Vital win for Castlemaine
DENNY DIVISION 1B
The Park 0 Castlemaine United 2
CASTLEMAINE United move closer to the title contenders in this Division after a great win over title chasing The Park at Christy Leahy Park on Sunday morning.
The Park were missing a few regulars but that does not detract from Castlemaine’s great victory as they played with great passion and fire and it yielded the result they desired.
There was very little between the sides in this game but Castlemaine took their chances when they arrived and defended very well when the pressure was on.
A strong downfield wind had a big bearing in this game and The Park enjoyed its assistance in the first half.
Scoring chances were very scarce in the opening quarter of the game but Castlemaine should have gone ahead in the ninth minute when they beat the Park’s offside trap and Jerome Flynn was though one on one with Park keeper Tommy Moriarty and he done a splendid job to nick the ball away from the striker as he was about to pull the trigger.
The Park were only a few inches of timber away from taking the lead in the 22nd minute when a rasper of a shot from outside the box by Donagh O’Brien hit the underside of the crossbar and was cleared to safety.
The home side went close again seven minutes later after a free kick by Donagh O’Brien but Castlemaine’s outstanding centre half Pa Wren got in a tremendous block to deny a certain goal.
Castlemaine had a good chance to grab a goal just before half time when Andrew Frodsham played in Jerome Flynn and his shot was superbly saved by Park goalie Tommy Moriarty pushing it away with a strong hand.
Castlemaine were the happier side going in at half time as they would have the wind to their backs in the second half.
Just four minutes into the second half Castlemaine went ahead after a great move yielded a fabulous goal. Andrew Fodsham, Sean O’Dowd and Stephen Roche combined to set up Jerome Flynn and he drilled his shot low to the botom corner from 12 yards.
The Park then got a free kick just outside the box and David Courtney’s effort just did not dip soon enough and was just over the top.
Then Castlemaine keeper Alfie Giles was called into action and he made a fine save to deny Aaron Ward while he punched away another penetrating cross.
The Park then forced three successive corner kicks but they failed to break down the Castlemaine defence which was excellently marshalled by Pa Wren.
As the half moved on Castlemaine used their bench to seal up their defence and try and keep their slender led intact as The Park began to pile on the pressure.
An Adam Ward corner kick came right into the goalmouth and Alfie Giles showed a clean pair of hands fetching the ball in the air.
With The Park pushing for an equaliser and everything focused on attack they left themselves a bit short changed at the back and they paid the price in the 70th minute when Castlemaine scored on the break,
It came from a free kick from midfield by Pa Wren which went right into the packed goalmouth and after hesitation in the Park defence as they ball broke loose sub Kieran O’Carroll sneaked in at the back post and put his shot away.
Now there was clear daylight between the sides and Castlemaine began to slow down the pace of the game.
The Park pressed to try and get one back but they could not unhinge a rock solid Castlemaine defence who held out easily for a crucial win.
The ageless Alfie Giles had a new role for Castlemaine in this game in goals and he showed he can perform well in any part of the pitch making a couple of great saves at vital stages of the game while his handling of the ball throughout the game was impeccable.
This win moves Castlemaine up to mid table and if they can keep this type of form going they could get into the title race before the season is over.
THE PARK: Tommy Moriarty, Aaron Ward, Shane Jordan, Graham O’Neill, Adam Ward, David Magee, Donagh O’Brien, Leon McEvoy, Sebastian Vasiu, David Courtney, Sean McGrath.
CASTLEMAINE UNITED: Alfie Giles, Kieran Griffin (Daniel Cronin, 61), Pa Wren Jamie O’Shea, Sean O’Dea, Kieran O’Connor, Seamus O’Dowd (Kieran O’Carroll, 69), Andrew Frodsham (Stephen O’Carroll, 81), Padraig O’Sullivan, Stephen Roche, Jerome Flynn.
REFEREE: Anthony Morrison