Magpies win battle
Newtown overcome fellow big guns Ashford Rovers
NEWTOWN UNITED ASHFORD ROVERS 2 0
WICKLOW’S big two clashed in the quarter-final of the Jim McLoughlin Premier Trophy at People’s Park in Bray last Sunday morning, and it was the Magpies who claimed the bragging rights with goals from Evan Moran and a piledriver from Ross Davis.
Between these two they had claimed the six major cup trophies in the last two seasons.
Both knew the victor of this clash would have an excellent chance of kicking on to more honours this season. It led to a hard-hitting, feisty clash.
Ashford, the current league leaders, started brightly; midfielder Brendan Manning’s goalbound free kick was deflected for a corner by Neil Martin.
From Manning’s corner, midfield partner Fiachra Ryan beat the defence but headed over.
Newtown showed their intent on seven minutes when right back Ross Davis bounded down the line and his pinpoint cross was met by talismanic centre forward Dean Odlum on the volley. However, the effort lacked the power to trouble keeper Cathal Moody in the Ashford goal.
Both teams were trying to get a grip on midfield as tackles flew in and both teams seemed wary of the opposition’s strengths.
The centre of the park was flooded with bodies and Newtown seemed to be playing the more productive football at this stage with Davis always an outlet on the right flank.
Any ball Ashford did get forward seemed to lead Cian O’Hannain down a cul de sac as he lacked support from midfield.
As the intensity upped a notch, Manning and Martin had a coming together that led to the first bookings of the game.
From the resulting Newtown free in the centre circle, Ashford’s defensive leader Brian Coen bulleted a header away. It caught the Magpies napping, and a swift onetwo between Callum Pursey and O’Hannain set the ex Avonmore man in on goal, and as he was about to place an effort past Keith McCormack in the Magpies goal, Davis came from nowhere to clear the danger with a last ditch tackle.
The physical exchanges were still tasty with Anto Byrne and Sean Heffernan clashing on a few 50-50 challenges followed by Manning and Matthew Kennedy renewing a long-standing rivalry over a variety of years and sports.
Possession was hard earned and chances as rare as ducks teeth.
Newtown were dealt a blow on the half hour when Odlum pulled up with a niggle and had to be replaced by Mark Fitzsimmons.
Soon after, Davis was at it again as a lofted ball by Fiachra Ryan looked to be dropping to Ashford’s Robbie Eyre untill Davis rose just high enough to flick away the danger.
Eventually an opening came on 36 minutes and Evan Moran took full advantage. Newtown earned a free inside their attacking half,
Ashford fell asleep for a split second, Kennedy rolled a through ball into Moran’s path and the striker struck beyond Moody for the lead goal.
The second half saw Anto Byrne get a grip in the midfield and drive Ashford on without creating anything clear cut.
Karl Earls and Andy Earls combined to put Fiachra Ryan in the clear, but his low centre was cleared by veteran centre back PJ Dowling.
Robbie Eyre had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Michael Kennedy as both sidelines displayed their passion .
Substitutions were made by both sides with dangerman Martin Williams coming on for Newtown and Ashford bringing on club legend Danny Byrne and young up and comer Jamie Byrne. Shortly after Danny Byrne’s arrival a cross was headed across goal by Eyre and Byrne bicycled an effort over the bar.
Newtown seemed to be content to sit back and invite Ashford on to them and counter attack with Williams and Dillon Carthy always looking dangerous when the ball was pumped forward.
At times it was like a game of backs against forwards as Ashford threw everything at their rivals.
Eyre had another effort just clear the bar from a Danny Byrne cross.
A looped cross from Karl Earls saw Eyre at full stretch head at McCormack but he lacked the power to trouble the keeper.
The last 10 minutes saw Ashford pushing forward without really creating anymore chances and in the 88th minute the match was put to bed. Carthy spread the ball out to Davis and the right back struck a sublime effort from 25 yards that Moody could not reach in the bottom corner.
A cracking cup clash that maybe lacked chances but not the intensity you would expect from these great rivals.
For Ashford, Anto Byrne was terrific in the middle of the park, for Newtown, it was a real team effort with Davis a deserving man of the match.