Wicklow share spoils
Under-18s draw with NDSL in inter-league thriller
WDSL U-18S NDSL U-18S 2 2
SHAMROCK Park hosted an excellent competitive four-goal thriller between the Wicklow County under-18 team and North Dublin county team last Sunday afternoon.
The NDSL side went into the game having been only together for little under two weeks and were looking to get their campaign of to a good start but had to contain an impressive looking Wicklow County outfit.
There was no early nerves from the travelling side as Barry Akami almost opened the scoring on the 3rd minute after an impressive solo run.
The winger gained possession after receiving the ball from his fellow left back team mate Sevastin Beslic and then went on a darting run down the right flank beating every Wicklow player in his path, Akami’s only down fall was that he came to close to the by-line before firing off a shot that flew across Wicklow keeper Paddy Reynolds goal and cleared out of danger by defender Ryan Kenny.
Two minutes later NDSL had the chance to open the scoring when a free-kick was awarded on the edge of the box with Jack Lawlor standing over the ball.
Lawlor set up like he was going to whip the ball to the back post hoping someone would get a head on the ball but the right back curled a powerful strike around the wall but his shot went just over the bar to keep the game level.
Wicklow found it difficult in the first 15 minutes to get a foothold in the game, they resulted in playing long balls up to Oisin McGraynor who had an obvious height advantage over the NDSL defence but the attacker often found himself isolated up front when he gained possession.
The travelling side opened the scoring on the 28th minute mark after referee David Jameson pointed to the spot after striker Jason Dignan was illegally challenged in the area.
Jack Lawlor stepped up to take the peno and slotted the ball to the keeper’s left into the bottom corner, a beautifully placed penalty which gave Reynolds no chance in stopping.
As the game grew on so did the confidence of the home side, Wicklow started to have a lot more possession in the centre of the pitch towards the end of the first half.
Jack Manley provided a pinpoint accurate ball to Oisin McGryanor in the 35th minute which led to an equalising goal for Wicklow.
Manley saw McGraynor in space just outside the NDSL penalty area and floated a great ball to the attacker who then lobbed keeper Ben Murphy with his first touch, a great goal and skill from McGraynor to lob the keeper with his first touch but the vision from Manley and to pick McGraynor out from across the pitch is what made the goal.
Wicklow back into the game as the first half ended 1-1.
The hosts had gained extreme confidence after scoring before half time and had some great spells of possession before the goal and it was no surprise that they grabbed an early goal to make it 2-1 from their first attack of the second half.
Nathan Doyle went on a great solo run down the wing beating two NDSL players before cutting the ball back to Calum Busher who slotted the ball into the back of the net to put his team ahead and well deserved.
Barry Akami was proving to be a big problem for the Wicklow defence as his devastating runs couldn’t be stopped by the home team’s defence, Akami was just too quick and strong and it was only a matter of time before the winger got on the scoresheet.
Wicklow had all the possession going into the hour mark of the game and were chasing down every ball and pressuring the travelling sides defence again and again but failed to make their chances count.
North Dublin seemed to have lost their sparkle after conceding early on in the second half and were not creating enough chances to get themselves back into the game.
It was a moment of individual genius from Barry Akami again that gave his team a life line in the 76th minute as he went on another impressive solo run.
The winger beat three Wicklow defenders before cutting in on his left foot and firing s powerful shot that went up and over the keeper and into the back of the net.
The winger had been on top form throughout the game and truly earned a goal, a goal which meant the teams were level with a little over ten minutes remaining.
Both sides weren’t settling for a draw and kept making attempts on both goals for the remainder of the last ten minutes.
Akami almost grabbed his second of the game in the 80th minute but the winger pulled his shot to the wrong side of the post and out for a goal kick.
Wicklow substitute Harrison Obuncekoma then had a great chance to seal the victory for his side but keeper Ben Murphy pulled off a great save to keep the score at 2-2.
A great competitive performance from both sides.
Neither team would settle for a draw and kept attacking right until the final whistle which made great viewing for spectators in the last ten minutes but shared points seemed like the right result in the end.