Report

Darkside First Team’s first venture into Cup competitions this season ended abruptly with an ill deserved loss at home to AFC Watermans.

The game started late after the referee insisted that kick off would not go ahead without corner flags; Richie eventually arriving with the coverted poles.

Darkside started brightly, generating a number of good chances to take the lead. Most notable was a scramble in the box in which the ball ricocheted against several players in the six yard area before Waterman’s defence cleared it to safety. Later a delivery from Ben Mole found Paul Ainslie alone on the edge of the box but with the ball at an awkward height be was unable to get his volley on target. It looked like the early pressure generated by Darkside had put them ahead after a cut back from Charlie Bevis was slotted in, but it was ruled offside.

There were a couple of early warning signs from Watermans, and were it not for a goal line clearance from Ben Saunders they could have taken the lead. Their central midfielder in particular caused problems for the home team with his surging runs and some tough tackles.

Shortly after a couple of near misses their first goal came, from a corner that was launched into the far side of the six-yard box. Their number nine rose, unmarked, and looped a header over the goalkeeper.

Darkside responded by upping the pressure applied on the opposition defence and created a number of half chances. However, the visitors could have extended their advantage when their left-winger managed to fire a ball across the goal and only intervention from Adam Barrigan saved Darkside from falling behind further.

Come the half time whistle Darkside could feel aggrieved at being a goal down after causing Watermans some difficulty.

After the restart Darkside continued to apply the pressure on the opposition resulting in several chances and some desperate tackles from Waterman’s midfield and a series of free kicks. Paul almost converted one of these with an effort that curled past the keeper, rattled the crossbar and bounced off the goal line.

After a series of fouls on several of the home team, and a yellow card, the referee lost patience with Waterman’s right-winger and booked him for a second time, reducing the visitors to ten men.

It made little difference, as shortly after Watermans struck again from a long throw in to the area. The delivery eluded several players before being brought down by the opposition’s striker at the far post, who then shot back across goal, past the keeper.

Darkside’s manager responded by putting some fresh legs on the pitch; Chris, Dan and Ritchie came on for Abel, Ben Mole and Ben Saunders.

Darkside continued to press on but were becoming more desperate, going for the more direct approach of firing long balls into the box. They nearly profited from this several times with a couple of headers narrowly missing the target, and one attempt being cleared behind for a corner.

The coup de grace was administered from a header deep within the opposition’s half that floated over the back four and was gathered by one of their strikers who slotted past the keeper.