Yarrgh
Player Valuation: £70m
UTMFDB!Dollingstown vs Harland and Wolff Welders
22nd December 2037
The first of two pivotal matches over Christmas, Harland and Wolff Welders followed by Glentoran on Boxing Day. A win in both could put Dollingstown into 10th place. Euan Henderson didn't enter into a war of words with Tom Warwick, simply playing it down by saying there's a lot of football still to be played and Tom's side aren't quite out of the woods yet. Henderson also gave an indication that there will be new players joining the club in January in much needed positions and told the media that the rebuild is only just beginning. He didn't mention what players will be joining or who will be leaving the current team. He was focused on the game ahead and wanted to make it a third win over Harland and Wolff Welders. The lack of supporters didn't deter Dollingstown and just after 5 minutes Simon Young crossed low so Jimmy Boyd could rifle in the shot to make it 1-0! Delaney's pass was cut out and West ran forward into space taking a shot which was tipped away by Mackle, Dallas went to slot the rebound and Mackle made a great second save. Harland and Wolff Welders went with two up front to start the second half but on 54 minutes, Simon Young hit a lovely free-kick from 20 yards that flew past the keeper to make it 2-0! Dollingstown looking on course for victory! It was three against two as Mulholland and McNally backed off, the ball was played in to Mark Mackle who had a golden chance but he hit the outside of the post. Dollingstown were close to securing a nice victory with just a few minutes to see out. O'Hara set up Delaney who took a shot from outside the box and it clipped the bar on 90 minutes. Dollingstown looked leggy and Dallas beat young Luke Walker to cross in for Mark Mackle to win the header beating Ciaran Mackle to pull a late goal back! The last thing Dollingstown want to do is give away possession. Dallas again was allowed space to work in but his cross was caught my Mackle and he took the ball to the ground. Tom Warwick was urging his team to get forwad with seconds to go, Henderson kept calm on the touchline. Mackle beat McNally and got a shot away which was tipped behind for a corner. Marc O'Hara cleared the danger but the referee still had not blown up. Is there one last chance? No, it's all over! A win for Dollingstown and delight on the touchline! What a win but it was close at the end.
EH: You can see where the tiredness set in and fair play to Harland because they put numbers in attack and tried to capitalise on that. The defence were really on it tonight and their performance kept us in front. Mackle done brilliant tonight and he deserves to be on the winning team. We're on level points now and it can really go either way. We can enjoy tonight's victory, we have Christmas and then another tough one at Glentoran who beat Crusaders today.
PLAYER RATINGS
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Glentoran vs Dollingstown
26th December 2037
The festivities were over and it was back to league action with a trip to Belfast to face Glentoran who had came into good form recently. Both sides had another fixture in two days time so squad rotation is likely. Henderson made changes with 17 year old Walker starting at left back and 16 year old Barry Ewart in central defence. 16 year old Luke Kemp got a start next to Jimmy Boyd in attack. Jimmy Boyd was struggling with his hamstring but indicated to Henderson that he wanted to carry on on 11 minutes. Glentoran came close with a corner in the opening minutes and look a threat, the same ball was played in to dangerman Barry on 22 minutes and he headed into the gaping net to make it 1-0. Henderson made the call on 28 minutes to take off Boyd for Michael Coyle. Dollingstown played out from the back nicely releasing Young on the right, he sent the ball over the top which Coyle battled hard to win and he crossed low and won his side a corner. David Kee and Andrew Mullholland came on for Delaney and Ewart, the ball through the middle was effective for Coyle but his shot was too easy for the keeper to save. Coyle turned provider on 74 minutes with a ball over the defence for Luke Kemp who put it past the keeper to get his 2nd of the season! Three extra minutes went up and a point would be a good result for Dollingstown if they can hang on. Gardner put the ball in but McNally was there to head away, Young scrambled it forward and Luke Walker ran with it into space, David Kee took it in midfield and slowed the tempo down, O'Shea took it wide and played it into the box but it was sliced away only as far as Young, he tried to cross but it was blocked and Herron picked it up and won his side a free-kick. David Kee stood over the free-kick knowing it was the last chance of the game, he delivered a great ball towards the far post and Mulholland got up to head towards to the top corner but the keeper pulled off a fantastic stop to secure a point for his team.
EH: Great to come back like we did, Kemp done well and took his goal really well. For 16 he has a lot of potential and has been a handful in training. It's a game of cat and mouse between us and Harland, we move above them today but they could easily move ahead of us in a few days, it's going to go to the wire.
