Fern Mc Costigan: April 2017

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Tottenham rule at the North London Derby

Twenty-two years took the faithful of White Hart Lane to sing that amazing tune of ‘North London is ours’, thanks to their Spurs one of a kind campaign and its resolve.

Mauricio Pochettino and company delivered another memorable afternoon of pure genuine football worth of a champion, despite his boys trailing by four points behind league leaders and cross-town foes, the Chelsea Blues.

Still the project that Poche brought to these parts of London Town, is putting in evidence its success one campaign at a time, the unfortunate side, the heartbreak of last campaign downfall.

By seeing how the Leicester City squad delivered history but their finish above their North London foes the Arsenal Gunners and so far, their hopes are high with three matches left, to see a Blues falter.

Therefore, the hardened Lilywhites can rise to the occasion.

What a day for a Derby and with these two titans fighting in every minute to put themselves in the driver’s seat and go up the score as the locals almost did with two clear misses from Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen.

Very well, a long-range shoot from the Gunners Aaron Ramsey that in good timing by the Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris stopped and prevented the visitors of opening the score to the joy of their faithful.

Still this was a very fought off match despite the local squad putting a dominance from start to finish in a match considered as important in their race for the league shield currently trailing and for those so called- London Town North bragging rights.

What a match and exhibition displayed by this renewed and looking like a total contender in the Spurs under their Argentina Boss hand, who has made a turnaround for the best in this parts of the English capital.

If the outcome of destiny favors Conte and his Chelsea bunch, not bad for a squad that in the past spent, millionaire sums of money to lure the most expensive payrolls with no positive results and disappointing finishes despite being in European competitions.

With a squad lacking an identity in its game and a long haul project to make this squad a contender, all of a sudden the arrival of this not so rookie Manager has transformed the squad of White Hart Lane for the best and with more to come.

Anyway returning to today’s match, the hunger of a determined Spurs 11 looking forward to close this with a bang and a win that will keep them in the chase for the league title.

So far, the Spurs with formidable winning streak and not giving up in their commitment of excellence and become the top squad in years to come as Poche goals are being meet in every campaign and this one doubling their number of wins.

As the hungry Lilywhites coming strong in the second half with two scores from their main men in the field, with Dele Alli on the 55 and later a penal that Harry Kane on the 58 converted for the go-ahead score.

This sealed the deal and a valuable win that keeps the Tottenham squad on the hunt and with another Derby coming against another arch-rival cross town squad in modest West Ham United, the heat is on once again.

At the end, these resilient and hard pushing Spurs are the new rulers in North London.

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2017

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Blanco and Adi’s goals not enough to seal the deal at the Big D

A campaign that the Portland Timbers are playing an amazing game of football and with today’s match ending in a tie and a near win over a hardened and tough to beat at home Dallas FC squad.

After Mother Nature’s fury delaying the match, suddenly the ball started rolling in favor towards the visiting squad.

Showing off an all-around dominance in the first half of this match with a display of pure and dynamic football.

This campaign puts in evidence the hunger and determination that the Rose City squad is showing off.

With a road game and scheduled as problematic for the Rose City squad to play at Toyota Stadium were its Dallas FC Boys are one tough client to compete and play on a one to one basis and difficult to get a positive result.

Today’s match showed off a different PTFC, playing their game they are comfortable and with its initial eleven missing goalie Jack Gleeson and their Talisman play-maker Diego Valeri to injuries.

The initial eleven sent by Portland Boss Caleb Porter with Dairon Aspirilla in the frontal attack and Jeff Attinella defending the posts, these two once again showed off their mettle and resolve.

Despite netting one point, the result considered a positive for Manager Porter and his bunch.

So near and yet as far as twenty minutes to seal the deal and net another positive result in the road as well end the Hoops perfect record in MLS as the only undefeated team, that at the end the Burn persevere.

Still this match had all the elements for the visiting Pacific Northwest squad to take the win, after an early goal in the 30 minute by Faneando Adi back in the lineup after serving a match for suspension, he was the one to open up the hostilities.

As the Portland squad going to halftime with the lead, the second half saw a different Dallas squad playing, as they are accustomed too, showing off a one of a kind and tough football they are familiar.

By proving their mettle and support by their home crowd, these hardened Texans never gave up on their quest to deny the visitors what could been a valuable win on the road, it is when former Timber Maxi Urrutti played his magic.

With a nice shoot that Timbers keeper Attinella could not even get at, the Dallas Boys were back in the game and in the 61 minute to send a whole venue into frenzy.

No later than ten minutes passed when the Portland Timbers went on the attack with several of its arsenal making the effort in the Dallas area when an opportune Sebastian Blanco put the Rose City squad ahead with a nice cut in the 71 minute.

That did not put a damp on the Dallas squad and letting their guard down as this match saw a back to back fight between these two titans looking forward to get the best of each other, with just nine minutes past.

The Dallas squad took advantage of a defensive lapse from the Timbers backfield when Hernan Grana found Tesho Akindele unmarked inside the area to push the ball and even the match at two goals apiece and taking advantage of an Alvas Powell slip.

The Timbers had its moments in defense and despite its slip-ups, these overcome the pressure and at times aggressive Dallas game to deny the locals a chance to get ahead in the scoreboard and win the match.

