Despite having the better of this tight but interesting Intertoto Cup match, Shels failed to create the chances needed for a win. From the onset it was clear the Swiss were determined not to concede and stuck to their task doggedly. They look a tough but uninspired side, but all this can change in the home tie.

Neuchatel's goalkeeper, Florent Delay, was tested only once, a Richie Baker volley forcing a save in the second half. At the other end, ex-Dundalk keeper Steve Williams was in a similar position, with few opportunities to prove his ability to his new fans.

Shelbourne were missing Tony McCarthy, Gary Haylock, Paul Doolin and Stephen Geoghegan, as well as Nutsy, who is now off his crutches. This may justify Keely's somewhat unusual team selection. Despite scoring a hat trick in a midweek friendly, Dutchman John Powell was not preferred to Liam Kelly. Kelly fortified my belief that he is fairly crap with another poor performance, he was obviously the weak link in Shels' attacks, misplacing passes and doing an excellent job of breaking down goal attempts. It's hard to see him getting many starts this season if Powell, Haylock, Baker and Mark Williams stay with the Club, but then I said last season after an especially dire right-wing performance that he'd never play in that position again. He played there the next week.

Shels' best spells were early in the first half and late in the second, but dominated throughout the game. In the second half, Dermo brought on youngster Davy Byrne for my pal Liam Kelly, and John Powell for Mark Williams. Helped by Richie Baker's move from left to right wing, Shels enjoyed a good spell in the final 15 minutes. However, Riche Baker's aforementioned volley 10 minutes from time was as close as Shels got to taking a lead to Switzerland.

There is promise in this squad, and considering the 5 missing players on paper this does not seem a bad result. I would be optimistic of victory in Switzerland. This optimism is shared with Dermo, who was pleased with the result considering the circumstances: "It's hard for the lads after just a few weeks of running to be the finished article, but I thought they did everything right out there but the final ball. The makings of it was there and I don't think, after that, we'd be going away next week expecting to lose"

Comments:

It will be interesting to see Dermo's selection next week: with Haylock back, there is Powell, Dessie Baker, Haylock, Geoghegan and Kelly could reasonably expect to start the game. I would go for Haylock and Powell, but I predict Dermo to go for Haylock and Dessie up front.

Of the new players, Haylock, Powell, Vandervelden and Williams all seem good acquisitions. However, I am unsure of Mark Williams, who was ineffective for Shels in this game, as well as in the midweek friendly against the Unfer-19s.

Unfortunately, I won't be going to Switzerland, nor will Red Bull. If anyone travelling would care to write a match report, review of the trip or take some pictures to be posted, please get in touch with me by e-mail. To those that are going; enjoy the trip and get behind the team, plenty of chanting.

Try: "Switzerland is full of bankers" It works best when half a hot dog is chewed at the same time.

Fintan O'Dowd

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