Glens topple Ardee to stay in title hunt
GLENMUIR scuppered the visitors hopes of moving clear on their own at the top of the under-14 premier division with this decisive win spearheaded by Jesse Nwabueze with a hat-trick at a freezing Glenmuir Park. The result lifted the winners into fourth place within three points of the losers and other joint leaders Rock Celtic in a tightly packed top four.
The winners made a dream start with Mayowa Animasahun heading them in front inside the first few minutes , and kept the pressure on the Ardonians who could have fallen further behind.
Instead Ardee drew level when Joshua Ekperouh in the home goal in trying to push over the crossbar a long range free kick by Harry Butterly only succeeded in shoving it into his own net inside the post.
Glenmuir continued to have the better of the play with Davey Tabona a sturdy presence in the Ardee defence making a vital interception to halt Robbie Duffy. Finn Kelly was also a strong performer in the visitors defence.
Adam Farrell created an opening at the other end , blocking a clearance to try and attempted to lob the home goalkeeper, but Duffy came close shooting across the visitors goal and Halpenny did well to turn Kelly Okobi’s free kick from the edge of the 18 yard over his crossbar.
Ardee striker David Doyle’s pace and strength caused much bother for the Glenmuir defence, but Okobi and Emmanual Adegboyela worked an opening inside the visitors defence and a frantic melee resulted in the goalmouth which ended with an attempted clearance rebounding off Jesse Nwabueze into the net three minutes from the break.
Psychologically it was a very damaging to Ardee and they never recovered as Glenmuir straight away in the second half sought to press home their advantage. Ben Clarke cleared off his goal line following a corner kick.
Then from another corner kick the result was effectively settled when goalkeeper Shane Halpenny left his line to claim the ball in the air but he slapped it to the ground. Jesse Nwabueze as quick as a flash pounced to drill a shot low through the crowded goalmouth into the net after 15 minutes.
Five minutes later he completed his hat-trick and removed any doubt regarding the outcome, rounding off a brilliant sweeping move. A pass out of defence by Abraham Couaciu sent Duffy free down the right wing and the latter’s pinpoint low cross was turned into the inviting goal from a matter of yards by Nwabueze at the far post.
Glenmuir could easily have further stretched their winning margin with Nwabueze really orchestrating the play now, and a brilliant slide rule pass by him resulted in Benas Luko striking the angle of the post and crossbar. GLENMUIR: Joshua Ekperouh, Jimmy Farrell, Mayowa Animasahun , Abraham Couaciu, Kelly Okobi, Emmanuel Adeboyela, Noah Aigbodiou, Jake Cunningham, Harry Graham, Robbie Duffy, Jesse Nwabueze, Junior Shotayo, Benas Luko, Lesily Egaghe, Niall Gallagher. Manager Tunde Animasahun.
ARDEE: Shane Halpenny, Conor McNally, Davey Tabona, Finn Kelly, Christopher Woods, Harry Butterly, Tom Matthews, Tony Francis, Adam Farrell, Ciaran McConachy, David Doyle, Ben Clarke, Trevor Kelly, Trevor Farrell, Kamil Bose. Managers, Andrew Woods, Pauline Breslin and Ross Gaynor.