October 2001 Reports

Oct 14th 2001	v Tilehurst Utd	3-2	Ted Cambridge Cup Rnd 2
DCS progressed to the next round of the Ted Cambridge Cup with another solid performance against a battling Tilehurst Utd side. Danny got DCS off to a great start after 10 minutes with a trademark mark finish after a neatly threaded ball from midfield. Tilehurst responded soon after despite some valiant defending, with the ball eventually falling to a Tilehurst player who blasted in from short range. Although Tilehurst looked dangerous on the break DCS took control of the game with some good possession in midfield culminating in a number of goal attempts with one goal being disallowed for off-side. Danny restored DCS's lead just before half time with a marvelous piece of individual skill turning the Tilehurst defence inside out before coolly slotting the ball home from a tight angle. The second half continued in the same vein as the first with DCS having good possession, but it was Tilehurst who leveled again when a penalty was conceded when Steve D. made contact with a player in the box. DCS kept their cool and continued to press, finally being reward for much excellent wing play when a good run and cross from Paul Allen was poorly dealt with by Tilehurst and Jensen was on hand to fire home from close range much to his delight. Mickey came on at the restart to help marshal the remaining 20 minutes. Tilehurst to their credit kept battling but the DCS defence continued their excellent form and the result was finally sealed when Danny was adjudged to have been fouled and Nick Smith took the penalty which required a follow up having had the initial attempt saved by the 'keeper. Danny was unable to complete the match with a gash above the knee. Post match managers comment: Danny once again named as managers man of the match, but good performances all around, the defence were solid, reliable quality from Nick in the middle, and an excellent match from Laszlo.The starting lineup was as follows: Rory O'Neill, Howard Cooke, Wayne Makepeace, Duncan Glen, Steve Danby, Seb Rivers, Nick Smith, Laszlo Petnehazy, Paul Allen, Jensen Langford, Danny Feasey
Scorers: Danny (2), Jensen, Nick
Subs: Mickey Sheehan for Paul Allen

Oct 21st 2001	v TV Tornadoes	2-2	League
DC visited their old haunting grounds today to play a Thames Valley Tornaodes side that had played 5 and won 5 so far this season. With Seb and Wayne unavailable, Chris came back into the side after missing a couple of games and Mickey moved into the centre of midfield. DC started brightly and created a few good chances in the first half including an effort from Jensen. A cross field ball found Chris on the right hand side, he turned his man, got to the byeline and put the ball into the area for Jensen to hit a volley straight at the keeper. With the scores deadlocked at 0-0 at half time, both teams continued to create chances. Andy Boness replaced Paul Allen and Mickey moved out to the left of midfield although this change could not prevent the home team from opening the scoring with a well taken 25 yard effort that flew over Rorys head. This, in the past would have been enough for the DC heads to drop but the determination was clear. DC soon found themselves back on level terms when Mickey Sheehan steered the ball into the net from an acute angle. Chris took a quick throw to Jensen who managed to flick the ball onto Howard who had made a good overlapping run. Unmarked, Howard crossed the ball low and hard into the danger area only for it to find its way to the back post where Mickey was racing in to slot home. Having most of the possession, DC continued to pile the pressure on and soon found themselves in front with a very well taken goal from Jensen. DC defended a corner well and Mickey found Jensen on the counter-attack. He got to the edge of the box, turned his marker and hit a low shot past the stranded keeper. TVT battled on and were eventually awarded a (dubious) penalty when Andy Boness was judged to have made contact with the TVT player. The penalty was converted and both sides came away from the game with the points shared. The starting lineup was as follows: Rory O'Neill, Howard Cooke, Mark Jarman, Duncan Glen, Steve Danby, Chris Taylor, Nick Smith, Laszlo Petnehazy, Mickey Sheehan, Paul Allen, Jensen Langford
Scorers: Mickey, Jensen
Subs: Andy Boness for Paul Allen

