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The u15 NDSL team travelled to Balbriggan with a season low total of 13 players. From kick off it became apparent very quickly that their goalkeeper was very very good. The initial 10 minutes were played in Balbriggans half and their keeper made a series of excellent saves to keep the scores level. Then getting caught on the break Balbriggan were in on our goal and only a top drawer save from Mr Cool - Ryan Finnegan kept us in it.
Portmarnock continued to press and after a bad clash of heads our left back Mr Silent but deadly - Jack Colclough was off to hospital to get a badly gashed eye stitched. It was starting to feel like one of those days. Mr Tired – Sean Lambert was thrown in to the contest at left full and was coping well until Mr Consistent Jamie Morris at centre back damaged his heel and couldn’t continue. Mr Ice - Kipras Polionis fresh from an excellent hat trick last week was carrying a dead leg so with no choice was thrown in to the action at left full, moving the more mobile Sean to right side of midfield in Kips preferred role.
It was now game on - Portmarnock were rattled and Balbriggan sensed it. However the lads dug in and battled away slowing get back on top but their keeper was still keeping us at bay. Then Mr Box to Box Matthew Carrick showed his guile slipping past their left full and racing in on goal. Their keeper went to come and then hesitated giving Matthew time to get to the ball before their rapidly closing centre back. An excellent ball across the box leaving the keeper stranded was met by Mr Back of the Net - Jamie O’Hanlon who nearly burst the net to open the scoring. Our work rate was paying off but we’d no subs left!!
Half time 1-0 to the lads.
The second half started with a period of sustained pressure from Balbriggan but Ryan likes clean sheets pulling off some really excellent saves to keep us ahead. That goal keeper training is definitely working!
The second goal came from a battling interception from Mr Blond - Arion Aliu in the middle of the pitch. Racing to the edge of the box he lined up to shoot but with an excellent feint chipped the keeper instead. That was the cushion we needed. The lads relaxed and started moving the ball around as well as we’ve ever seen them.
The back line were giving nothing away. At right full Mr Italian Stallion - Joshua Caparra was showing a perchant for a continental way of defending while his partner in crime Mr No Nonsense - Mark Doherty was cleaning up all around along with Mr Unflappable - Adam Brant our other centre back.
Left wing wizard Mr Arsenal – Rhys Chapman was working his socks off up and down using the ball well and arriving in the box on occasion was unlucky not to score. On the other wing Mr Tired – Sean Lambert was now showing his full range of twists and turns and pinging delightful crosses in to the box. One of these started a game of ricochet in the box until Jamie O'H smashed in his second.
3 nil but the lads sensed more
Up front Mr Twister – Adam Campbell was turning the Balbriggan defense inside out and was very unlucky not to bag a couple, himself, content to set up his strike partner Jamie O’Hanlon who completed his hat trick by slipping the ball under the keeper after some excellent link up play.
All in all a great win but one that was a lot harder fought for than the score line suggests. Great team effort all round, down to the bare bones the lads dug in worked their socks off and got their reward.