St Vincent's DFC

Lusk United FC 3 – 3 St Vincent's DFC

                                   Green (15)
                                   Maguire (25)
                                   K. Byrne (55)


When the final whistle blew at Old Station Road, home pitch of Lusk United, the Blues frustrating start to the season continued as once again they had deprived themselves the maximum points through lack of mental stamina, despite having the luxury of a two goal cushion twice during the game.

With manager Geoff Foy absent due to prior personal commitments, his brother and assistant Stuart took charge and made a few changes to the starting line up due to the absence of midfielders McMahon, Geoff Foy and striker Justin Smith. However his tinkering did not seem to have an adverse effect as the boys hit the ground running. Immediately Lusk Utd looked at sea as they struggled to cope with the pace and trickery up front courtesy of the new strike partnership in O'Callaghan and Watson. Within the first five minutes, a chance to register our first goal went abegging after good work by O'Callaghan teed up the incoming Maguire but much to our agony their keeper was equal to the Kerry man's effort, palming away his low shot out for a corner.

However the momentum was clearly with us as we looked menacingly dangerous on the attack, threatening to open our account any time soon and sure enough Green demonstrated how to do so in an acrobatic fashion, sending a volley into the top corner from 18 yards out. Five minutes later, another goal chance presented itself when Lusk United attempted to spring the offside trap only to succeed in playing Green and Watson onside. Green took the bull by the horns by latching onto the ball while Watson had to settle for a poacher's role, following behind in the hope of mopping up any parried saves. However despite having time on his side, Green could only shoot directly at the onrushing keeper who was fast becoming Lusk United's most overworked player.

In contrast our own keeper Lowry had very little much to do and this continued to be the case as we launched yet another attack when O'Callaghan's magnificent 30 yard strike could only hit the crossbar and bounce back out. However we prevailed and finally had the ball in the back of the net when the 18 year old Maguire went one better than his last attempt, pouncing on a loose ball to fire us into what looked like an unassailable two goal lead at that stage.

However Lusk United had other ideas and as they began to gain composure after being on the back foot for an extended period of time, they hit back with a rare counter attack that had Lowry despondently picking the ball out of the back of the net.

This looked to have been a wake up call that seemed have been effective as we returned to the field after the half time break to reinstate our two goal cushion when K. Byrne profited from Watson's trickery, who had drawn the Lusk defence out of position before laying the ball off to the Tallafornian who had found himself free and unmarked to execute a fierce shot that impregnated the back of a net with a bulge.

However from this point on, the wheels from the St Vincent's train fell apart as the roles of the two teams were inexplicably reversed. The Blues who had been the dominant force for the best part of the match and should have had more goals to show for it, looked surprisingly meek and submissive as Lusk United were allowed back into the game scoring two soft goals in the remaining twenty minutes. In the end, the final whistle couldn't come quick enough for the Blues for they looked jittery and nervous, a hugely disappointing and frustrating contrast to their early positive and attacking verve that most teams in Div 3a Saturday would struggle to cope with.

First XI: Lowry, Wilson, Archer, Connolly, S. Foy, Doona, Green, K. Byrne, Maguire, Watson and O'Callaghan (c).

Subs: S. Byrne for Doona, Moloney for Connolly. O'Sullivan (not used).

MOM: None given this week. But unofficially speaking, captain Paul O'Callaghan would be a prime candidate in my eyes.

Report written by Ciarán Moloney