Oct 28th 2001	v Shepherds House	2-2	League
Andy Boness was on top form this morning when he claimed his first ever hatrick within the first 35 minutes of the match. DC started the brighter against the team at the foot of the table and soon took the lead when Andy Boness slotted the ball into the corner of the net after it had bounced around a group of players. His second came ten minutes later and from a similar situation. The opponents did not clear their lines and Andy was on hand to put the ball into the net. The Steamers continued to dominate the game and had further chances to increase their lead as Mickey, Laszlo and Paul all had chances. Unfortunately, they shot wide, over and in Mickeys case, hit the roof of the sports hall behind the goal. Andy Boness soon rounded off his first half hatrick when he was in the right spot at the right time to prod home a loose ball. Jensen then added his name the scorecard when he was left unmarked in the centre of the penalty area. With some good build up play and a great bit of work from Paul Allen down the left, Paul found Nick in space, Nick drew the keeper before side footing the ball to an onrushing Jensen to make it 4-0 at half time. With no changes at half time, DC maintained their pressure and made it 5-0 soon after the break when Jensen added another goal to his tally collecting a delightful through ball from Laszlo. The keeper came out but Jensen cooly lobbed the ball over him and into the back of the net. By this point Shepherds House seemed to have thrown in the towel and had resorted to kicking DC instead. It wasn't a suprise then when Paul Allen went on one of his mazey runs, beat a couple of players and was then taken out by a late challenge in the box. Up stepped Nick to put the resulting penalty past the keeper. Chris Taylor then replaced Howard at right back. Shepherd House had a couple of efforts close to the end of the game but Rory was on hand to keep a clean sheet. The starting lineup was as follows: Rory O'Neill, Howard Cooke, Mark Jarman, Wayne Makepeace, Steve Danby, Andy Boness, Nick Smith, Laszlo Petnehazy, Mickey Sheehan, Paul Allen, Jensen Langford
Scorers: Andy (3), Jensen (2), Nick
Subs: Chris Taylor for Howard Cooke

Oct 7th 2001	v Salisbury Club	3-2	League
Another win for the Steamers but it was far from a stroll in the park. The Steamers only had eleven players available, but were still able to field a strong well-balanced side. The steamers got off to the worst possible start though conceding an early goal within 3 minutes when a free kick was poorly defended and the ball dropped to a Sailsbury player to blast into the net. The Steamers settled after that and there was some good possession and progressive build up play through the centre and on the right where Nick Smith had been deployed. The first real chance for the steamers came when a clever lofted ball from Nick was played to the right hand side of the Sailsbury box; Jensen latched onto the ball and struck a fierce volley only to see it brush the upright. From this point on the Steamers moved into a commanding position and Sailsbury where struggling to contain the Steamers. The equaliser came on 10 minutes, with further good work on the right with a ball cut back to JJ, eventually falling to Danny who coolly despatched a powerful shot leaving the goalie helpless. The Steamers built on this confidence and took the lead on about 20 minutes with another ball in from the right to the feet of Jensen who was unmarked; Jensen was able to turn and placed the ball low and into the corner. The Steamers pressure was relentless and rewarded with another virtuoso goal from Danny taking on 2 defenders and placing the ball just inside the near post at what seemed like slow motion at the time. The Steamers took a 3-1 lead into half time. The second half did not go the way of the first, Sailsbury Club threw caution to the wind and pushed players forward; the Steamers were on the back foot for most of the second half but the defence and midfield were excellent limiting SC to very few real chances, in response DCS had a number fleeting counter attacking moves. The SC eventually, pulled a goal back on 60 minutes with a break down the right being converted into a goal. SC kept pouring forward and the pressure seemed to have paid off when the Ref' gave a disputed penalty, after Duncan made contact with an opponent whilst making a tackle. Justice was served when the weak penalty was saved by Rory. The Steamers squandered further chances to put the game beyond the SC, notably with Jensen missing a one on one, and then unable to get a shot on target with only the goalie to beat. However, the defence and midfield were resilient to the end to secure 3 more valuable points. The starting lineup was as follows: Rory O'Neill, Howard Cooke, Wayne Makepeace, Duncan Glenn, Steve Danby, Nick Smith, Andy Boness, Mark Jarman, Micky Sheehan, Jensen Langford, Danny Feasey
Scorers: Danny (2), Jensen
Subs: None