Men's 1st XI vs Holcombe M3

This past Saturday Cliftonville M1’s took on Holcombe M3’s under the floodlights at SLC, searching for confidence and points after a heavy defeat to Maidstone the previous week.

The match started well for Holcombe as they surged forward winning a PC in the opening exchanges; this was buried into the Cliftonville goal with great aplomb (a theme that would continue throughout the 70 minutes). That goal was followed by a second soon after with a fantastic LBZ finish finding the bottom corner making it 2-0. Soon after another goal followed, placing Ville at a 3-0 deficit after conceding some soft and avoidable goals. Ville put together some half chances in the first 35 minutes but nothing that could stop the rot before the break. After failing to make any real impact on the first half, Cliftonville found themselves staring at another big defeat if things didn’t change going into the 2^nd half.

Ville had some stern words from Skipper Alex Cowell and fired onto the pitch for the second 35 looking rejuvenated. Some excellent play down the right-hand side entered the D and Ville won a PC within minutes of the half beginning, although it didn’t result in a goal it signalled their intent for the rest of the game. Shortly after, a crash ball into the D bobbled up to Isaac Dilkes, who attempting an upright backhand clipped the ball into the path of Jack Field who reverse swept the ball home from the P-Spot to make it 3-1. Holcombe fought back and the game opened as legs begin to tire, but Ville took their opportunity to counter-attack into open space as Aron Walker tapped home at the Far post from a cutback to make it 3-2. With Ville firmly back in the contest and momentum in their favour they pressed the advantage with multiple successive PC’s but unfortunately it was to no avail as Holcombe continued to exploit space left by Cliftonville’s high press as they won a PC, which was firmly dispatched into the top right corner by the accomplished Holcombe drag flicker. The game unravelled quickly after Holcombe restored their 2-goal advantage; Dilkes, having made a recovery tackle onto the foot of a Holcombe attacker (not given by the younger of two umpires), was incensed that the decision had gone against him and earnt himself a well-deserved 10 minute yellow card for dissent. From that play Holcombe earnt another PC, and yes you guessed it, it was buried in the right-hand side of the goal to make it 5-2, then another for 6, a deflection for 7, and two more final flicks for a grand total of 9-2. Ville fought valiantly in the final 10 minutes but a man down they couldn’t steady the ship and Holcombe were ruthless in their attack, killing the game off in a matter of minutes.

Cliftonville currently have 2 points from their opening 7 games (still better than last season at this stage) and will be hoping to steal some points away at a strong Eastbourne side this coming Saturday – 16/11/2024.