REAL DUNDONALD started this Cup match in fine form continuing to play the fantastic football which was on show the previous week....once again an early lead was taken by REAL (15min), ALDERSONS tough sliding tackle in the middle of the park dispossessed AFC Fight Knights midfielder, ALDERSON rose quickest to his feet and fed a beautiful through ball to the in-form AL-MAJALI who out-muscled his pursuing opponent to comfortably poke home from close range through the GKs legs....REAL started to show flair in their control of the football, passing the ball effortlessly at times from the back right through to the menacing duo of strikers GYLES/Al-MAJALI.....not even 10 minutes later AL-MAJALI found his busy self over by the corner flag cleverly shielding the ball waiting for support, at this moment a KNIGHTS defender decided to violently push AL-MAJALI to the ground, and he was instantly made to pay for his moment of madness....up stepped HAYES to cross the free-kick perfectly into the danger zone, AL-MAJALI meeting the ball with a smart powerful header 2-0, wild celebrations followed ha ha........REAL continued to enjoy the majority of the football, HOPKINS came very close to scoring, just blazing over after over-lapping from his Right Back position, cleverly timing his run and intelligently being fed by the skillful GYLES, HOPKINS found himself in that threatening position more than once today too......with 18 minutes left in the first half REAL conceded a free-kick some 40 yards from goal, KNIGHTS worked the free-kick well, the ball was delivered deep to the far post which seemed to evade all of REAL DUNDONALDS players who were caught flat footed and not talking, the ball was bundled into the goal 2-1......The spirit in REAL DUNDONALD is truly amazing i must say, even though they were winning comfortably and having the measure of their opponents, this goal conceded seemed to insult REAL who immediately stepped up the intensity of the game "turn up the heat" so to speak.....within two minutes GYLES flicked on a long ball from INGRAM to put AL-MAJALI through, this time the GK racing from his line making a decent block with his body..... 5 minutes later GYLES himself hitting the underside of the crossbar from 20 yards after great individual skill, great feet by the kid in beating two-three men, the ball bounced down and the quick reactions of AL-MAJALI almost saw him bag another first half hat-trick like last week but decent defending denied him (for now).........JAMES and ALDERSON looked the part today in their partnership in the engine room, they were the "The Glue" today, breaking up play, good vision, winning aerial threats, covering for one another, covering for the team if needed, also covering alot of miles today, GIANTS!!!!!!......ALDERSON (the more advanced of the pair) tested the GK with a minute to go in the 1st half with a fierce shot from 25 yards after a long series of passing which started with NUTTALL, BLAKEBROUGH, INGRAM and the threatening HARVEY all involved in spreading the ball about nicely and patiently.....The 2nd half started in the same fashion with REAL in total control, showing their swagger, patiently waiting to score more, GYLES going very close twice......the few times KNIGHTS did get through with long, high balls the "eye catching" central defensive pairing of NUTTALL and BLAKEBROUGH made sure RADFORD was not called upon, NUTTALL infectious, strong in the air, hard in the tackle and very quick, BLAKEBROUGH (Skipper) the footballer of the pair, yet still strong in the air/tackle and what you'd call a 'defenders defender'.......just before the hour another fine team passing move saw HAYES finding GYLES out wide to the right, GYLES holding up the ball well before seeing the onrushing ALDERSON coming straight through the middle of the pitch, GYLES gently crossed the ball to him.. ALDERSON let fly with a vicious left foot volley which to everyones eyes was going in for number 3, however a great defensive block by a KNIGHTS player (im sure it hurt him too) held up ALDERSONS celebration, the ball trickled straight back out to him, cool as you like he powerfully and accurately drove a low shot into the bottom right corner 3-1......the 63rd minute saw REAL win a penalty kick from a corner after BLAKEBROUGH was fouled, after missing the last penalty (in another Cup Match) it was only right AL-MAJALI banished his demons, take it and bag his hat-trick too...."and took it he did"...slotting home to the right of GK in the corner of the net.....WHITE came on (67th) and played his part, fighting and putting in some decent crosses....TIBBETTS also came on (74th) and worked tirelessly for the cause, TIBBETTS came close to scoring too after fine work from HARVEY down the left flank......BRISSETT came on for ALDERSON with 10 minutes to go and tightened up things with his presence as he can......
A VERY GOOD CUP WIN SEES REAL DUNDONALD GO INTO THE QUARTER FINALS NOW ON THE 10th MARCH away to FULHAM COMPTON CASUALS
follow REAL on twitter... @THERDFC
Uncle Bob
