05/10/2019
My match report on Edinburgh Napier vs The university if Dundee. A thrilling game, read below to find out what happens 👀
Napier, No Problem.
Summary
Edinburgh Napier university started of their league season with a bang as they ran out 3-1 winners against University of Dundee at the Ainslie Park Stadium.
Pre-Match
Edinburgh Napier put in a professional and exciting performance as they put three past University of Dundee to secure the win. The teams last meeting on the fixture cards came on the 27th of March where Edinburgh Napier was given the automatic win as University of Dundee were unable to field a team. The last played fixture was the 19th of February where Edinburgh Napier won by the same margin as today.
The home side looked up for the match from the get-go as they were the first team out and warming up. Each drill was done at a high intensity and sharp focus in preparation for this match, while contrastingly the away side took there warm up in a casual manner after only exiting the dressing room 15 minutes before kick-off.
First Half
The match started off at a high pace as Edinburgh Napier pressed university of Dundee at every opportunity. The first shot of the match came with 3 minutes on the clock as Charlie Sanda received the ball on the left wing as the ball came from the opposite side of the park, he controlled it and slipped it into Aaron Kane who took strike at goal but the keeper saved it.
Four minutes later Edinburgh Napier where getting another opportunity to score when a corner got crossed in with pace but it getting cleared by a Dundee Player, it to fell to Sanda on the edge of the box who smashed it towards goal but it sailed high over the bar.
Edinburgh Napier continued to pile on the pressure as they won a free kick on the right-hand side. The free kick got swung in with venom to the back post but only to be met with a Dundee defender, but as the ball fell back to a Edinburgh Napier player, Sanda loses his man in the box and as it is whipped back in he narrowly put it past the post.
The first goal came in the 19th minute. James Burt picks up the ball in the midfield and plays a cute ball through the middle of the Dundee defence for Sanda to score, the Dundee keeper does terrific in saving it, but Kelly comes in to tap the rebound home making it 1-0 to Edinburgh Napier.
The home sides goal seemed to spark life into the away team as 2 minutes after the restart, they get there first shot off on target, but it was held safely by Ross Jack. This was the turning point in the match as University of Dundee started to gain confidence and get forward, but the two centre backs of Edinburgh Napier, Lewis Grant and Joshua McConnellogue, stopped everything coming through the middle and in the box.
However, it wasn’t until the 40th minute University of Dundee got their break as a long hopeful ball up the park was met with one of there strikers. On the left-hand side, he sent a daring ball in, but the clearance landed to the other Dundee striker who put it into the top left-hand corner. The score line of 1-1 was took into half time but Edinburgh Napier looking the better side.
Second Half
The second half started of the same as the first with Edinburgh Napier pressing University of Dundee in but this time Dundee where starting to get space on the counter attack and on the 47th minute Dundee’s free kick routine nearly came off as Jack had to make a wonderful save.
The game dipped in quality as no team could muster an attack until in the 68th minute Aaron Reid produced a wonderful piece of skill to beat his man and put a lovely ball into the box, which was pinpoint on Kelly’s head that went soaring into the top left hand corner. Then one minute after the restart, Edinburgh Napier were through again this time Andrzej Reszke played a curving ball through to Sanda who finished his one on one calmly.
Finally, in the 73rd minute University of Dundee’s woes got worse as one of their defenders was sent off after fouling Fraser Gill as he was put through one on one.
Quick Summary
The game was well controlled by Edinburgh Napier as they always looked dangerous on the attack. The final result was well deserved and has gave the team a good confidence boost for next week’s game.
Managers Thoughts
After the game Stephan Robertson, Edinburgh Napier’s Manager, praised his time for their performance, Robertson went on to say “We had 5/6 Debuts today, we knew everyone in the team could play football, but it was getting the team playing as one. We showed that today.” Robertson also highlighted how the mindset has changed in the team, “We’ve managed to change the mindset in the dressing room from when things don’t go our way. We had a positive attitude at half time when it was 1-1 and that was good to see.”
Man of the Match – Sanda
All in all, Edinburgh Napier were deserved winners and played outstanding, the full team worked as a unit and thrived off of each other’s confidence, however one man that stood out was Sanda as he was everywhere and looked dangerous throughout the game.
