Three points achieved

Ormeau Park, Sunday 12 October 2003, 1:30PM

Dub FC (1)2 Glencolin Swifts (0)1

Dub are still unbeaten.

Really.

I can't believe it.

The latest victims were a spirited Glencolin side who contributed to a good tough match - and no handbags this week!

Caretaker Manager Art Kernan was delighted to see all players in the changing room before the ten past deadline kicked in. If this continues it looks like Cormac's end-of-season award for Top Goalscorer / Player of the Year / Manager of the Year / Whatever It Takes To Get An Award will be a couple of sticks and a pile of stones - the Dub fines fund could dry up pretty quickly.

Art decided to keep the squad on its toes by playing an unfamiliar 4-5-1 formation - packing the midfield and letting Phil Doherty get marked by the Glencolin back four. McToal and Dickson were again allowed to push forward in support of the lone striker with the Unholy Trinity of McCusker, Mullan and the Mighty Quinn winning everything in the middle.

Indeed, most of the play was confined to the middle of the pitch but it was from here that the Dub breakthrough came. McGurk's ball unlocked the midfield and released Mullan who had a little space to run into. This was all the invitation he needed as he looked up and caught the "mobile" keeper off the line. A deft chip left the defence stranded and the ball was in the back of the net. Much of the credit for this assist has to go to Art Kernan for keeping the linesmans flag down. There will be a tribuneral to decide who gets the assist.

The match was probably more one-sided than the scoreline suggested as Dub seemed to win every 50-50 ball and Glencolin were reduced to some unspectacular long range efforts.

After the halftime break, Dub continued to pressurise as they played downhill. Better use of the wings gave the Glencolin defence problems, as did Art's "creative" management. Gareth Dickson and Phil Doherty swapped positions and it almost paid dividends immediately as Dickson latched onto a long ball between the 2 centre backs only to see his chip finely saved by the advancing keeper. Michael Smyth had replaced Player of the Month Shane Murphy and his mazey runs and good interplay with Phil D troubled Glencolin throughout the second half. Dub extended the lead as a direct result when Glencolin conceded yet another free kick wide on the left. Smyth delivered another inswinger and the Glencolin keeper was all over the place as he tried to punch clear - the result was a slam dunk Shaq O'Neill would have been proud of. Picking the ball out of the back of the net was to be his last touch as he was substituted soon after.

Glencolin did have some useful attacks throughout the game, with the smallest man on the pitch causing problems for the Dub defence with his pace (although to be fair to Dub, they coped with everything without too much trouble). Dub continued to pour forward with Dickson delivering several Beckhamesque corners - set plays may prove to be a strongpoint this season. However, they were caught out on several occasions with rapid counterattacks. As the second half progressed, Sean Doherty clearly had his mind on other things. He was in a poor third position on the Dub Discipline chart and was in danger of losing his crown. He only opened his account for the year with a yellow against Brookvilla and decided now was the time to show his hand. Cynical is not a word to be used lightly in football but the challenges Sean put in on the wee fella could easily fall into that category. The fact that he was on the pitch at all after the first scything tackle was a mystery - perhaps he himself had a point in the pre-match chat when he suggested every man should claim everything and put some pressure on the ref as other teams did. However, all the talk in the world would not prevent him from taking the walk of shame when he conceded a penalty late on in the second half in a repeat of his booking from earlier. Sean Mullan will have to pick up his foul play if he is to withstand Sean Doherty's challenge for Dirty Hacking Dog of the Year.

Down to ten men and Dickson was forced to play his third position of the match for the remaining time as he took on defensive responsibilities with Mark Harvey. However, Dub did something they had trouble with last season - finishing off a match. Glencolin couldn't capitalise on their stronger numbers and Dub left with the points from this well-mannered (and well refereed) encounter.

Still unbeaten.

Who'd have thought?

Sent off: S Doherty 85 mins

Rose & Crown Man of the Match: S McCusker

Squad

Neil Smyth, Michael Smyth, Shane Murphy (sub 45 mins), Mark Harvey, Sean Doherty (sub 85 mins), Gareth Dickson, John Quinn (sub 72 mins), Sean Mullan, Shane McCusker, Peter McToal (sub 72 mins), Ryan McGaughey, Phil Doherty

Subs

Chris Sherrard (72 mins), Kristian Hill (72 mins)

Match Statistics

Goals	Michael Smyth Sean Mullan
Assists	Michael Smyth Ryan McGaughey
Yellow cards	-
Red cards	Sean Doherty
Man of the match	Shane McCusker