March 2003 Reports

02/03/03 - Away v Shepherd House Woodley

09/03/03 - Home v Whitley Tavern Res

16/03/03 - Home v Woodley Saints

23/03/03 - Away v Reading Irish

30/03/03 - Away v Woodley Saints

Mar 02nd 2003	v Shepherds House Woodley	1-3	League
DC made hard work of this game. Shepherds House, bottom of the table without a point and only managing to muster 9 players for the kick-off promptly took the lead in the fifth minute when Howard and Rory failed to communicate resulting in the former heading the ball over the stand-in keepers head, leaving both stranded to watch the home team striker score and surprise opening goal. DC plugged away but still went through the middle of the park instead of using the width and their two man advantage. As the wider men were brought into the game more and more, DC started to carve out more and more chances and it was Jensen who eventually scored DC's equaliser. Despite it being constant Steamers pressure they could only manage to create a handful of goalscoring chances in the rest of the first half with several players squandering half decent efforts. Shepherds House were back to full strength in the second half as a player injured in the first half went in goal and late arrivals got kitted up. DC continued the apply the pressure and created more chances on goal only for the keeper to thwart or narrowly fly past the post. Danny Feasey eventually calmed DC's nerves a little when he scored a great goal from a near impossible angle. Jensen, recently out with a back injury was replaced by Andy Holt whilst ten minutes later Danny was swapped for super sub Duncan. I call him super sub as it's not for the first time this season he has come off the bench and planted the ball in the net. He scored DC's third late on in the match with what can only be described as a fluke, a crap cross, or a general 'AV IT' hoof. It doesn't matter what you call it, as long as it hits the net, that's all that matters. Dunc was out on the right and put the ball high into the box, the keeper back peddled and couldn't do anything as it flew over his head into the corner of the net. Wild celebrations followed with Duncan having his shorts pulled down by a over-ecstatic manager whilst running across the pitch, arms aloft. Finally getting the points, DC are back on top of the league but time will tell for how long. A tough month is to follow. The starting lineup was as follows: Rory O'Neill, Chris Taylor, Howard Cooke, Ray Townsend, Steve Danby, Richard Jordan, Steve Bell, Mark Jarman, Nick Smith, Jensen Langford, Danny Feasey
Scorers: Jensen, Danny, Duncan
Subs: Andy H for Jensen, Duncan for Danny

Mar 09th 2003	v Whitley Tavern Res	1-1	League
A hard fought draw against Whitley Tavern was not good enough to remain in top spot but the performance was much needed in light of recent weeks. Tavern tried to intimidate DC but failed miserably conceding free kick after freekick. Unfortunately, the referee was not tough enough to take control of the game early on and let a lot go which most refs would have dealt with. After absorbing early pressure, DC fought back and created the odd chance here and there before Nick Smith latched onto Jensen's cross to steer DC into the lead. Whitley were soon denied a blatant penalty when Howard handled the ball, surprisingly the referee did not award a penalty much to Tavern's disgust and the Steamers cleared. Tavern eventually got their equaliser when a cross to the back post was headed in by an unmarked player. The second half was much the same. Innocuous challenges on most of the DC players, surprisingly a lot going without notice. Chances were few and far between but Tavern possibly had the best two efforts of the second half. The first one just going wide after Rory had narrowed the angle and the second resulting in a fantastic reaction save by the stand-in DC keeper. At the end of the day DC felt it was two points dropped but were happy to come away with one point. The starting lineup was as follows: Rory O'Neill, Chris Taylor, Howard Cooke, Ray Townsend, Steve Danby, Richard Jordan, Steve Bell, Richard Scaldwell, Nick Smith, Jensen Langford, Danny Feasey
Scorers: Nick
Subs: None

