Victory secures Boys win

DROGHEDA BOYS PHOENIX

DUE to the imminent introduction of a calendar season, Drogheda Boys Under-15s have been entered into the Under-16 SFAI Cup, but they still made a winning start in the competition last weekend.

It was a dull, overcast morning in Marleys Lane for this fourth clash of the campaign with Phoenix, and from the kick-off the hosts played at a high tempo and moved the ball well.

Phoenix did their best to put Drogheda under pressure, but Alan Beattie and Sam Victory were working well and supporting each other with the simple pass, while the latter didn’t give the opposition midfield trio time on the ball.

Beattie, picking up a loose ball, played his trademark cross-field ball to release Frank McClean on the right wing a number of times and on one occasion McClean, supported by Taju Adigun, got around the full-back to set up the on-rushing Cian King. However, the Phoenix keeper denied him.

On the left-hand side defender Aaron Lawler was linking well with Dawid Chuobocinski to put pressure on the Phoenix backline and a wonderful cameo saw Lawler play a great one-two with Chuobocinski before firing across the six-yard box, only for the Phoenix defence to desperately hack the ball away.

It wasn’t all Drogheda in the first half, though, and on one occasion Phoenix broke through from midfield and fired a shot just over the bar as Peter Meegan did his best to block the effort.

And a couple of minutes later

SFAI Cup 1 0

League: Kells Blackwater v Duleek Utd, TBC.

Drogheda S’children’s Lge

Premier: Duleek Seals v Drogheda T Ravens, 11.15..

Under-13

Premier Div: Albion Black v Drogheda T Eagles, 11.15; Duleek Dynamoes v Duleek Utd, 10.00. Div 1: Drogheda T Phoenix v Drogheda Marsh Cres, 10.00; Albion Green v Square Utd, 10.00; Walshestown v Albion White, 10.00.

Under-12/11 the Phoenix number 10 made space and fired off a cracking longrange shot which looked goalbound, only for keeper Jonathan Clear to push it around the post.

King might not be the tallest centre-forward, but he is a clever one. Wile the Phoenix centre-backs towered over him he was causing them to twist and turn and he was always making space for the supporting Drogheda midfield.

As the game wore on Drogheda’s poise in possession was starting wear down the Phoenix players and on 50 minutes Meegan lent support to the attack and was taken down in the box as he tried to turn - penalty to Drogheda.

Up stepped Victory who slammed the ball to the left of the diving Phoenix keeper for the breakthrough goal.

Phoenix, now playing with three up front, threw everything at Drogheda, but the back four of Bradley Abedeen, Ewan Sweeney, Meegan and Lawler were strong and resolute with their defending.

And when Phoenix did find a way through they were denied by Clear who was on top of his game and comfortably snuffed out any threat.

With the visitors committing so much to attack, gaps were appearing in their defence which were being exploited by McClean, Adigun and Abedeen and a couple of further chances went abegging for Drogheda.

The game ended with Drogheda in the ascendancy and they ran out narrow but deserved winners. DROGHEDA BOYS: Jonathon Clear, Bradley Abedeen, Aaron Lawler, Peter Meegan, Ewan Sweeney, Alan Beattie, Sam Victory, Taju Adigun, Dawid Chuobocinski, Frank McClean, Cian King.

SCHOOLBOY LEAGUE FIXTURE GUIDE

Friendly: Drogheda T Hawks U-12s v Drogheda T Falcons U-11s, 12.15.

Under-11

Amber: Drogheda Marsh Cres v Donacarney Blazers, 10.00; Termonfeckin Green v Boyne Rovers, 10.00; Albion Black v Walshestown Wolves, 12.30; Drogheda T Eagles v Duleek Tigers, 11.15.

Blue: Square Utd Green v Rossin, 10.00; Walshestown Foxes v Albion Green, 11.15; Donacarney Lions v Duleek Celtic, 10.00. Claret: Termonfeckin White v Albion White, 11.00; Donacarney Bears v Walshestown Vikings, 11.00.

