Meyler on fire as Rangers romp to clearcut win
FRIDAY IN Casey Park saw Rosslare Rangers as the visitors as the All Blacks went in search of their first point in this year’s Richie Dwyer Memorial Over-35 league.
The visitors were looking for their third win in a row following victories over Kilmore, and St. Leonards in the cup on Tuesday.
The Blacks started brightest and were afforded a lot of possession in the opening exchanges, and some good inter-play early on had the Rosslare ‘keeper on his toes.
But Rosslare settled down and soon got to grips with it, and some good link-up play between Adrian Meyler and Oscar Pitt gave the Blacks something to ponder.
Rosslare did take the lead somewhat fortuitously on nine minutes when a cross from David Wickham flew all the way to the net past the hapless ‘keeper who could do little to keep it out.
To compound the misery of the home team, some good inter-play soon after saw Derek Boyce double the away team’s advantage.
To their credit the All Blacks kept plugging away, and with Mark Corish winning a lot of ball in the midfield area they were asking questions of the Rosslare rearguard.
But things got worse for the home team when on 30 minutes the impressive Meyler got on the end of a well-worked move to put his team 3-0 up at the break.
The second-half saw the Blacks quickest out of the blocks but they found time, space and chances hard to come by as they entered the last third, as the impressive Rosslare defence comfortably dealt with the pressure early on.
Within five minutes of the second-half, Rosslare had the ball in the net for the fourth time as Adrian Meyler scored his second following some excellent buildup play.
To their credit, not one All Blacks player dropped the head, not even when Meyler completed his hat-trick shortly after to make it 5-0, and literally one minute later it was six as Meyler added a fourth to cap off a memorable performance.
But the scoring wasn’t finished just yet, as the All Blacks got their consolation goal which was well merited. An Alan Goldsmith strike from the edge of the area somehow found its way through a crowded box and nestled in the corner past the despairing dive of Willie Halligan in the Rosslare goal.
It was a tough night for the home team, but one has to give them credit for their approach and attitude to the game, and surely a favourable result can’t be too far away.
Group A: St. Leonards 1, Duncannon 1; Taghmon United 2, Ross Celtic 4; Corach Ramblers 1, Campile United 1.
Group B: Kilmore United 0, Forth Celtic 3; All Blacks 1, Rosslare Rangers 6; Fastnet Rovers 1, Shamrock Rovers 2.
Fixtures (Friday, June 8, 7.30 p.m.) - Group A: Duncannon v. Campile United; Corach Ramblers v. Ross Celtic; Taghmon United v. St. Leonards (Saturday).
Group B: Rosslare Rangers v. Forth Celtic; Shamrock Rovers v. Kilmore United; Fastnet Rovers v. All Blacks.