Touring Boys are spurred on
DROGHEDA Boys youths spent the weekend on a training camp in London with Tottenham Hotspur and the trip also included a friendly match against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
The Boynesiders started on the front foot, with attacking players Luke Jenkins, Michael Connolly and Ewan Coughlan pressing high up the pitch to try and force early mistakes.
However, Wimbledon were adamant in sticking to their style of playing out from the back and this led to early periods of good play from both sides, with good crosses at either end leading to chances which could not be taken.
The breakthrough was eventually made by Drogheda. Following a short goal-kick, Coughlan chased down the opposition centre-half and forced a poor pass-back. Sensing an opportunity, Coughlan kept on going and the keeper panicked and passed across goal, allowing Connolly race in ahead of the defence and slot home into an unguarded net.
Wimbledon’s looked to strike back and their number 15 carried the ball the length of the pitch, with a near-certain goal on the cards as he squared the ball on the edge of the area. However, Kian Cunningham managed to get a last-ditch tackle in.
All of the back four - Neal Hodgins, Rian Aikpitanyi, Kian Cunningham - and Ben Mullen started the game well and Wimbledon’s forward line looked frustrated.
As the half wore on Drogheda dropped deeper and after sustained pressure Wimbledon earned a free kick on the edge of the area from which a effort off the wall rebounded back to the taker
WIMBLEDON DROGHEDA BOYS 4 2
who thumped the ball off the bar and over the top.
Another chance came soon after for Wimbledon as their own high press turned the ball over in a dangerous area, but Alex Finnegan was equal to the low drive on goal.
Wimbledon’s patience finally paid off when their centre-half started a sweeping move that ended with one of their midfielders making a late run into the box to apply the finishing touch - 1-1.
The midfield three for Drogheda of Gareth Donnelly, Harry Svejdar and James Martin worked hard to close the gaps in midfield as Wimbledon started to take control.
Drogheda needed half-time to regroup, but they were caught napping from a quick throw-in and Wimbledon’s breaking midfielder found the top corner for 2-1.
During the break Tottenham coaches Jerome Baker and Chris Gillman made a couple of small tactical changes to help turn the game Drogheda’s way and the away side came out on the front foot. Con Sheehan found room on the right and whipped a delightful cross in and a goal looked certain as John Oates looked to get on the end of it, but Wimbledon forced the ball behind.
Outstanding play from Luke Jenkins found Ben Mullen free on the left, but again the Wimbledon defence were good and the outcome was another corner. However, from there Wimbledon broke quickly and forced a corner of their own and one of their midfielders found himself free at the back post from where he buried a header into the far corner - 3-1.
Drogheda kept pressing forward and a good high press forced a turnover by Con Sheehan whose forward pass just eluded John Oates.
Josh Dunbar, now on in the holding role, won the ball deep and released Harry Svejdar, and with a quick drop of the shoulder he was away. He drove at the back line and looked to find the bottom corner, only for their keeper to pull off a great save.
The pressure finally told as Dunbar yet again turned the ball over in midfield. He found U-15 starlet Danny Reilly free who quickly released Oates through on goal and he finished across the keeper - 3-2.
Wimbledon looked to wrestle back control and they returned to their patient build-up play. However, the Boys, marshalled by Pedro White who was on for the injured Aikpitanyi, looked to counteract the tactics Wimbledon had employed to good effect in the first half.
In the final stages Drogheda tired and Wimbledon restored their two-goal lead when a quick switch of play found their left winger who beat the keeper at the near post.
Drogheda finished strongly but couldn’t add to their tally and at the final whistle handshakes and photos were exchanged with the Wimbledon team. The team and coaches were a credit to their club and Drogheda Boys would like to thank Wimbledon for their hospitality.
DROGHEDA BOYS: Alex Finnegan, Neal Hodgins, Rian Aikpitanyi, Ben Mullen, Pedro White, Josh Dunbar, Ewan Coughlan, Kian Cunningham, James Martin, Harry Svejdar, Garreth Donnelly, Con Sheehan, Michael Connolly, John Oates, Luke Jenkins, Daniel Reilly.