Crescent in fine shape for title bid

DROGHEDA MARSH CRES 1 ASHBOURNE UNITED 0

DROGHEDA Marsh Crescent will secure the NDSL Under16B title if they defeat Castleknock Celtic at home this Thursday, following this narrow victory over Ashbourne on Sunday afternoon.

The result dealt a severe blow to Ashbourne’s own chances of finishing top and came after the Meath side had previously defeated the Drogheda side in the cup semifinal and league earlier in the season.

It proved to be a tightly contested game and in the first half there were precious few chances, with Crescent keeper Cian McCormack called on to make one fine save to keep the scoresheet blank.

Drogheda were more threatening in the second period and the all-important goal stemmed from an Aaron Dyas corner kick which was swept high into the box and finished off by Padraig Donnelly with his knee from close range.

However, Crescent’s failure to conjure a second goal nearly cost them dearly three minutes into added time as they were saved by man-of-thematch Adam ‘Terrier’ Gorman’s goal-line clearance.

Kick-off against Castleknock at the Drogheda Grammar School grounds is 6.45pm.

DROGHEDA MARSH CRES squad: Cian Mc Cormack, Padraig Donnelly, Ousmane Meite, Adam Gorman, Reece Levins, Simba Wekare, Johnathon Eccles, Rhys Nugent, Roy Rodgers, Nico Moore, Sam O’Connell, Darragh Leslie, Jamie Brennan, Conor Haggins, Aaron Dyas. Managers: Martin Donnelly, Frank Dyas.