Home vs Punjab United 17Dec23

Match report by Ciaran Larkin

Our final game before Christmas comes at home to Punjab United. After last week we were looking for a similar performance and a similar result.
The game started and Punjab’s style was to move the ball quick and around us, whereas our first goal came about 20 minutes in from a set-piece, after the ball bounced in the box and George poked it in for 1-0. The game then started to slow down a bit, but we soon got our second goal after a mistake at the back gave Arthur a 1-on-1 and he found the bottom corner past the keeper for 2-0, which we held for the rest of the first half.
The second half started and we continued to make opportunities but couldn’t finish them off, and the longer it stayed 2-0 the more chances Punjab had of getting back into the match. But a third goal did come as another ball bounced in the box and this time Leo was there to slot past the keeper for 3-0.
However, our lead was reduced following a cross that was tapped in at the back post for 3-1 with about 20-minutes to go. Our job then became even harder as George scored into our own net with a header to make this a 1 goal game with only a couple of minutes left to play. Thankfully, the full time whistle arrived soon after for a 3-2 win in our last game before Christmas. A very good win which puts us firmly up there in terms of a title challenge.
Well done to Billy for a great game at full back and a well deserved MoM performance.
A great way to end 2023, which was a superb year for us winning the league, getting to another Shield final and once again, challenging for the league.