PORTER SAVES DAY
Goalkeeper in brilliant form as Avonmore sink Saints
GOALKEEPER Jason Porter emerged as a heroic figure as newcomers Avonmore recorded their second win on the trot in the Premier Division of the Wicklow League, at Fassaroe, on Friday night.
On the back of his side’s 5-1 win over Newtown in their opening tie, Porter pulled off a string of outstanding saves and the notable quality of his performance played a massive part in the Rathdrum outfit’s victory over the home side.
In terms of the creation of scoring opportunities over the 90 minutes, St Peter’s enjoyed a clear edge against their opponents, who won all their games in last season’s Division One to earn promotion to the top flight, and for whom Paddy Kennedy proved to be the match-winner with his second half strike.
But the Bray side just found it impossible to force the ball past the visitors’ goalkeeper whose display must have proven a massive positive influence to his outfield teammates.
As early as the 11th minute, Porter was called into action when he comfortably dealt with a delivery from St Peter’s attacker Darren Lacey, and seven minutes later the Avonmore netminder dived full length to deflect a powerfully struck shot by the same player out for a corner which proved to be fruitless.
Just before half-time, the Avonmore goalkeeper kept out a free kick from St Peter’s midfielder Jamie Kelly, and five minutes into the second half Porter once more thwarted Lacey from finding the net. And on 78 minutes, the visiting No 1 again prevented the home side from equalising when he dived full length to keep out a stinging effort from Danny Byrne at the expense of a corner.
Understandably, Avonmore manager Paddy Broughan was full of praise for the massive contribution made by Porter to his side’s victory over opponents, who had won their opening two league ties against St Anthony’s and Ashford by respective 4-1 and 6-3 margins.
“Jason gave a really excellent performance tonight and it gave a tremendous lift to all the other lads on the team, and it was a major factor in our winning of the game” enthused Broughan after the final whistle.
“St Peter’s created a good number of decent scoring chances, but it must have been very frustrating for them that Jason proved more than equal to any of the shots that they fired against him.
“In this league, Peter’s team are the team to beat and they play great football, so the win is very encouraging for us for the matches ahead especially as we’ve just come up from Division One.
“But at the same time, we’ll be keeping our feet on the ground and not allowing ourselves to get carried away, as at the end of the day it’s only three points and there’s a long way to go in the league,” added the Avonmore boss.
In the wake of Porter pulling off two of his excellent saves in the early stages of the game, St Peter’s Jake Kane set up Byrne down the left wing on 20 minutes, but the latter’s cross across the goalmouth sailed harmlessly out of play on the right touchline before a teammate could latch on to it.
Almost immediately, a pacey run by the pacey and energetic Kelly left a number of Avonmore opponents trailing in his wake, but the St Peter’s midfielder was eventually dispossessed before he could get in a shot on goal.
On 28 minutes, Porter dealt capably with a speculative effort from Kelly, and almost immediately it was the turn of the home side to underline their defensive capabilities when Dean Fletcher rushed back to avert a dangerous situation.
Eleven minutes before half-time, St Peter’s Lacey headed wide following a free kick, and three minutes later the Avonmore goal had a narrow escape when the same player, after being up by Byrne, saw his searing delivery crash back into play off the right upright.
Just before the interval, Avonmore provided themselves with a boost for the second half, when they forced their first corner and this was quickly followed by another corner.
But the home defence dealt capably with both deliveries into the box, leaving the game still without a goal as the sides took a five minute break.
On the restart, St Peter’s ‘keeper Niall Vaughan dealt capably with a free kick from Cian O Hainin, and then the action switched quickly to the other end of the pitch where Porter once more thwarted Lacey’s attempt to find the net.
But on 62 minutes the stalemate was broken when following a cross from O Hainin on the right side of the field, Kennedy rifled a low shot past goalkeeper Vaughan to give Avonmore the lead.
Eight minutes later, a spectacular overhead effort from centre half Mick Taylor, following a cross from the right wing by Noel Stephenson, came close to equalising the game for St Peter’s.
And with time almost up, a free kick by St Peter’s sub Chad Ryan was comfortably gathered by Porter.
Commenting on the game, St Peter’s boss Shane Greene said: “Their ‘keeper made a number of outstanding saves, and sometimes in games you don’t get what you deserve.
“It’s disappointing to drop the two points, but I could find no fault with the lads as they put in a tremendous effort over the 90 minutes.”
AVONMORE: Jason Porter; Eugene Dunne, Fiachra Ryan, Zach Cullen, James Byrne, Caelum Broughan, Mark Cullen, Adam Tuke, Paddy Kennedy, Cian O Hainin, Paudie O’Toole.
ST PETER’S: Niall Vaughan; Noel Stephenson, Dean Fletcher, Mick Taylor, Jordan Conroy, Jake Kane, Jamie Kelly, Tony Harris, Shane McDermott, Darren Lacey, Danny Byrne.