Newtown celebrate with Heffernan Shield
Doyle hat-trick helps Newtown to comfortable victory
NEWTOWN UNITED 4 ASHFORD ROVERS 1
WICKLOW CUP champions Newtown United claimed the first silverware of the new football season as they defeated last year’s league champions Ashford Rovers 4-1 in the Tommy Heffernan Charity Shield on Friday night.
Substitute Shane Doyle bagged an impressive hat-trick before Dillon Carthy netted the fourth. Danny Byrne did nod in an injury time goal for Rovers but it was nothing more than a consolation.
In what was a slow paced game, neither side was quick out of the blocks, with the ball up in the air a lot in the early stages.
There was very little clear cut chances early on, with the most notable being a free kick for Newtown from 20 yards out, a very good opportunity. Dillon Carthy took it, but drilled it straight into the wall.
Mick Taylor then made a great tackle to prevent Carthy getting through for a one on one with Ashford keeper Cathal Moody.
Both defences were commanding, with many no nonsense clearances, leaving keepers Turner and Moody untroubled.
Twenty minutes in, and Ashford had a good chance to take the lead, a scramble in the box after a corner caused Newtown defenders some trouble, before the ball landed in Jack Geraghty’s path, but his half volley was straight at Turner.
Neither side was grabbing a foot hold in the game, particularly in the attacking department, as both pairs of centre halves were cleaning up efficiently. Both sides were also giving away possession too easily in the centre of the park.
Newtown were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position on the left wing as the clock hit 37 min- utes. Dillon Carthy whipped in a wicked cross into the danger zone.
Shane Doyle leapt highest to nod the ball past Cathal Moody to get the breakthrough goal.
Two minutes later and they had a chance to make it two, as Doyle and Carthy linked up again this time the scorer became the provider as Doyle showed good work down the left to lay the ball off to the number 11, but his shot was well parried away by Moody.
Referee David Jameson blew for half time and it was Newtown who had the advantage at the break. Ashford weren’t really looking like they could get back into the game.
Newtown continued to create the bigger chances, two minutes after the interval, and again sub- stitute Doyle had a huge chance. He was putting in a really good shift after replacing the injured Matthew Kennedy.
A mix up by goalkeeper Moody left Doyle one on one with Ashford midfielder Karl Earls, but Earls did well to clear off the line.
There were a lot of rash challenges going in with Jameson a busy man in the middle as he dished out seven yellow cards.
The cup champions extended their lead on 52 minutes as Shane Doyle bagged his second. His original shot was blocked by Mick Taylor but he eventually rolled the ball into the far bottom corner.
Dillon Carthy dropped into midfield in the second half and was very effective, showing some nice touches and playing some lovely passes up towards the attackers.
Five minutes after Newtown’s second, Doyle claimed the match ball. Martin Williams, who also came on in the first period, showed some good play down the right who played a ball across the box into the path of Doyle.
He showed great composure to beautifully place the ball into the top right bracket.
Newtown got their third goal in nine minutes to rub more salt into Ashford’s wounds, this time Carthy himself got in on the act.
Dean Odlum played the ball through to Carthy who then beat sub goalkeeper Ross Hamilton with a smart finish.
Ashford were struggling to get forward and to develop anything promising.
They also struggled defensively to cope with the attacking threat of Newtown, particularly the fresh legs of Doyle and Odlum.
They were fluffing a lot of their lines, failing to string numerous passes together. They will have to improve big time if they’re to repeat last year’s success.
The Newtown men were always in front of their opponents and won the ball back easier than they expected.
Ashford’s Anto Byrne had a speculative effort from range on 72 minutes which did make Ken Turner scramble to his right but he did well to turn it past the post.
Ashford were dealt another blow to an already miserable night at Whitegates as Anto Byrne was given his marching orders by referee Jameson.
His last ditch challenge on Shane Doyle was deemed as a bookable offence by the man in the middle, as he’d already been booked for a very late challenge in the first half, he was shown the red.
Newtown did have a chance to make it a fifth a minute from time as Dean Odlum beat the offside trap to leave him with only Hamilton to beat, but his lob was just over the crossbar.
But it was Ashford who scored a consolation goal as Danny Byrne headed in a Brendan Manning in-swinging corner in added time.
In the end it was an impressive victory for Newtown who definitely have more in the tank.
As for Ashford, a disappointing performance who will want a vast improvement for the opening games of the coming season.
NEWTOWN UNITED: Ken Turner, Glenn Carthy, Neilly Martin, PJ Dowling, Ross Davis, Matthew Kennedy, Sean Heffernan, Oisin Greenan, Aaron Byrne, Evan Moran, Dillon Carthy. Subs: Shane Doyle for Kennedy (26 mins, inj); Martin Williams for Heffernan (33 mins, inj); Dean Odlum for Byrne (HT); Brandon Fiely for G Carthy (52 mins); Conor Odlum for Greenan (70 mins).
ASHFORD ROVERS: Cathal Moody, Jamie Byrne, Andy Earls, Brian Coen, Mick Taylor, Karl Earls, Brendan Manning, Evan Dunne, Danny Byrne, Anto Byrne, Jack Geraghty. Subs: Finn Brooks for Dunne (58 mins); Ross Hamilton for Moody (58 mins); Ruadhan Fallon Verbruggen for J Byrne (62 mins); Kian Marah for K Earls (67 mins); Nathan Doyle for Geraghty (70 mins). REFEREE: David Jameson