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On we go

Written by RickReaper

After our great start to the campaign the next two games would be crucial a home tie against Iran and then a long trip for our away game to Singapore ,so read on :-)

Ok first up was Iran (250309005) and _B.R_ fielded: Giles - Wallis, Scott, Clarkson - Mac Fhiacra, Wiacek, Spreadbury, Hughes, Keirl - Penson, Newbury, in a 3-5-2 formation with clear orders to get the ball into the box for the two center forwards .The lads came onto the pitch in a bit of a controversial kit designed by the winner of a competition ran by _B.R_ and security had been stepped up in case of any trouble.

The match kicked off with out any incident and the game itself was pretty dull until Gregory Penson showing youth ain't all its cracked up to be and acted with superior experience when, 26 minutes into the match, he predicted a pass, intercepted it and then finished off with a goal .. sheer class .Ten minutes later he added to his tally and put the lads 2-0 up .It was a comfortable performance and around 5 minutes before half time Trevor Scott made it 3-0.The second half was like a training match after everyone has had a double Ulster Fry,pretty lethargic .The highlight of the second half was a comical moment when our captain Stephen Wallis was taken off and replaced by Neil Jebb .Realising he still had the captains armband Wallis handed it to Jebb who promptly put it on and thus got his first captaincy for wee Norn Iron .Final score 3-0 to the lads and 3 more points .

After the match _B.R_ said "I wanted 3 points and thats what the lads delivered,it was a bit of a dull game but the team followed my instructions well" .When asked about the surprise captaincy of Neil Jebb he laughingly replied " what can i say ? the lad acted without thinking and the rest of the team are taking the proverbial outa him right now and probably will for a while "

Next up a long trip away to Singapore (250309011)
_B.R_ expecting an onslaught went for a defensive 4-5-1 alignment and fielded: Giles - Wallis, Ranson, Scott, Clarkson - Everett, Hughes, Spreadbury, Kibel, Wiacek - Boru. with orders to take it easy ,sit tight and hit them on the break.

Right from the start He Wei Quo caused all sorts of problems and had Singapore one up within six minutes and nearly two by the 20th.With Singapore all but camped in our half the lads created a wonderful counter attack but poor Con Boru was left cursing himself as he just could not direct the ball into the net ..pity .The lads seemed to gather a bit of inspiration from that near miss and piled the pressure on despite the terrible conditions and it paid off after 30 minutes,when Alan Wiacek got the equaliser .Our defence held fast and Singapore's He Wei Quo showed his frustration with a savage challenge on Jerome Ranson who went down in agony and could only return to play after some medical attention. Half time was 1-1. The second half saw Singapore come out all guns blazing and they went ahead in the 56th minute.It was nearly 15 minutes later when almost all the way down to the corner flag John Everett somehow managed to get a perfect pass into the middle for Con Boru, who fired home the equaliser.It was at this point that both managers made tactical changes Singapore from 3-5-2 to an attacking 3-4-3 and _B.R_ went from 4-5-1 to a more attacking 3-5-2 , both managers had obviously decided the game was there for the taking .After 80 minutes both sides seemed to be canceling each other out and a draw looked on the cards but the next three minutes wopuld stun the away fans who for once fell silent. Three goals for Singapore in as many minutes earned them a 5-2 win and earned us our first taste of defeat.

After the match _B.R_ said "we were a bit unlucky with the scoreline being so high,it was a tight game and it could well have went anyway untill that three minute period at the end but another PIC and only one defeat so far... Not the end of the world... With Canada beating El Salvador it keeps the group pretty tight at the top. Theres going to be teams taking points of each other. Next for us is a home game with Canada .so its Ulster frys all round and lets see if we can get the three points."