DROGHEDA EDGE THRILLER
STAMULLEN DROGHEDA 3 4
NORTH Dublin League rookies Drogheda Girls Under-12s put in a huge effort and had lady luck on their side as they maintained their 100% record in a very exciting game away to leaders Stamullen at Gormanston College on Sunday.
The home team started brightly and it wasn’t long before they opened their account when a defence-splitting pass was played from half-way and Stamullen’s striker showed great strength by holding off Drogheda’s Aoife O’Neill before finding the net.
Stamullen continued to press and Drogheda defenders O’Neill and Alisha Ajisafe, along with centre midfielder Niamh O’Hart, had to work very hard to keep the score at 1-0.
The momentum shifted when O’Hart and O’Neill started to get more involved in possession and wingers Amy Clarke and Orla O’Neill began to find space in wide areas. This gave striker Grace Martin more opportunities to receive the ball to feet, and it wasn’t long before she gained possession on the edge of the box, took a fantastic first touch and showed a great turn of pace to go clean through before sending the home team’s keeper the wrong way - 1-1.
The introduction mid-way through the first half of Abigail Kierans-Fitzpatrick and Megan Murray saw Drogheda take control for a spell and both girls were heavily involved in creating a number of chances for both Martin and Clarke.
At one stage there was a wonderful passage of play when Ajisafe intercepted a long pass before playing short to Kierans-Fitzpatrick, who combined quickly with Martin and Murray to play Clarke Tuesday December 12th Under-15 Thursday December 14th Under-16 through. The young winger, who gives defenders nightmares in every game, shot just wide.
From the resulting goal kick, Martin was first to react when intercepting a pass from the defence 15 yards outside her opponents’ box, and the Drogheda captain spotted the Stamullen keeper off her line and calmly slotted home for the lead goal.
Towards the end of the half the game again began to swing in the home side’s favour and they were unlucky not to have a penalty for a sliding tackle just inside the box.
Drogheda defender Lyndsey Horan was on top form, making a number of last-ditch tackles and remaining very calm, making sure the team didn’t lose possession needlessly, but it was first-half keeper Romy McAvinia who the team had to thank for taking that 2-1 lead into half-time. Although being a very talented outfield player, McAvinia pulled off a number of brilliant saves, twice tipping shots over the crossbar at full stretch.
In the second half it was McAvinia, now in her favored wide role, who helped create the first of a number chances for Drogheda striker Niamh Leonard who was fresh from scoring a double hattrick in the team’s previous away win to Skerries Town.
With five minutes gone in the second half McAvinia found the ball on the left flank and cleverly switched the play to the right for Kierans-Fitpatrick to combine with Murray and then find Leonard in the channel. She attracted two defenders toward her before playing a square pass to the oncoming Murray to smash the ball into the top corner.
Soon after, the goal of the game came for Drogheda when O’Hart spun on the ball 20 yards from goal and hit a perfect side-footed shot into the bottom corner, bringing the score to 4-1 in favour of the visiting team.
Stamullen showed fantastic spirit to keep going and a confidently finished goal after a Drogheda mix-up gave the home side a second wind, with the home support ramping up the atmosphere along the sideline.
It took exceptional effort and calmness from Ajisafe, Orla O’Neill and McAvinia to soak up the pressure, but the home team scored a third goal with a well-worked effort five minutes from time.
Drogheda, though, kept their composure in the latter stages, confidently moved the ball around the pitch and creating another brace of chances before the final whistle.
DROGHEDA: Lyndsey Horan, Abigail Kierans-Fitzpatrick, Orla O’Neill, Grace Martin, Romy McAvinia, Aoife O’Neill, Niamh Leonard, Amy Clarke, Niamh O’Hart, Megan Murray, Alisha Ajisafe.
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