Supersub Leonard makes his point
DROGHEDA UNITED SHELBOURNE
FRESH from a comprehensive win over Sligo the previous week, Drogheda United Under-17s had to come from 2-0 down to claim a point against Shelbourne at United Park last Saturday.
This was the proverbial game of two halves and in the first it was a competent and skilful Shels team who dominated and deservedly went in 2-0 up at half-time.
The game was hardly five minutes old when a high press from the Shels forward line led to indecision in the home defence and an under-hit back pass resulted in the Drogs going one down.
The hosts struggled for most of the first half to get a foothold in the game and it seemed that they were overawed by the visitors’ slick passing and clever movement.
On 24 minutes the Drogs pressed well and forced a corner, from which Frank Cabraley rose brilliantly but failed to make contact.
Ugo Anny-Nzekwue was causing the visitors some difficulties on the left and from a great run he made in the 35th minute a cross from Dean O’Shea ran straight across the goal-line, with no Drogs forward there to apply the finishing touch.
The Boynesiders paid dearly for that missed chance as a few minutes later Shels attacked with purpose down the middle, evaded some attempted home tackles and made it 2-0 with relative ease.
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The Drogs required a big change in attitude and application for the second half and they showed some improvement with the introduction of the lively Callum Leonard on the right.
Cabraley and Anny-Nzekwue started to put their stamp on the game with intelligent running and passing. Cabraley was unlucky on 64 minutes when a great shot on the turn sailed just over the bar.
The Drogs took control of midfield and pinned the visitors back in their own half, and from a corner on 70 minutes Cabraley stabbed home the Drogs’ first goal.
Dean O’Shea and Leonard both shot over in quick succession, but on 84 minutes, following some great interplay between Cabraley, Anny-Nzekwue and Leonard, the ball was crossed and Kyle Robinson sent the ball to the empty net for the equaliser.
Unfortunately, the Drogs lost a bit of concentration after scoring and Shels set up a brilliant attack on the left and regained the lead with a clinical finish with only four minutes left. There was to be one final twist, however, as once again Cabraley fed Anny-Nzekwue and his simple ball sent through Leonard who beat the keeper to make it 3-3.
As time ran out the Drogs had a good chance to take all three points, but Robinson shot wide. DROGHEDA UNITED: Ben Murphy, Luke Campbell (Sam O’Brien) Dean O’Shea, Josh Dunbar, Lukus Maher (Ross Harper), Jamie Whelan (Luke Neville), Darragh Curtin (Pedro White), Osasere Sere Ogiehor (Callum Leonard), Kyle Robinson, Frank Cabraley, Ugochukwu Anny-Nzekwue. Sub not used: Evan Niven.
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