Island Bay United AFC

Another solid fighting display on Saturday resulted in a nil-nil draw with BNU. They beat us 4-2 in the first round, so it was a good turn around, however it's these sort of games, where we perhaps lack the killer instinct, that might come back to haunt us nearer the end of the season when we are fighting to stay in the grade.

With only 6 matches left in the season we need to convert these one pointers into three, and get well out of the danger zone as the table is still very compact.

In the game against BNU we started well again, which was a little surprising after a bit of a disjointed build up. We didn't know who was playing let alone in what positions and in the end we had a slight change in formation, but were pretty well settled.

We welcomed back Milney to the midfield and Stu Dunn on the wing (after a relatively long injury layoff), while Matt Whitburn slotted back in at left back.

We controlled the first half well, keeping up the intensity we have discovered in the last few weeks and although there was a typically difficult southerly blowing across the park, we perhaps didn't play to the conditions quite well enough.

Crosses into the wind weren't working and we struggled to work the ball to the windy side where the danger balls would really come from.

And in the end, the game must've been as uneventful as the score line suggests as I'm struggling to think of any highlights.

It's not that we didn't create chances, as a number of players, including even Dave Wiggins who made a sprightly surge from the back, had good opportunities, but either desperate defence or that unlucky final touch meant we stayed scoreless.

We had a few hairy moments on defence too, with a couple of tidy crosses and play through the middle stretching us, but desperation managed to keep them scoreless also.

We definitely tired towards the end, which is probably a by product of the intensity at which we start and play most of the game at, but encouragingly we make up for that loss in energy with determination and pride.

All in all it probably wasn't a good day for the spectators though, with both the weather and football a little bit lacking!

The climb to safety all starts this week against Wainui, who humbled us 3 nil in the first round. We're at home again (12:30 kick off) where we've had a much better record than away with only one loss in 6, so let's bank that point and hopefully nab all three.

Nick

Labels: bnu, capital 1, clean sheet, draw, home