Belhaven Hill 2-5 Dunbar Grammar

Douglas and Caspar kick-off

This result shows off this remarkable group of boys’ ability to learn and improve well. We had lost 9-0 to Dunbar Grammar the month before and, as with other matches they have played, the return leg showed a much better performance and also result.

Belhaven needed very little team-talk before the game – they knew they were up against a decent side, and that they would have to play to their highest level to be able to compete. Happily, their intentions were made clear in the first few minutes as they fought well for the ball, played up the pitch and created their own openings.

After five minutes though an old ghost came back to haunt us as our defence was sliced open with a simple diagonal ball and a Dunbar forward was through one-on-one with Dougal in goal. He saved the initial shot but the ball bounced away from him and the rebound was tucked underneath his body. 1-0 to the away team. After eleven minutes it was two through a good goal, well planned and well executed.

There are moments which brighten up a person’s life in one way or another; seeing something beautiful, achieving something great etc. I’m happy to say that Caspar provided the crowd with one of those moments in the twelfth minute. The Dunbar goalkeeper booted the ball out from the hand but Douglas managed to get a good head on it to divert it back towards goal. Jamie moved himself to nod the ball down to Caspar who took a quick look up at goal, controlled the ball well on his thigh and leathered the ball from twenty-two yards high and hard. The flew past the Dunbar goalkeeper who’d made a good attempt to save it, and despite being only a yard or so off the line, couldn’t get anywhere near it as raced past his hand into the top corner. What a stunning way to show your fight and ability.

Conscious of the old adage that you are never more at risk than when you have just scored, the boys needed to settle down and that they did. In the sixteenth minute Dougal was called upon again to produce a good save to keep the score to 1-2. It was Belhaven, however, who began to dominate the fixture, with Douglas, who has grown in stature this year into one of the most dependable and needed members of this outfit, passing through to Caspar who couldn’t get his shot away. In the eighteenth minute Douglas was presented with a clear header and fluffed it and a minute later Freddie produced a superb, dangerous cross which just evaded the oncoming strikers.

The ball switched to the other end and Dougal needed to be quick off his line to close down a Dunbar attack. Indecision cost us, however, as a defensive mix-up caused a third goal to be lost just before half-time. This was a shame, most especially as it was completely avoidable had on of the defenders been able to make a good connection and clear his lines. This act brought to an end a good first half’s football. Irrespective of the score, Belhaven were giving Dunbar a good game. At half-time little needed to be said. I complimented the lads on their good work but pointed out the gaps that form between midfield and defence. As we attack, Dunbar drop back in numbers, then break quickly. Our midfield needs to track back equally quickly to protect the defence from having players in full flight running at them. equally, the defence needs to push up, fill the space and not mark thin air when we attack.

The second half began much as the first had ended, with Belhaven producing their best piece of football under my tutelage. George started with the ball in the midfield who took the ball on and played Douglas in. He turned, took a player out and played a superb ball to the right wing to Freddie who used his pace and skill to beat two men and play across a ball to the edge of the box, about fifteen yards out. Tom arrived in the space and volleyed first time across the face of goal with an excellent shot which landed just the wrong side of the post from our point of view. What a great move, full of skill and brimming with ability.

Demons came back, however, for another defensive error, as two players went for the ball at the same time, cost us a fourth goal. Dougal was left unprotected as both players missed the looping ball and a Dunbar striker slammed it in. Come on boys, we’ve got to get on top of these mistakes.

After 34 minutes it became 5-1 to the visitors through a penalty, given for handball as a defender protected his face in the area. The penalty was expertly dispatched, leaving Dougal no chance. This led to a period of pressure for Dunbar who had begun to dominate the half, causing Dougal to make three saves from strikers, one of which was an excellent dive to push a fifteen-yard shot round the post, and drew gasps from the crowd.

Eight minutes from time George had a chance which didn’t test the keeper as much as he would have liked, but Belhaven had a good end to the game and played some good football. Their endeavour was rewarded in the final minute as Douglas produced yet another piece of good play, played the ball across to Andrew who passed to Tom in front of goal who poked the ball home from short range. One final attack for the blues came to nothing before the final whistle sounded.

5-2 to Dunbar was the end result, which marks the end of the season for Belhaven and with it, our best performance. The key difference today was the confidence with which the boys played – they didn’t just sit back and rely on Dougal, they played forward, passing the ball well, getting men into attacking positions and looking for and listening to each other. We could do with being more definite in defence and not leaving spaces between defence and midfield.

Dougal was as consistent as ever, and as a player it makes a real difference to have the confidence that there is a goalkeeper behind you who can pull out save after save, as Dougal can. Ali has produced some great technique as he has progressed; Jamie was today, as he always is, Mr. Dependable with a terrific engine and making saving tackles and interceptions. Eric is always keen and Henry and Andrew provided free-flowing options and strong running down the left. Tom has excellent technique and today’s was a game when he was in his element, with nice touches and effective contributions.

George has been captain this year because he has an excellent ‘game brain’ – he can see the game well and has the ability to push players on around him with his example. Caspar and Freddie are the biggest football fans in the school and it was very heartening to see them have their best game for me today – their skills are well-practised and they linked up superbly with each other today with penetrating runs and passes. Douglas has come on tremendously in the last two years to become a strong, skilled player who makes a massive difference wherever he plays. Missing today was Leo who uses his size and strength together with improved technique to become the kingpin of defensive situations.

Man of the Match today was Douglas, and Player of the Season was Dougal. Very well done boys.