‘Tie-breaker’ win keeps Boys cup dreams alive
DROGHEDA Boys battled through heavy rain to come out on top in this DDSL Under-15 Fenlon Cup tie in Scribblestown.
These teams had already met twice in the league, with one win apiece, so in many ways this was the tie-breaker, with the prize being progress to the next round of the knockout competition.
Drogheda were grateful to Phoenix who were honourable in agreeing to move this game from the previous weekend, and it was the away side who impressed from the start, showing their composure and using the wet surface to move the ball slickly.
Alan Beattie, playing just in front of the back four, was cutting out any threat from Phoenix coming through the middle. Sam Victory and Taju Adigun were combining well in midfield and moving the ball out to Aaron Lawler and Frank McClean on the wings.
The pressure in the early stages was all from Drogheda and on 14 minutes Taju Adigun swept the ball out to Aaron Lawler on the right and he whipped in a cross which was met by Fola Oki.
And while the keeper saved the initial header, Fola followed up with the rebound header - 1-0.
Drogheda were relentless and continued to win the midfield battles and on 28 minutes a slick move saw Taju slip the ball through to Fola Oki in the penalty area and he brushed off the Phoenix centre half to calmly slot the ball down to the keeper’s left.
Drogheda were in total control and four minutes later they got a free about 25 yards from goal and up stepped Sam Victory who whipped a dipping shot over the Phoenix keeper into the top right corner - 3-0.
The early part of the second half saw Phoenix take a grip of the game, with Drogheda dropping back and ceding space in front of them.
That approach was to cost them on 42 minutes when Phoenix played the ball into the area and Drogheda were caught flat-footed, allowing the home side to pull a goal back.
Naturally, that gave the home side some hope, but it was also a wake-up call for Drogheda and they duly tightened up, with the defence of Dipo Dele, Ewan Sweeney, Sean Collier and Bradley Abedeen closing down Phoenix any time they came near to their goal.
There was a pivotal moment in the game on 55 minutes when Phoenix attacked in force and were camped on the edge of the penalty area. However, Droghe- da’s midfield and defence blocked and harried their opponents and showed true grit in shutting the door firmly shut.
Drogheda relieved the pressure on that occasion and while Phoenix continued to press, the Boynesiders were to finish the tie playing composed football and they came off the pitch oblivious to the downpour, having secured the win.
Jonathon Clear, Aaron Lawler, Oladipo Dele, Frank McClean, Taju Adigun, Sam Victory, Ewan Sweeney, Alan Beattie, Bradley Abedeen, Cian King, Sean Collier. Fola Oki, Luke Caffrey, Eseosa Omoregbe, William McSweeney.