Saints hit Mapgies for six

O’Neill shines as Peter’s prove too strong for Newtown

ST. PETER’S 6 NEWTOWN UTD 0

FOUR goals from Lewi O’Neill and a hat-trick of assists from Jake Kane helped a ravenous St. Peter’s to a 6-0 victory over Newtown United A in the WDFL Premier Division clash at Fassaroe last weekend.

The sun was splitting the stones on Sunday morning as the two sides faced off against each other in the Fassaroe Community Centre, St. Peter’s coming into the match looking to add pressure on league leaders St. Anthony’s, while Newtown are struggling somewhat this season in the top flight, currently sitting second from bottom with two wins from 11 outings.

The game started with a flurry of chances, the first coming from Newtown’s Dillon Carthy who skipped past his marker and got his shot away only for Anto Gilligan to save.

The ball was played back into the box and was met by Daire Killen’s head who placed the ball just over the crossbar.

St. Peter’s started to get on top and had two meaningful attempts, firstly from Simon Doyle who sliced it just wide, then from Kane who latched onto a cross from Rian Greene, but he couldn’t direct his header goalwards.

The deadlock was finally broken on 17 minutes after Gilligan sent a long ball into Newtown territory.

It was headed back by a Newtown player; Kane took possession and gave a cute ball to his teammate O’Neill who, with just the keeper to beat, poked it home.

O’Neill had another chance five minutes later. He brought the ball to the endline, skipped a would-be tackler, and stroked the ball into the side-netting.

At the end of the half Newtown had a chance to level things through an opportunity from right-back Sean Gregory, but his shot sailed just over, leaving Peter’s leading at halftime, 1-0.

The second half started with the first chance coming United’s way, from Brandon Feely, but his shot hit the side netting.

On the 53rd minute St. Peter’s doubled their lead. Dylan Fitzpatrick gave a brilliant through ball to Kane, the striker laid it off to Zach Ryan who was unmarked, and the winger finished with power.

Three minutes later and the St. Peter’s players were off celebrating their third goal, this time from Kane. The striker finished to the net after an O’Neill shot was saved by United goalkeeper Sean Carthy and rebounded perfectly into his path.

It was 15 minutes later that O’Neill grabbed his second goal.

Killian O’Carroll took a shot from outside the box that was blocked and fell kindly back to him. With pressure oncoming, O’Carroll played to the feet of O’Neill on his own just outside the box and he struck the ball with power and direction, the shot cracking off the under of the crossbar.

The home side got their fifth goal of the game with five minutes left to play after Kane flicked the ball into the path of O’Neill who used his brilliant footwork to bring the ball round Carthy and roll it into the empty net, completing his hat-trick in the process.

While Newtown were being well beaten at this point, to their credit, they didn’t give up hope and went looking to grab a goal themselves. Daniel Testa took a hard and low shot from distance only for Gilligan to save and gather well, maintaining his clean sheet.

In the 88th minute O’Neill got his fourth goal. This time a long low ball from O’Carroll was played into his path and, like his hat-trick goal, he went round the keeper and finished to an empty net giving St. Peter’s a 6-0 win and hope for the last three rounds left to play.

The result leaves the Bray side five points off the top of the Premier division, while Newtown stay second from bottom on six points.

ST. PETER’S: Anto Gilligan; Nicky Griffin, Dean Fletcher, Davy Berry, Rian Greene; Simon Doyle, Dylan Killian O’Carroll, Dylan Fitzpatrick; Zach Ryan, Jake Kane, Lewi O’Neill. Subs: Shane Doyle for N. Griffin (57), Wayne Nelson for D. Fitzpatrick (62).

NEWTOWN UNITED: Sean Carthy; Sean Gregory, Dean Taylor, Brandon Feely, Daniel Testa; Terry Murphy, Drew Armstrong, Ross Davis, Dillon Carthy; Daire Killen, Aaron Toner. Subs: Mark O’Brien for S. Gregory (62), Adam Longmore for D. Taylor (74), Jack Coughlan for R. Davis (84).

REFEREE: Dominique Lachaussee