Mar 16th 2003	v Woodley Saints	3-2	League
A fantastic hat-trick from Danny Feasey handed DC top spot for another week at least as the Steamers edged a hard fought game against fellow title challengers, Woodley Saints. Danny, personally knowing the majority of the Woodley side, made up a T-Shirt with 'King Feasey #12' on it for his goal scoring celebrations. He certainly needed it as he gave DC an early lead when he capitalised on Stuart's huge goalkick and the opposition keepers hesitancy before lobbing the ball over the keepers head. Woodley came close to equalising soon after but found Stuart Harris, another stand-in keeper in sparkling form turning the ball over for a corner. Jordy took a knock midway through the half and was replaced by a hung-over JJ. This change was altered at half time with Chris moving to right midfield and JJ slotting into the back four. Ten minutes into the second half Danny gave DC a 2-0 lead with a powerful run and thunderous shot past the helpless keeper. But this lead was cut short moments later when Woodley's version of Franny 'Greg Luganis' Jeffers fell in the area with a pike turn to finish with to award his team a penalty. The spot-kick was converted and Woodley were back in it until Danny completed his treble, nutmegging the keeper and rolling the ball into the net with 15 minutes to go. Woodley were not finished though and after Rory replaced Nick on the left of midfield he played Saints onside and the resulting cross was well converted by the Woodley striker. Three points worked hard for hopefully to be continued into next weeks clash with Reading Irish. The starting lineup was as follows: Stuart Harris, Chris Taylor, Howard Cooke, Ray Townsend, Paul Allen, Richard Jordan, Steve Bell, Richard Scaldwell, Nick Smith, Jensen Langford, Danny Feasey
Scorers: Danny (3)
Subs: JJ for Jordi, Rory for Nick

Mar 23rd 2003	v Reading Irish Res	3-3	League
After a good first half display where DC ran to a 2-0 lead, the Steamers then threw it all away and managed to hold on for a 3-3 draw. Danny Feasey opened the scoring inside 25 minutes before Steve Bell made it 2-0 on 35 minutes. The passing and movement from DC was good and Reading Irish were finding it difficult to create many chances but as half time approached a corner was floated in and Darren looked to have safely gathered it but an Irish foot took advantage of a handling error and poked the ball out of his hands and into the net. The Steamers were furious but the goal stood. Reading Irish were the stronger of the two teams in the second half. They made a tactical change and flooded our midfield which DC could not handle. Within 10 minutes of the restart both teams were back level. A very well taken volley flew past Darren and it was 2-2. Maybe against the run of play Danny Feasey put the Steamers back in the lead after some nice play by Nick on the right. His first attempt on goal was saved but he found the corner of the net with his rebound. This lead did hold stand for long a cross from the left was converted by the Irish striker to leave the game at 3-3. The starting lineup was as follows: Darren Holder, Chris Taylor, Howard Cooke, Ray Townsend, Steve Danby, Nick Smith, Steve Bell, Mark Jarman, Paul Allen, Jensen Langford, Danny Feasey
Scorers: Danny (2) Steve B
Subs: Jordi for Jensen

Mar 30th 2003	v Woodley Saints	0-3	League
DC received a huge setback in their title challenge today when they were outplayed and beaten 3-0 by a well organised Woodley Saints side. Berkshire County Sports has not been kind to the Steamers this season having lost there 5-3 earlier in the campaign and losing two keepers to injuries and today was no different. Darren limped off within the first twenty minutes when he landed awkwardly trying to prevent Saints from going a goal up direct from a free kick. He failed, twisted his knee and they were one up. Chris then received an accidental elbow to the side of his head leaving him groggy. He only lasted another 15 minutes before being replaced by Jordi. DC seemed to be at sixes and sevens and in the second half found themselves overrun by Saints who are also challenging for top spot. They scored two more goals in the second half and left DC wondering what had hit them. Duncan replaced Nick late on in the game but even his gangly presence failed to help DC create any chances. The starting lineup was as follows: Darren Holder, Howard Cooke, Mark Jarman, Ray Townsend, Steve Danby, Chris Taylor, Steve Bell, Richard Scaldwell, Nick Smith, Jensen Langford, Danny Feasey
Scorers:
Subs: Rory for Darren, Jordi for Chris, Duncan for Nick