Fir Park Corner F2F 5 – 3 Inter Tassels

Match Report

We welcomed our friends the Tassels from Edinburgh to Ravenscraig Sports Complex in a 9pm kick off to accommodate UEFA rules to coincide with UEFA competitions on the same evening and to accommodate Sky Sports.

Despite having a smaller squad, and only 9 players available for the game it was the Tassels who took the lead against the run of play with a long ball over our defence and a great volley finish to make it 0-1.

In a scrappy first half dominated by some bad passing in the wet and fast pitch it was The Corner who drew level with a fine strike from Stephen Cleary.

The Tassels exploited the high ball again with a cross knocked on to allow another through ball that left Ian Alexander helpless to prevent us going 1-2 down.

Despite some good football and creating some good chances, we could not make the most of these and a combination of this and a rushed tempo (and rushed passing), meant we made the break 1-2 behind.

Some careful instructions at half time and reflection proved critical, with the team focussed on what needed addressed to get back to our ‘pass and press’ brand of football.

However, we suffered a setback in the second half when a mistake on the slippery surface gifted the Tassels a third goal with their young ‘trialist’ at the heart of all the Tassels creativity. 1-3 Tassels.

This did not deter our lads though and we soon found a slower and more precise passing rhythm and started to knock the ball reminiscent of the Netherlands in the 1970’s.

After some great hold up play by Scott Matusavage and movement by JP, JP cooly rounded the keeper and walked the ball into the net. 2-3. Come back ON. A quick throw in near the Tassels corner saw Kenny Scott slip the ball under the Tassels keeper to level it at 3-3 and Kenny Scott put us ahead for the first time shortly after, after a great counter attack on the press that saw Stephen Cleary attack down the wing and a good pass through for a tap in. 4-3.

At this point we had all the momentum with some really effective pressing that saw Tassels hemmed in their own half and gifting us possession. A fifth goal was inevitable and it came through a fine finish from Ryan Asher. 5-3.

The lights went out on the Tassels challenge (and on the pitch), at 10pm in darkness when both sides shook hands and headed into the night after a good game.

Overall another good challenge for the lads, at times physical, with us matching the physicality of our opponents within the laws of the game.

We played some great football in the second half with our pressing which was very effective and encouraging going forward as our football in the second half is the ambition for the team moving forward. Macca, JP, Rhys, Ryan and Cleary are to be acknowledged for their midfield efforts in effecting this but special mention to John Thompson who turned back the clock and produced a great performance on his arrival on the pitch in adding to the aggressive press and nullifying the Tassels threat.

We thank Vinnie and the Tassels lads for coming through for the game and playing the game with such a short squad (and managing some injuries through the game). We look forward to the return game next week where we face another good challenge.