Today’s results leaves Portland with a record of 5 wins and two losses and draws in the campaign and with seventeen points two ahead of Dallas FC and SKC in the Western Conference.

As next week match on the road at San Jose Avaya Stadium, looking for a win and return home with a positive.

However, the tie has an essence of a win for the Portland squad as Caleb Porter stated of his squad well played match at the end.

Crest Credit and Property of Portland Timbers Football Club 2017

Congratulations Linfield Blues on your NIFL achievement

Perseverance really paid off for the Linfield Blues in this edition of the Danske Bank League of Ireland, were at the end these two Belfast giants staged a heated contest to the league top, until its end.

What a way to close the campaign with a spectacular bang for the Blues!

As many thought that the Crusaders who once held a comfortable lead over the Boys from South Belfast and denying them a couple of campaigns ago the Gibson shield.

This time the name Linfield Blues is inscribe once again.

With a not so easy Cliftonville Reds, squad coming to town and playing possibly the role of spoiler’s if the Blues would falter in their game and blew up their chance to seal the deal with just a point in need to secure their 53^rd league shield.

Being this another edition of the Belfast Derby between the Reds and Blues.

For David Healy the Linfield Boss his pre match speech in the locker room was uplift the spirits of his initial eleven and motivate them to finish what they started in this last stages of league play were these squad did not stopped in its quest for perfection.

Playing as visitors in Solitude Stadium the numerous contingents of Linfield fans traveling to this northern part of North Ireland capital, they did not left disappointed but all happy after seeing their squad come from behind for the win.

The Reds with an early goal in the 14^th minute via Daniel Hughes, Solitude became a mad house seeing their side going up the score and across town in Seaview, the Crusaders were hanging on a thread.

Despite the Hachetmen raucous, win over Glenavon, the Linfield squads started causing havoc on tier hosts after the second half when they saw an inspired and determined Andrew Waterworth scoring a treble.

With the veteran of many battles, his first move came on the 47minute, no later six minutes later he scored the go-ahead goal for the Blues and in the 60^th minute, he took care of a penalty kick to see his squad rise for the win.

As the Blues amazingly turned the game around in the second half and with a total dominance the local Reds little they could do to stop the visitors initial eleven revivals with a trio of goals from an inspired Waterworth.

At the end, the constant pressure exercised by the Linfield Bunch is something to applaud and admire in this campaign, by not letting go in their quest of pure perfection and admirably taking over the reins of the NIFL.

Congratulations to this edition of the Dankse Bank League of Ireland, to the flamboyant and amazing Linfield Blues for their one of a kind resolve of not letting go in their pursuit of the Gibson Cup that at the end they lifted proudly.

Friday, April 28, 2017

The perfection stays with the Cork City Boys

I heard of a perfect ten but an eleven, not a chance, but we have witness the way this City side has started the campaign with a perfect eleven streak that no one in the league of Ireland can’t put an end.

With a weekly match scheduled at Turners Cross, the Rebel Army had another challenge to front against a renewed and hard fighting Bray Wanderers coming to town and possibly be a tough foe.

All of a sudden, we have a very hard battling Seagulls squad looking forward to continue displaying their one of a kind football started at the end of last campaign and they would like to fly high in this edition.

For Harry Kenny and his Gulls coming to play at always-difficult Turners Cross and defeat a highflying City squad looking forward to maintain their perfect run but they were the only impediment to deny the locals a win.

As the early minutes of the match especially in its first half, the locals played a one of a kind match shutting down the visiting Bray squad completely and not allowing them any liberties.

On the opposite side, the Leesiders started their attacking drive and being in the visitor’s area, we have a foul on City Ryan Delaney by Bray defender Derek Foran who got the yellow card from the match referee.

In addition, as the game official awarded a penalty kick to the locals, here the man of the hour Sean Maguire to take charge and converting for the opening score in the eleventh minute for the go-ahead score of 1-0.

Still as the match progressed, the visiting squad front men continue exercising pressure on the arch defended successfully by keeper Mark McNulty through the whole course of the match, until that play that broke the clean sheet.

So far, this win over Bray Wanderers and a rare Dundalk FC loss to lowlight Galway United, the Leesiders are now 12 points advantage, with 33 points total and being atop the League of Ireland.

There is no stopping these Leesiders!

For the City chaps it does not come easy as next week with a couple of matches scheduled on May 1^st for the EA Sports Cup and later on Friday the 5^th on league game against the Finn Harps, both matches scheduled on Turners Cross.

John Caulfield and his bunch will have their hands full on both of their upcoming matches if these will like to see a continuance of their perfect run in both cup and league play.

Returning to tonight’s match, the City Boys did not stop in their quest of sealing the deal at home and knowing of their foes might, the attacks against Bray keeper Cherrie continue throughout the evening with no luck.

However, in the 88 minute, fortunes once again smile of John Caulfield group, with a nice header by Captain John Dunleavy to uplift his squad to a 2-0 lead and this being the go-ahead goal in the right place and time too.

The visitors, persistence paid off via Gulls defender Derek Foran on injury time on the 94-minute but the rally for Harry Kenny bunch at the end came short and had to settle for the loss and not allowed to put a dent on City impeccable run.