IRISH ADVENTURE
All the action and fallout from England C’s defeat in the Republic of Ireland last Sunday
PAUL FAIRCLOUGH isn’t writing off any of England C’s latest caps after they slipped to a frustrating defeat to Republic of Ireland Amateurs.
Fairclough’s squad for the trip to Dublin had an average age of just 20 and, in truth, they were undone by the streetwise Irish, who were fielding an open-age side.
Twice Non-League’s Three Lions hauled themselves back into the game after falling behind.
But there wasn’t to be a third comeback after Eoin Hayes slotted Ireland ahead with nine minutes remaining before putting the game out of reach five minutes later.
It marked a tricky afternoon at Home Farm for England C, who featured 11 debutants but couldn’t get a real foothold in the game.
“It would be remiss of me to make too many judgements on the performance,” Fairclough said. “At the end of the day, we gave away a goal. We got back in the game, which was fair play to the lads. Then we conceded horrendously from the kick-off, which for me was down to not knowing each other well enough.
“We changed it around. Tom Walker scored the goal of the game but sadly we lost the game in the last ten minutes.
“I’m not going to write off any of those players because of that result and performance. It would be wrong for me to do that.
“England C is not just – in these type of games – all about winning. It’s about performance. It’s very difficult to judge players in these type of games because the opposition are about winning at all costs.
“I take pride in helping, albeit a very little bit, the clubs help their players reach their potential. I’m not disillusioned, it’s a small part England C plays but I’d like to think the part we give has got real value.
“This time that may not have happened with the game but I’m confident they got real value from being away with us and the training.”
When Walker smashed in a second equaliser it looked like Fairclough’s side could go on and win it.
Dagenham & Redbridge Luke Pennell, who had a good game, had scored the first leveller towards the
“I’M NOT GOING TO WRITE OFF ANY OF THESE PLAYERS BECAUSE OF THAT RESULT AND PERFORMANCE. IT WOULD BE WRONG TO DO THAT”
end of the first half with a looping header from Ky Marsh-Brown’s clip into the box.
Shane Stritch had put Ireland ahead just 15 minutes in and it was impossible not to feel for England keeper Tom McHale as the ball skidded across the sodden surface and slipped through his grasp and over the line.
Pennell’s goal would hopefully prove to be a platform for the second period but inside 60 seconds they were behind again.
A quick free-kick was played down the side of England’s wall where Paul Murphy hit a bobbling shot across his body into the bottom corner.
Walker’s goal was a thing of beauty. The Salford City man has played in the
Championship for Bolton Wanderers and quality oozed through his leftfooted strike.
Drifting off the left flank, he set off towards goal before hitting an unstoppable shot that swerved into the top corner.
But an inspired substitution wrapped it up for Ireland. Hayes hopped off the bench to tuck in a third from Adam Foley’s cut-back before some excellent interplay set him free for a cool fourth.
Alex Brown, the Sheffield FC defender and only player in the England C side from below Steps 1 and 2, was denied the chance to cut the lead with a strong shot in the box but it was a day for the boys in green.