Dub score six goals and win 5-3!

Victoria Park, Thursday 29 May 2008, 6:45PM

Dub FC (3)5 Stranmillis Rovers (1)3

Dub returned to a sunny Victoria park following their first win of the pre-pre-season. A few of the players were feeling the effects of a self-inflicted marathon training session the night before at the Dub. The first 20 mins of the match was dominated by a younger (by a decade) Stranmillis Rovers team, closing Dub down quickly at every opportunity.

Against the run of play Dub took the lead, a cross from the right was met by Mullan who headed down into the corner of the net past the really dodgy keeper. 1-0. Dub slowly came into the game after the goal and a short passing move found Michael on the left who toe-poked a cross into the box for Man of the Match Paddy to rise above his man marker and head over the keeper into the top corner. 2-0.

Not long after Rovers dogged pressure saw Dub contained in their own box and due to some lazy closing down by Doherty (the good looking one) Conor Blaney scored an unstoppable goal past a shoulder shrugging Neil Smyth in the Dub goal mouth. 2-1. Dub scored another just before half time when a loose ball across the Rovers goal mouth was collected by Duff who scored from a tight angle.3-1. Rovers were howling.

Halftime consisted of the usual Match of the Day sound bites, which really rallied Dub for the entire first minute of the second half. Andrew Boyd had been impressive outfield in the first half but thankfully for Dub he retreated into nets in the second. Michael played in Cormac who coolly slotted the ball past the really dodgy keeper to make it 4-1. Dub stupidly went to sleep after the fourth goal and found themselves only one goal in front with ten minutes to go.

With Rovers barking and scratching at dubs backdoor Neil made a Matrix style fast-slow motion save to keep Dub in front, not even Neil knew how the hell he did it.

The last moment of the match highlighted the need for goal line technology, especially in such a prestigious friendly as is. McGurk curled/lobbed/aimed at high ball into the box which no one seemed that fussed about, especially the keeper. However, the never give up Doherty (the vocal one) found himself at the back post, the debate is still on as to who got the final touch and for the first time in Dub history six goal scorers have been listed for five goals.

Dub continue their unbeaten run of two and Rovers go home with their tails between their legs.

Squad

Neil Smyth, Michael Smyth, Conan Hodgkinson, Mark Harvey, Sean Doherty, Paddy Taylor, Cormac Kernan, Sean Mullan, Phil Doherty, Ryan McGaughey, Kevin Duffy

Subs

Match Statistics

Goals	Cormac Kernan Ryan McGaughey Sean Mullan Kevin Duffy Paddy Taylor
Assists	Michael Smyth (3) Sean Mullan Phil Doherty
Yellow cards	-
Red cards	-
Man of the match	Paddy Taylor