mick Horgan and Davide kept creating chances, with Grazzmatazz unable to deal with the strength of Dundon, pace of Horgan or off the ball running of Davide.
When the whistle finally sounded, a well deserved 0-3 victory for Allenton was the result.
Relegation contenders? I think not. Allenton are showing at this late stage in the season, that they are now the team to beat.
Team:
Defence: Fran Villena (Davide, 60mins), Barry Dwyer, Jon Redmond, Ritchie
Midfield: Robert Dwyer, Billy Cunningham, Andre Caminiti(1)
Attack: Lee O'Sullivan, Mick Horgan(2), Alan Dundon
No comments:
Post a Comment