Town turn the tide
Wicklow fight back from 3-1 down to beat St Patrick’s
at Finlay Park WICKLOW TOWN ST PATRICK’S 4 3
WICKLOW Town hosted St Pat’s on Sunday morning in what turned out to be an incredibly competitive league fixture between the two sides in Division 1B.
With Wicklow Town having played just four games this season they sat comfortably in seventh place with three games in hand over their league rivals St Pat’s, who were flying this season and sitting in third place.
Both teams started the game very competitively with some tough challenges straight from kick-off.
Wicklow Town looked the most likely to score first, on a couple of occasions striker Paddy Murphy found himself in some great positions but his team mates failed to pick him out.
Town were lacking that last killer pass to make their oppositions pay for some sloppy defending around their penalty area.
St Pat’s scored the first goal of the game totally against the run of play in the 12th minute.
The away side had hardly threatened their opponent’s goal from the start of the game but were clinical in front of goal when they got their chance.
Midfielder Paddy Kennedy picked out Adam Browne who had made a run towards the centre of the penalty area, Browne stretched and connected perfectly first time with the ball to place it past Wicklow Town keeper Ian Murphy.
The home side reacted in the best way possible and grabbed an equaliser in the 14th minute, just a couple of minutes after going a goal down.
A quick throw between Jack Cearthy and Jack Kelly resulted in Kelly having time and space to whip a cross to the back post where Paddy Murphy went unchallenged to nod the ball into the corner of the net.
Both teams had numerous opportunities to go ahead midway through the first half, but neither team managed to find the back of the net.
Wicklow Town’s best opportunity fell to Jack Cearthy in the 31st minute when he received a great ball that was squared across the box from Jack Kelly, but Cearthy didn’t connect properly with the ball, which meant an easy save for keeper Jason Porter.
Whilst Pat’s were knocking on the door throughout the second half, they just didn’t manage to capitalise. Adam Browne went close on a couple of occasions but just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Just on the stroke of half-time referee Carl Doyle pointed to the penalty spot after Wicklow Town defender John Connors took down Andy Doyle in the area.
Paddy Kennedy slotted the ball into the right corner of the net to give his side the lead oi the 43rd minute.
Wicklow Town had majority of the possession in the opening ten minutes of the second-half but still just couldn’t find that final ball to give them a chance in on goal.
Paddy Murphy had a great chance on the 49th minute when he only had one defender to beat before going one on one with the Pat’s keeper, Murphy had Eddie Cearthy to his right side but failed to pass in time and Cearthy lost possession just before he had a chance to shoot.
Pat’s added another goal to the score sheet in the 70th minute after some great combination play between Adam Browne and Paddy Kennedy.
Browne gained possession on the edge of the box and pulled the ball back to Kennedy who shot first time to make it 3-1.
Great play between the striker and midfielder to give their side a two-goal lead.
Wicklow had no choice but to put more men forward to try and get something out of the game. Jack Kelly grabbed a goal back to make it 3-2 in the 78th minute when he was first to react to an un-cleared corner and volleyed the ball home to give his side some hope going into the last ten minutes of the game.
Wicklow Town midfielder Richard Murphy headed his side an equalising goal on the 85th minute. Defender Reece Kelly floated a free kick to the centre of the penalty area where Murphy rose above everyone else to nod the ball into the net. The score line was 3-3 going into the last five minutes of the game.
Pat’s were dealt a huge blow moments after the goal when Paul Mc Gann had to leave the field after he got injured going into a 50/50 challenge with Jack Kelly, as Pat’s didn’t travel with more than 11 players they had no available subs which meant they had to continue the last five minutes with only 10 players.
Referee Carl Doyle had no option but to show defender Bradley Moran a red card after the defender used his hand to stop the ball going into the net after a Wicklow Town corner.
Moran was sent off and Pat’s then were left with only nine players on the field.
Richard Murphy stepped up and took the penalty slotting the ball to the keeper’s right and into the corner of the net.
A great comeback from the home side to win 4-3 after being 3-1 down up until the 70th minute.
Town showed great spirit and determination to get back into the game although Pat’s not having any available subs to replace an injured player proved to be very costly for the away side in the end.
Town: 1. Ian Murphy, 2. Brian Sullivan, 3. Luke Purdy, 4. Shane Devlin, 5. John Connors, 6. Richard Murphy, 7. Reece Kelly, 8. Eddie Cearthy, 9. Jack Kelly, 10. Patrick Murphy, 11. Jack Cearthy. Subs: Mark Durragh for John Connors (65min), Rian Dywer for Luke Purdy (75min).
WICKLOW ST.
Patrick’s: 1. Jason Porter, 2. Aaron Tuke, 3. Johnny Arthur, 4. Paul McGann,
5. Chris Arthur, 6. Paddy Kennedy, 7.Anto Doran, 8. Bradley Moran, 9. Adam Browne,
10. Andy Doyle, 11. Wayne Kennedy.
REFEREE:
Carl Doyle.