Spectacular strikes win Greystones derby
at Woodlands GREYSTONES UNITED 2 SPORTING GREYSTONES 0
TWO spectacular long-range goals from Alex Goff and Freddie Packman proved the difference between the sides as Greystones edged this hard-fought Wicklow Schoolboys’ League Under-12 local derby at Woodlands on Saturday morning.
After a scoreless first 49 minutes, Goff, playing at left-back, picked up a clearance from the Sporting defence, made some ground and then unleashed a glorious delivery from about 25 yards over the head of goalkeeper Tom Kearney into the net.
And three minutes from time, Packman, operating at right-back, brushed past two Sporting opponents in a penetrating run, and similar to Goff, struck the ball perfectly to leave goalkeeper Kearney helpless from roughly the same distance as his teammate.
Shortly after Goff’s opening goal, Sporting were desperately unlucky not to equalise when after a shot by Daniel Burns was saved by Greystones goalkeeper Nico Stewart, Sporting’s Tom O’Connor’s brilliant header rebounded back into play off the crossbar.
And with eight minutes left the Greystones defence had another lucky escape when a corner from the right wing by Sporting’s Finn Larkin hung invitingly in the goalmouth before eventually going harmlessly out of play on the other side of the field.
Almost immediately, Tom O’Connor had a shot saved by goalkeeper Stewart, who was the epitome of confidence and alertness throughout the contest, and then Sporting, who were only set up last year, were left with a mountain to climb when Packman was on target for the opposition so close to the final whistle.
In the first half, Greystones had made the better start to the game and the amount of pressure they were exerting was illustrated by the fact that they forced three corners in quick succession around the 10th minute. And on 12 minutes a fine effort by Alex Goff just cleared the Sporting crossbar.
But gradually Sporting began to make a favourable impression and following a cross by Kian Murray, Tom O’Connor made excellent contact with the ball with his head, only for goalkeeper Stewart to pull off a fine save.
And on 18 minutes Tom O’Connor forced another save from the Greystones netminder, with the next scoring chance arriving just before half-time when Tom McCarthy shot just narrowly wide for the eventual winners.
Assessing his team’s performance, Greystones manager Geoff Tucker said: “Overall it was a tough game for the lads to play. The defensive performance that we put in to come away with a clean sheet was really strong and particularly the performance from our goalkeeper (Nico Stewart), and, as well, our back three did really really well today.
“I thought that Sporting were really strong and they’ve come on a lot despite the fact that they are only six or nine months in existence. And we played them earlier on in the season and we beat them well. But they’re certainly a team that will be able to get results against other teams.
“We’ve played six games so far – we got a bye in one of them – and we’ve got a good chance against Avonmore and Coolboy who are currently at the top of the League.
“At the moment, we’re third in the League table but we have a couple of games in hand and that’s against Avonmore and Coolboy.
“And the performance that the lads put in today makes me optimistic that we have a good chance of matching Avonmore and Coolboy when we play them.”
Sporting manager Brian Larkin felt his side were very unlucky not to score at least one goal.
“With the quality of our play, we created a lot of good chances but unfortunately their ‘keeper was in very good form and made a number of excellent saves,” he remarked.
“As well as that, we were also very unlucky when we struck the crossbar in the second half.
“Obviously it’s disappointing to drop the two points, but I can have nothing but praise for the effort and commitment that the lads put into their play.
“Even when we went two goals down, they never dropped their heads and kept battling on right to the final whistle.”
Nico Stewart, Freddie Packman, Federico Ascoli, Cian Howard, Charlie Keogh, Tom McCarthy, Max Moody, Emmet O Broin, Tom O’Mahony. Subs: Alex Goff, Darragh Tucker.
GREYSTONES: SPORTING GREYSTONES;
Tom Kearney, Charlie Farrell, Daniel Burns, Finn Baxter, Charlie Grogan, Finn Larkin, Tom O’Connor, Colm O’Neill, Kian Murray. Sub: Ellis Kearney.
St Anthony’s Kilcoole United FC A v Aughrim Rangers, Dermot Wheeler Park; Ashford Rover U-11A v Roundwood AFC, Ballinalea Park.
Avonmore FC A v Arklow United, Tullylusk; Greystones United AFC A v St Patrick’s AFC, Woodlands.
Spor ting Greystones FC v Glencormac United, St Laurence’s National School; Greystones United AFC B v Ashford Rovers, Woodlands.
U-12 Division A1: U-12 Division A2: U-13 SFAI Skechers Cup first round:
Naas United v Enniskerry FC, 12.30 p.m., Monread; Edenderry Town v Glencormac United, 12.30 p.m., Paddy Maloney Park. U-14 SFAI Skechers Cup first round: Naas AFC v Ashford Rovers, 12.30 p.m., Naas Spor ts Centre; Beechwood FC 1 v Aughrim Rangers, 12.45 p.m., Royal Hospital; Tullamore Town v Wicklow Rovers, 12.30 p.m., Leah Victoria Park.
Arklow Town v Wicklow Rovers B, Bridgewater Centre; Roundwood AFC v Coolboy Rangers, Vartry Ground.
U-14 Division A1: U-16 SFAI Skechers Cup first round:
Clane United AFC v Wicklow Rovers, 12.30 p.m., Doctors Road; Prosperous United v Arklow Celtic, 12 noon, Ballinafagh.
Wicklow Town AFC U-16 v Coolboy Rangers U-15, Finlay Park.
U-15/U-16 Choice Media Bowl 1:
Roundwood AFC U-15 v Wicklow Rovers U-16, Vartry Grounds.
U-15/U-16 Choice Media Bowl 2: Sunday, September 16 U-8 A1:
St Anthony’s Kilcoole United FC Green v Arklow Town, Dermot Wheeler Park; Enniskerry FC v Wicklow Rovers Green, Bog Meadow. U-11 Champions League 1 Group 3: Wicklow Rovers U-10 v Wicklow Rovers Green, Rocky Road; Coolboy Rangers Maroon v Wolfe Tone YC, Coolboy Community Spor tsfield.
U-11 Champions League 2 Group 2:
Newtown Juniors v Enniskerry FC White, Community Grounds; WDSL Academy v Rathnew AFC, 2 p.m., Ferndale Park.
U-11 Champions League 2 Group 3:
Ashford Rovers Yellow v Wicklow Town AFC, Ballinalea Park; Greystones United AFC D v Spor ting Greystones FC Black, Woodlands.
Arklow United Stripes v Glencormac United, Ferndale Park; Carnew AFC v Roundwood AFC, Back Alley.
U-11 Champions League 1 Group 4: U-11 Champions League 2 Group 4:
Aughrim Rangers v Greystones United, Allen Park; Coolboy Rangers White v Roundwood AFC Blue, Coolboy Community Spor tsfield.
U-13 SFAI Skechers Cup first round:
Arklow Town v Clara Town, 12 noon, Bridgewater Centre Park.
Arklow United v Carnew AFC, Ferndale Park; Rathnew AFC v Arklow Town, Shamrock Park; Greystones United AFC A v Coolboy Rangers, Woodlands.
U-13 MPGM Premier League A1: U-14 Wicklow Office Supplies Premier Division:
Greystones United AFC v Rathnew AFC, Woodlands; Glencormac United v Carnew AFC, Ryder’s Field; Ashford Rovers v Wicklow Rovers A, Ballinalea Park.
U-16 SFAI Skechers Cup first round:
Arklow Town v Park Celtic, 2 p.m., Bridgewater Centre Park.