Under-9

Red: Albion Black v Donacarney Dingos, 11.30; Walshestown Leopards v Duleek Dragons, 10.00; Boyne Rovers v Square Utd, 11.00. White: Donacarney Wildcats v Walshestown White, 10.00; Duleek Bandits v Albion White, 11.00; Dromin White v Drogheda Boys White, 10.00.

Blue: Drogheda Marsh Cres v Donacarney Dragons, 11.30; Drogheda Boys Blue v Termonfeckin, 11.00.

Under-8

Claret: Square Utd v Dromin, 10.00; Boyne Rovers v Walshestown Cheetahs, 10.00; Albion Green v Drogheda Boys Claret, 10.30.

Blue: Duleek Blue v Donacarney Seals, 10.00; Drogheda Boys Blue v Albion Black, 10.00; Termonfeckin v Walshestown Pumas, 12.00.

Sunday September 24th Under-14

Premier: Drogheda T Eagles v Termonfeckin Green, 10.00; Moneymore v Duleek Boys, 10.00; Termonfeckin Green v Walshestown Dragons, 10.00.

Div 1: Drogheda T Falcons v Square Utd, 11.15; Slane Wdrs v Termonfeckin White, 10.00; Grove Rgrs v Albion Green, 10.00; Rathkenny v Drogheda Marsh Cres, 11.15.

Under-12

Amber: Albion Green v Drogheda T Falcons, 11.15; Grove Rgrs v Drogheda Marsh Cres, 11.15; Boyne Rovers v Duleek Sharks, 10.00. Blue: Boyne Rovers Blue v Albion White, 11.15; Slane Wdrs v Duleek Meteors, 11;15; Walshestown Trojans v Square (new), 10.00. Claret: Rathkenny v Duleek Rockets, 10.00; Albion Black v Drogheda T Eagles, 10.00; Termonfeckin v Square Utd, 11.15.

Under-10

Red: Albion Green v Drogheda T Eagles, 10.00; Grove Rgrs v Termonfeckin Green, 12.30. Claret: Albion Claret v Square Utd Green, 11.00; Duleek Dynamites v Donacarney Colts, 10.00; Walshestown Foxes v Albion Rovers, 11.15. White: Square Utd Red v Donacarney Tigers, 10.00; Duleek Warriors v Albion White, 11.00. Blue: Boyne Rovers Blue v Donacarney Lions, 12.30; Albion Black v Drogheda T Falcons, 12.00; Termonfeckin White v Drogheda Marsh Cres, 12.30; Walshestown Jaguars v Walshestown Wizards, 12.15.

Dundalk S’boy Lge

Premier: Quay Celtic v Ardee Celtic, 7.00.

Saturday September 23rd Under-11

Group 1: Ardee Celtic v Quay Celtic, 10.00. Group 2: Dromin Juv v Bellurgan Ath, 10.00.

Under-13

Premier: Glenmuir Utd v Ardee Celtic, 11.00. Division 1: Ardee Utd v Quay Olympic, 11.00; Rockville v Dromin Utd, 11.00.

Under-15

Premier: Quay Olympic v Ardee Celtic, 12.30; Albion Rovers v Bellurgan Utd, 12.30. Division 1: Walshestown v Grove Rgrs, 12.30; Bellurgan Celtic v Albion Utd, 12.30.

Under-17

League: Muirhevnamor v Ardee Celtic, 2.00; Dromin Juv v Termonfeckin, 2.00.

Sunday September 24th Under-10

Group 1: Glenmuir Utd v Ardee Utd, 10.00; Ardee Celtic v Dromin Juv, 10.00.

Group 3: Rockville v Ardee Ath, 10.00.

Under-12

Premier: Ardee Celtic v Bellurgan Utd, 11.00; Walshestown v Rock Celtic, 11.00. Division 2: Rockville v Ardee Ath, 11.00; Dromin Juv v Redeemer, 11.00.

Under-14

Premier: Ardee Celtic v Rock Celtic, 12.30; Dromin Utd v Shamrocks, 12.30.

Div 1: Blayney Acad v Walshestown, 12.30;