02/02/03 - Home v Embrook Sports
09/02/03 - Home v Shepherds House Woodley
16/02/03 - Away v Salisbury Club

Feb 02nd 2003 v Embrook Sports

2-1

League
DC continued their impressive winning start to 2003 with a hard fought win against Embrook Sports. Playing on a boggy, cut up pitch, control of the ball was difficult and a defensive error from Mark Jarman allowed Embrook to take the lead within the first 15 minutes of the game. A big hoof downfield was misjudged by the veteran Steamer and a failed desperate dive for the ball allowed the Embrook player to rush in and calmly place the ball beyond Rory. DC failed to create much in the first half and went in at half time a goal down. An upbeat half time team talk seemed to do the trick and DC started the second half in good fashion knocking the ball around. The breakthrough eventually arrived from a throw-in on the right hand side. Jordi found JJ in space and the Steamers centre-back surged forward and put a cross into the area. The cross seemed to evade everyone though and soon found itself nicely nestled in the corner of the opposition net. DC continued to surge forward and create chances which Paul Allen and Danny Feasey failed to convert. It was the latter though who won the game for DC when he connected with a deflected cross. The keeper came to claim the ball although Danny managed to head the ball over him before he could react. DC could have found themselves walking away with only a point though as Embrook created one last chance late on in the game. The striker found himself alone in the area but decided to place the ball instead of welt it past the keeper. Rory managed to get a strong arm behind the ball and deflected it away for a corner. As the corner was swung in and cleared by DC, the final whistle went. If man of the match awards were handed out, today's winner would be Richard Scaldwell who put himself about and won all the headers he went for. It was also nice to see Mickey Sheehan start his comeback from injury, adding himself to subs bench even though he wasn't used.  The starting lineup was as follows: Rory O'Neill, Chris Taylor, Howard Cooke, Mark Jarman, Steve Danby, Richard Jordan, Richard Scaldwell, Steve Bell, Paul Allen, Nick Smith, Danny Feasey
Scorers: JJ, Danny
Subs: Duncan for Jordi

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Feb 09th 2003 v Shepherds House Woodley

6-0

League
The summit of Division Two East has finally been reached with a 6-0 thumping of Shepherds House Woodley. The Wargrave outfit required a win and hoped two other sides managed a draw, in both instances this happened. After an initial period of pressure, DC got into the game and started to create chances. Danny opened the scoring and then got a second midway through the first half with two well placed shots. He nearly scored a third only for the keeper to parry the shot. Fortunately Steve Bell was on hand to knock the ball across the line to make the score 3-0. The half time score could have been 5-0 but for a couple of efforts from Danny and Nick going agonisingly wide. The second half continued in the same vein as the first and with the match already won, DC made some changes. Ray replaced Chris, Duncan replaced Paul whilst Mickey finally made his comeback replacing Richard Scaldwell. Howard scored the 4th from 20 yards before Nick finished off some great work from Steve Bell whose shot looked to be going wide. Steve Bell did get his second though, calmly placing the ball past the keeper after beating the offside trap. Danny's hat-trick eluded him yet again when a pinpoint cross landed literally in his lap a yard from the line. Unfortunately the ball was recovered. So a good win and the Steamers highest ever placing was achieved. Well Done Fellas  The starting lineup was as follows: Rory O'Neill, Chris Taylor, Howard Cooke, Mark Jarman, Steve Danby, Richard Jordan, Richard Scaldwell, Steve Bell, Paul Allen, Nick Smith, Danny Feasey
Scorers: Danny (2), Steve B (2), Howard, Nick
Subs: Ray for Chris, Duncan for Paul, Mickey for Richard S

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Feb 16th 2003 v Salisbury Club

1-2

League
Pitiful !!! DC played hosts to a Salisbury side who obviously wanted to win more than the Steamers did this morning and it was the opposition who took the lead. Howard battled with the Salisbury player and as soon as they both entered the penalty area, the Salisbury player went down. The penalty was duly converted. They scored a second and DC were facing defeat and what would have been Salisburys first win of the season. Nick Smith scored what looked to be a legitimate equalising goal after some great run down the left from Paul Allen, only for the opposition linesman to flag it offside. (A crap decision as Nick had run from deep to connect with the cross and they had a man on the line)  The referee, without consulting his linesman changed his mind and awarded a goal-kick. Nick did eventually get on the scoresheet when he connected with a header from a decent corner. As time whittled its way down DC tried to push more players forward only to find the ball coming back at them after losing possession with bad passing. Eventually the whistle blew, the Salisbury players celebrated and the DC players wandered back to the dressing room heads bowed and very angry with themselves. The starting lineup was as follows: Darren Holder; Chris Taylor, Howard Cooke, Duncan Glen, Steve Danby, Richard Jordan, Richard Scaldwell, Steve Bell, Paul Allen, Nick Smith, Danny Feasey
Scorers: Nick
Subs: Andy H for Duncan, Rory for Paul A

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