Dub Fail to Take-Off in 2nd Apollo Mission

Ormeau Park, Sunday 22 February 2004, 1:30PM

Dub FC (0)0 Apollo Athletic (0)0

The mood in the Dub FC dressing room before the game was fairly buoyant and players knew that a win would mean automatic promotion. However, it seems that Apollo did not read the script.

The previous 2 encounters between these teams resulted in a total of 14 goals. After a 4-4 draw in a pre-season friendly, Dub took the upper hand by demolishing Apollo in the first league encounter and the crowd who braved the cold at Ormeau on Sunday were expecting another goal fest. The match started fairly evenly with no real clear cut chances. Dub were disappointingly weak in the tackle and the Apollo keeper seemed to be in good form, claiming every ball that entered his 18-yard area. A less than ideal pitch could not be blamed for Dubs lack of passing game and the Apollo back four seemed content to hoof the ball down the pitch at any given opportunity. This tactic almost paid dividends when Mark Harvey was caught flat footed with two attackers in close proximity but the resultant shot was wide of the mark. Dub did manage to exert some pressure but even their speciality set pieces failed to beat the keeper. A couple of half chances fell to McToal but his powerful efforts drifted wide of the mark.

Goalless at the half and Dub looked to exert more pressure as they played with the breeze for the remainder of the game. Not even the return of injured club captain Scud McCusker could lift the performance as the match was held in the balance. Rarely did Dub show the sort of passing interplay that has seen them unlock defences this season. Dub continued to pressurise the Apollo defence as the half wore on and Mullan almost found the breakthrough on the right side of midfield as he took the ball round one defender and centred to the unmarked Dickson whose sweet right foot half volley was goalbound until one of the Apollo defenders got his body in the way. Another chance fell later on to Dickson in a 6-yard box scramble from a Kernan corner but again there were too many bodies in the way.

Apollo had a number of chances to snatch the game but Neil Smyth proved unbeatable on the day. The Dub goalkeeper performed heroics and on at least four occasions pulled off remarkable saves when one on one with the Apollo forwards.

The match finished goalless and although Dub left the field disappointed they will see this under par performance as a point gained against an impressive team. This was their third clean sheet in a row and was the first time in 34 matches that Dub have failed to score and the first time this season that they have not hit the net at least twice. With time running out in the league, Dub must raise the ante again and with another tough league game against Knock next week and with a cup tie against Apollo still to come, they will be out for revenge. Or a goal or two would do.

Man of the match: Neil Smyth

Squad

Neil Smyth, Shane Murphy, Mark Harvey, Sean Doherty, Gareth Dickson, John Quinn, Sean Mullan, Peter McToal (sub 55 mins), Ryan McGaughey, Cormac Kernan (sub 65 mins), Phil Doherty

Subs

Michael Smyth (55 mins), Shane McCusker (65 mins)

Match Statistics

Goals	-
Assists	-
Yellow cards	-
Red cards	-
Man of the match	Neil Smyth