Match Report - 30th August 2014 Cherry Orchard 0 – 1 Ringsend Rovers B. Young 74 Ringsend Rovers travelled to Cherry Orchard today for the second game of the 2014/15 LSL Major Division campaign. With a squad of eighteen players fit for selection manager Anthony Ownes had some tough decisions to make. Rovers started with nine of the stating eleven that went down to Sacred Heart in the first game of the season, with Spudy coming into the central midfield berth for Neon Goad who had just returned from holidays and Stephen Caufield for the unavailable John Sullivan. It was Cherry Orchard who started the brighter nearly capitalising on some hesitant defending in the second minute only for Philip Uzell to turn the centre forwards goal bound effort around the post with a fine save. It was a wakeup call for Rovers and they quickly settled into their familiar possession and passing game. On 8 minutes a quick break by Rovers saw Dean Kinsella unlucky not to score after his smart chip over the keeper went narrowly wide. Rovers were intent on moving the ball quickly utilising their pace and attacking power through their fullbacks Dean Kelly and Stephen Caufield. With Kenneth Glennon and Stephen Rooney playing in wide midfield roles Rovers looked dangerous going forward on both flanks. In the 10th minute a deep cross by fullback Kelly following one of his marauding runs left the Orchard keeper all at sea but unfortunately Kinsella couldn’t connect with the ball. In the 12th minute a long free kick by Cherry Orchard was allowed to bounce into the 18 yard box by the Rovers defence but Uzell was sharply off his line to gather. On 15 minutes Graham McQuarrie found himself some space and his speculative effort flew just wide of the post. To their credit both team were focused on attacking football trying to bring their respective forward players into the game and every loose ball was hotly contested with no quarter given. The midfield duo of Jamie Mullen and Spudy worked hard to take control but had to battle hard against a big physical Cherry Orchard central two for every ball. On the 35 minute mark a quick interchange of passing between G. McQuarrie and Mullen created a shooting opportunity but Mullen’s powerful shot was blocked by a last ditch tackle by the Orchard defender. Rovers were starting to dominate the play and forcing the Orchard back four to work hard not to concede. A rather ugly side of football all too evident in today game saw the Orchards number ten go to ground on two occasions once inside the box and the other outside. The attempts to con the referee were in vain and although blatant simulation neither were punished by the referee. Rovers were guilty of squandering a number of good crossing chances through poor delivery and the frustration could be seen by the front two of McQuarrie and Kinsella who repeatedly took up good positions in the 18 yard box. In the 40th minute a great move out of the back started with center half Adam Deegan’s inch perfect pass finding Kenneth Glennon on the left, Gleenon had a number of options available but his sensible ball found the unmarked McQuarrie in space, McQuarrie drew in the Orchard defenders and his quick slide pass to Kinsella set up the striker whose shot was blocked by the legs of the Orchard keeper. From the resulting corner a half cleared ball fell to Spudy, he swung a sublime cross to the back post but the left full Stephen Caufield couldn’t get on the end of it having ghosted in at the back post. Half-time Cherry Orchard 0 – 0 Ringsend Rovers At the break the instructions to the Rovers players was to continue their passing game; keep the game at a high tempo; be patient and improve the quality of the final ball into the box. Rovers picked up where they left off and on 49 minutes Mullen picked out Stephen Rooney whose shot from a tight angle beat the Orchard keeper but clipped the top of the crossbar for a goal kick to home side. Rovers were now beginning to pin back Cherry Orchard but a quick counter attack by the Orchard on 53 minutes set up a chance for the center forward whose shot although on target didn’t trouble Uzell. From Uzell’s ball out from the back the ball found its way to Kinsella whose deft touch found Spudy but his shot was blocked by the quick reactions of the Orchard keeper. Although Rovers were having the lion’s share of possession they just couldn’t find a way past the Cherry Orchard defence. A little complacency was creeping into the Rovers back four and needed some stern words from the Ringsend Rovers dugout. Rovers first substitution came on in the 60th minute with Vincent McQuarrie coming in for the hard working Rooney. V. McQuarrie slotted into a central attacking role and brother Graham switched to the right side of midfield. A minute later a free kick from Bob Alwright went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock, Alwrights excellent shot went narrowly wide of the upright with the Cherry Orchard goalkeeper an anxious spectator. Cherry Orchard to their credit kept playing and in the 65th minute an in swinging cross caught the Rovers defence napping and only for a goal line intervention from Deegan who coolly headed off the line Cherry Orchard could have taken the lead against the run of play. Shades of the Sacred Heart game springs to mind, all the play, all the chances and a mistake undoes all the good work. There was to be no mistake today following the introduction on 70 minutes of experienced striker Barry Young for Kinsella, from the outset Young tormented the Cherry Orchard defence and had a glorious chance with a header from 8 yards out but couldnt beat the keeper. But Young was to get his first goal of the season in the 74th minute when he beat the offside trap took one touch to control and under pressure used his experience to put the ball in the bottom corner past the despairing dive of the home keeper. Rovers made an immediate substitution brining on debutant Gary Mullen another of Rovers young up and coming players for the impressive Graham McQuarrie. Gary slotted into the Rovers central midfield with his namesake Jamie Mullen. Gary is one of four young teenagers signed by the club this season and is also a graduate from the renowned Cambridge Boys academy of football; Gary joins Adam Deegan; Daniel Kelly and Ross Maher who has returned to Ringsend Rovers after a spell with Shamrock Rovers. Having gone a goal down with fifteen minutes to go Cherry Orchard piled on the pressure launching balls into the box that Rovers captain Uzell gathered with ease. Rovers can be thankful to Uzell in the dying minutes when he bravely dived at the feet of the Orchards centre forward who was in on goal having beaten the offside trap to make a match wining save and preserve the one nil advantage. With over six minutes of added time as much as they tried Cherry Orchard couldnt find an equaliser and Rovers were unlucky not to add a second goal. Overall a thoroughly well deserved win for Ringsend Rovers, another impressive performance and a valuable three points now on the board. Team: Philip Uzell (c), Dean Kelly; Bob Alwright; Adam Deegan; Stephen Caufield; Stephen Rooney (V. McQuarrie); Jamie Mullen; Spudy; Kenneth Glennon; Graham McQuarrie (Gary Mullen); Dean Kinsella (Young). Subs: Vincent McQuarrie; Barry Young; Gary Mullen; David Kiernan; Niall Goad; Stephen Dillon; Ross Maher.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 18:58:00 +0000
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