Resolute visitors keep the Boys out

DROGHEDA BOYS ARKLOW TOWN

IT ended honours even between the Drogheda Boys and Arklow Town Under-15 Major teams on Saturday afternoon as the DDSL season resumed after its mini summer break.

The playing surface at Rathmullen has benefited from some wonderful work by the committee and groundsman and indeed the coaching team from Tottenham Hotspur who were over in July were hugely impressed with the quality of the pitch.

Playing into the school end against a stiff breeze, Drogheda Boys started well, with Alan Beattie, Cailun Hodgins and Bradley Abedeen working hard to prevent the Arklow midfield settling down.

When they got possession they tended to move it out to Frank McClean on the left who was putting the Arklow right-back under tremendous pressure. Mid-way through the first half McClean broke down the flank and whipped a ball in from the right, only for the Arklow defence to clear under tremendous pressure from Aaron Lawler.

David Chuobocinski on the right was linking well with Abedeen and after a quick one-two the latter

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broke down the wing to send the ball across the goal, only for it to slide behind the onrushing Drogheda forwards.

It wasn’t all going Drogheda’s way and the Arklow midfield were combining well, but the Boys defence was well marshalled by Peter Meegan, supported by Cole Everett, Sean Collier and Taju Adigun.

The second half saw Drogheda have the benefit of the stiff breeze and a long clearance from Jonathon Clear almost caught the Arklow keeper out of position, but he managed to readjust and comfortably deal with the kick.

On 55 minutes Escosa Omoregbe broke from midfield and ran into space just outside the box to unleash a powerful shot that the keeper had to push over the bar for a corner. This led to Drogheda upping the pressure and in the last 10 minutes they dominated the play, resulting in two corners and a free on the edge of the box.

However the Arklow defence were in no mood to concede and managed to keep Drogheda out, ensuring they made the long trip home to Wicklow with some reward for their efforts. DROGHEDA BOYS: Jonathon Clear, Taju Adigun, Ewan Sweeney, Peter Meegan, Sean Collier, Alan Beattie, Bradley Abedeen, Cailum Hodgins, Dawid Chuobocinski, Aaron Lawler, Frank McClean, Escosa Omoregbe, Cole Everett.

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