PLAYER RATINGS
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Warrenpoint Town vs Dollingstown
28th December 2037
It was the last fixture of the calendar year and a chance for Dollingstown to build on their recent win and a draw. Karl McNally and Marc O'Hara started on the flanks with Luke Kemp and Michael Coyle starting in attack. Andrew Mulholland took a horrendous first touch and it allowed Morris to steal it, set up Elliott who beat Mackle on 27 minutes. Marc O'Hara found Luke Kemp a few minutes later and his shot was pushed away by the keeper at the near post. Some nice football was on display from Dollingstown, the diagonal pass from O'Haro to Kemp who nodded it down for Delaney, he played it through to Coyle but his right footed effort was turned away, nice football from Dollingstown but the hard work was undone when Kelly took it on the edge of the box and floated it in for O'Neill to head over Mackle making it 2-0 just before the interval. Dollingstown were unlucky on 50 minutes when Michael Coyle's strike from outside the box bounced back off the crossbar. Simon Young and Martin O'Shea came on for the last 20 minutes but it was Marty Morris celebrating a few minutes later when he wasn't picked up at the far post and converted Wright's cross making it three. It's a forgettable day at the office for Dollingstown as they lose to Warrenpoint and Harland and Wolff Welders pick up three points.
EH: It's that time of the year when we can bring players in and we've got a few players joining the club in a few days when the window opens who we are proud to announce. That doesn't mean negativity for the rest of the squad, they all have a part to play but to be where we want to be we need reinforcements and we are bringing players here who have experience. There'll be a mix of youth and experience in the squad.
PLAYER RATINGS
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LEAGUE TABLE
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DOLLINGSTOWN OPEN THE WINDOW WITH SIX NEW SIGNINGS!
Jake Whelan, Goalkeeper (Free)
30 year old experienced Goalkeeper Jake Whelan joins Dollingstown from Newington from the Bluefin Sport PIL. Newington are top of the table and have only conceded 11 goals all season and the keeper was in goof form this season. Henderson had been keeping a close eye on the shot stopper and was a known admirer. He is likely to take the number 1 spot at Dollingstown.
Ross McKendry, Defender (Free)
25 year old Ross McKendry is a full back who can play on the left and right. He is a natural Left Back and also joins from Newington however he made two appearances for Derriaghy earlier in the season and the rules in Northern Ireland state a player cannot feature for more than two clubs in a season so Ross will not be available to Dollingstown until next season. Ross is known for his work rate which is a big plus for Euan Henderson.
Kurtis Kane, Midfielder (Free)
29 year old Central Midfielder Kurtis Kane joins the club on a free from Annagh UInited after making 21 appearances this season in the Bluefin Sport Championship. He is an experienced midfielder who is mature and level headed making calm decisions when under pressure. Kane is likely to become a first team regular at the club.
Kyle Morgan, Winger (Free)
30 year old Kyle Morgan is a Left Winger who joins from Lurgan Celtic. A good player who is quick and can cross a ball will prove to be a handful for defences in the Premier Division. Euan Henderson described Morgan as a player similar to himself and will excite the supporters at Dollingstown.
Nicky Quinn, Winger (Free)
31 year old Nicky Quinn is a Right Winger who is excellent at free-kicks and penalties. He comes on a free from Islandmagee having scored 4 goals and claimed 6 assists in 25 appearances. Nicky will offer competition to Simon Young down the Right Wing.
Sean Sheridan, Striker (Free)
30 year old Sheridan joins from Lurgan Celtic where he already has 10 league goals this season. A quick and skilful Striker who can finish is an asset Henderson could not turn down. Sheridan is a physical player and will hopefully supply the goals Dollingstown so desperately need.
EH: We've monitored the signings closely over the last few months and they have been impressive at their previous clubs. We are working to build a squad here that can compete on all fronts and we believe the players we brought in will improve us in the league and work hard to keep us up. The players are excited to get going and they're fit and ready to go. Working under Duncan Ferguson was a big pull for them and the chairman has been brilliant in helping us get these deals done.
DF: We've handpicked players we want at this club and there is time in the window to do business if we need to. I can't fault the effort from the players, they are young and inexperienced but they've stepped up and showed us they have a future at Dollingstown. We've been watching teams when we can and we have our scout Sean Murray who has travelled the country watching countless matches to better the team. The second half of the season is going to decide whether we stay up or we go down, it's tight, it's competitive but it's nothing we aren't used to! This club will fight to the very end and we want players who can push themselves through those barriers.
6 of the best from the geriatric cone layer there. None of them are hapless Hendo's men. Perhaps it's a bloodless coup and we'll see the return of the Flyde supremo into the big chair.
Oh, and to the welders, koff ya big bunch of soft sods - couldn't weld sh!t into a bucket.
