JOY FOR ASHFORD AS EARLS SINKS MAGPIES
ASHFORD ROVERS 2 NEWTOWN UNITED 1
KARL EARLS wrote his name into Ashford Rovers folklore as he was the unlikely scorer of his side’s stoppage time show-stopper.
Rovers trailed with 11 minutes to play but had managed to defend their crown by the time referee Gavin Colfer blew his whistle at full-time.
A disputed penalty seemed to forge a path back into the tie for Rovers in the 79th minute. Captain Danny Byrne saw his effort saved by Lee Fitzpatrick but Mr. Wicklow Cup Finn Brooks followed it up to draw the sides level.
And with extra time looming, a Karl Earls free kick from the left flank sailed directly into the far corner which caused one half of the Carlisle Grounds to explode.
There was barely enough time for Newtown United to restart and their young guns were left crestfallen having lead since a late first half effort from Dillon Carthy.
It was a fitting venue and occasion for the biggest day in the Wicklow League’s calendar and in the end; a fitting finale.
The Magpies were looking to end three years of hurt in the county’s blue riband competition whilst the men from Ballinalea wanted to retain the trophy and win it for the second time in their history by doing so.
It was Rovers that seemed to leave the nerves in the dressing room as they bit into everything from the first whistle. A rare mistake from United captain Matthew Kennedy saw Earls toss the ball forward to Jamie Kelly and he used his body well to buy himself an inch. He got his shot away but he was denied by Lee Fitzpatrick.
Kelly then left two Newtown men for dead on the left flank with a delicious pirouette and his cross to Byrne forced Fitzpatrick into another smart save with only six minutes on the clock.
Karl Earls would eventually play pivotal roles at both ends but it was his defensive work that shone early on. Had he not intercepted a cross from Martin Williams, Ross Davis looked poised for a free shot at goal behind him.
A devilish free kick delivery from Sean Heffernan saw Kennedy throw himself at the ball and although his header had extreme power behind it, it didn’t have the accuracy and it flew wide.
An extremely rare error of judgement from PJ Dowling almost proved costly in the 22nd minute. He was attempting to shield Graham Mooney’s punt over the endline but Kelly managed to sneak in and pinch it but two brave and clever blocks in the penalty area kept Newtown’s clean sheet intact.
Jay Taylor then put a chance on a plate for Brendan Manning. The workhorse escaped down the right flank and squared to the in-rushing whose run hadn’t been tracked. He stroked his trusty left peg at the ball and it was tricking towards the far corner until Fitzpatrick’s right foot managed to divert it away.
It was Newtown’s right winger that carved out the next chance. Williams got beyond Andrew Reilly but he was denied an assist by a brilliant block from Mick Taylor.
There would be a goal before the interval and it fell to Newtown. Williams laid it back to Stephen Davis who played the ball from right to left. Dillon Carthy pursued it and when Earls momentarily slipped, Carthy pounced, dancing past him and prodding past Graham Mooney.
It was the clichéd perfect time to score and United thought they’d landed a killer blow moments later when Kennedy powered home following a scramble from a corner but linesman Michael Kennedy had spotted an infringement and the goal was chalked off.
Clifton Conyard made a change at the break as Dean Mooney was thrown on in place of Reilly; meaning positional changes for Kelly (back into midfield) and Brooks (left-back) and Mooney was an overhit cross from making an instant impact. Jay Taylor sent Byrne free down the right and his cross had Fitzpatrick beaten but sailed over Mooney’s head with the goal gaping.
Newtown had two massive opportunities to catch Rovers on the break and double their lead on 57 and 67 minutes respectively.
Dessie Waters was first to streak clear of the Rovers defence. Graham Mooney was out like a flash though and timed his sliding tackle to perfection to take the ball from him and Waters couldn’t reach the rebound.
Martin Williams went one better than Waters as he managed to negotiate his way past Mooney but before he could plan a celebration, Finn Brooks lunged in and managed to halt Williams.
Rovers were feeding off scraps at this point but some typically dazzling Danny Byrne skills almost lead to a brilliant leveller. He was penned in by two defenders but somehow managed to wriggle free and cut into the penalty area. He tried to find the top corner but Fitzpatrick clawed the curling effort away.
The tie was to change completely in the 79th minute. Newtown, who had defended so bravely and brilliantly for the most part, couldn’t clear their lines and when it was fired back into the penalty area, Gavin Colfer deemed that the ball had struck a Newtown hand.
Byrne went to Fitzpatrick’s right but so did the shot-stopper and he blocked it. But Brooks was first to react and he thrashed it home.
Deep into stoppage time then, Jay Taylor was fouled wide on the left. Some Rovers men went forward, no doubt dreaming of nodding one in whilst others hung back, wary of a possible counter attack. Neither situation would arise though as Earls right-footed cross flew over everyone and rested in the far corner of the net. Newtown fell – the life sucked out of them. Ashford rejoiced and celebrated their wonderful achievement that was achieved in a wonderful way.
Ashford Rovers: 1. Graham Mooney; 2. Karl Earls, 4. Brian Coen, 5. Mick Taylor, 3. Andrew
Reilly; 7. Jason Taylor, 8. Brendan Manning, 6. Shane Dunne, 10. Finn Brooks, 9. Danny Byrne; 11. Jamie Kelly. Subs: Dean Mooney for Reilly (H/T). Not used: Kane O’Shea, Luke Sheridan, Jamie Byrne, Joe Haskins, Conor Brennan, Graham Douglas.
Newtown United: 1. Lee Fitzpatrick; 2. Stephen Davis, 5. Glenn Carthy, 4. PJ Dowling, 3. Neilly Martin; 8. Martin Williams, 6. Matthew Kennedy, 7. Ross Davis, 11. Sean Heffernan; 9. Dessie Waters, 10. Dillon Carthy. Subs: Stuart Synnott for Heffernan (82). Not used: Martin Melia, Oisin Greenan, Richard Franey, Karl Carthy, Mark Fitzsimons, Ryan Cahill, Luke Martin. Referee: Gavin Colfer. Assistants: Jason Redmond and Mick Kennedy. Fourth Official: David Jameson. Venue: Carlisle Grounds, Bray.