U8 Blue Ashford Rovers C 2; Ardmore Rvs E It was the earliest start so far for the newly formed Ashford Rovers under 8’s C team on Sunday and everybody was in great form with the sun beaming down. Team coaches Darragh Baumann and Colm Greene had a lot of work to do based on the 4 previous outings but the newly formed team is only getting to know each other and play football together.
Ashford knew what to expect from the away result to Ardmore and that they have small but quick players. From the off Ashford battled for the ball with our defence forming a new partnership of Nathan Ford and Simon St John. The two of them had a storming match in defence with sliding tackles and saving Ashford from the onward threat of Ardmore. Our new goalie, Fionn Doyle had a great match and from the start was off his line to rush out to save a low incoming shot. Our mid-field players comprising of Robert Bateman, Adam Daly and Oliver Richards worked very hard in the morning sun to get in front of opposing players and win the ball for our two forwards who were Sam Greene and Josh Bishop. Sam Greene had a hard time to fend off Ardmore defenders and managed to battle his way through to Josh who was calling for the ball, Josh managed to turn in box and slotted the ball home with ease. 1-0 to Ashford Rovers at half time it was decided to keep the same team for the second half. Fionn Doyle was kept busy by Ardmore’s lone striker who took long range shots but Mr Doyle got his body down to save the ball every time. “No Fear” Simon St John has an uncanny sense of where the trouble of attack can be and he was there to save the day with great clearances! Oliver Richards covered a lot of the pitch and his work rate was 110%. Some of the lads started to tire so the coaches brought on new team members Joshua Kelly and Jonas Stafford, who were both in the thick of the action, battling for the ball despite it being only their 2nd and 3rd match. 10 minutes from the end, again hard work from Robert and Adam in mid-field who managed to squeeze the ball through to Josh Bishop in the box who again slotted home for his second. A great result for a team that has only played 5 games previously. Team Fionn Doyle, Nathan Ford, Sam Greene, Robert Bateman, Simon St John, Adam Daly, Joshua Kelly, Jonas Stafford, Oliver Richards, Josh Bishop.
W/O 04/03/12 Games Week 27 U12 Premier Div Greystones 2; Ashford Rvs 2. Another good game for the lads this week on a cold and blustery morning in Greystones. Ashford started off really well and midway through the second half were a goal down due to a mazey run by the Greystones midfielder. From the restart we went up the field and Nathan was played through and put the ball in the bottom corner.1-1 at half time. Again Ashford started the 2nd half really well but were getting tired as Greystones started to put the pressure on. Eventually Greystones scored with about 20 minutes gone in the 2nd half. Ashford tipped off and went straight back up the field and Nathan was tripped outside the box, free kick Ashford. Cormac Doyle stepped up and slotted the ball into the roof of the net from the free kick. 2-2. Ashford were put under pressure for the final 10 minutes and only for some fine saves from Ross Hamilton and fine defending from all the defenders should have been down. With about 2 minutes to go Nathan was put through and fired the ball wide of the goal. Team: Ross Hamilton, Jamie Byrne, FinnO'Gara, David O'Brien, Shane Manley, Sean Garland Cormac Doyle, Ruadhan F Verbruggen, Luke Robinson, Nathan Doyle, Evan Butler, Tom Connolly, Dylan Porter, Ben O'Sullivan Tony Mooney. U13 DIV2 ASHFORD 0 GREYSTONES UTD 0 Stalemate at Ballinalea Park as the teams met for the 2nd time in a week. Ashford dominated for most of the match but just couldn't get a goal. The team saw 4 positional changes from last week and Murray Kennedy starting on the left wing. Twice in the 1st half they had goals ruled out for offside. Greystones counter attacked occasionally but the back four held firm. Ciaran Kelly had a shot cleared off the line and Kennedy hit the post as Greystones rode their luck. Right at the end Donal Ring left his goal to go up for a corner, got his head on it but saw it cleared off the line. That was it 0-0. TEAM: Donal Ring, Jack Gleeson, Chris Mahoney, Adam Whelan, Lee Nichols, David Lacey, Gary McCann, Jack McGrath, Ciaran Kelly, Cal Connolly, Murray KennedySUBS: Conor Curran, Eoin Copeland, Michael Collins
W/O 26/02/12 Games Week 25 U12 Premier Div Ashford Rvs 6; ST.Anthonys 1. Another good game for the lads this week as the lads exacted some revenge on ST.Anthonys for the loss a few weeks previous.Overall a good team performance with everyone getting a good run out. Goal scorers on the day were Nathan x 4, Tony and Luke. Team: Ross Hamilton, Jamie Byrne, FinnO'Gara, David O'Brien, Shane Manley, Sean Garland Cormac Doyle, Ruadhan F Verbruggen, Luke Robinson, Nathan Doyle, Evan Butler, Dylan Porter, Ben O'Sullivan & Tony Mooney. U13 DIV2 CUP SEMI-FINAL GREYSTONES UTD 1 ASHFORD ROVERS 2 A repeat of last seasons Plate Final saw the two rivals meet once more. The kick off was delayed 15mins due to a hole in the net spotted by the ref doing his inspection. Ashford won the toss and played with the wind in a 5-4-1 formation. A slow start by Ashford led to Greystones speeding down their right wing and scoring in off the foot of the post. Eventually the lads got going and began to attack when Jack Byrne had a goal ruled out for handball. Some poor handling by the Greystones keeper gave Ashford hope of an equalizer but went in trailing at the break. Half-Time saw a sub Jack McGrath for Michael Collins and a change to 4-4-2. Now playing into the wind Ashford couldn't get out of their own half. A 2nd sub of Conor Curran for Adam Whelan clicked everything into gear. Cal Connolly leading the line had a goal ruled out. Cal then hit a free just over the bar. From the kick out Ashford got a freekick on halfway which Donal Ring came forward to take. He drove it forward with Conor Curran getting on the end of it to lob the keeper for 1-1. Ashford pressed but the game went to Extra Time. Greystones regrouped and only some great tackling by Jack Gleeson and Chris Mahoney kept them out. Deadlock still but Ashford had the upper hand and continued to press. McGrath, Connolly and Byrne really pushing hard. With 3mins on the clock Connolly picked up the ball beat two defenders and struck it into the top corner, 2-1 Ashford. This was the clincher as they held out to secure the win and a place in the final. TEAM: Donal Ring, Chris Mahoney, Michael Collins, Jack Gleeson, Lee Nichols, Eoin Copeland, Gary McCann, Ciaran Kelly, Adam Whelan, Cal Connolly, Jack Byrne.SUBS: Jack McGrath, Conor Curran, David Lacey, Kain Moore. W/O 19/02/12 Games Week 24 U13 Div 2 Ashford Rovers 0 Wolf Tone 1 A bright, sunny Sunday morning saw these teams rivalry continue. In another close contest. Wolf Tone started stronger and had Ashford on the back foot, breaking down the left to score past Donal Ring in goals. It took the home side 15mins to settle down and get into the game. But that they did, dominating the rest of the 1st half. however despite pressing the score remained 0-1 at h/t. Early in the 2nd half the introduction of Jack Byrne saw the attack spring into life. Cal Connolly swung in a corner which Lee Nichols volleyed just wide of the post. But a breakout by W.T led to their own corner which their no.4 headed for goal only for the impressive Michael Collins to clear off the line. Attack after attack from the lads had Byrne fire across the face of goal with Lee Nicholls desperately trying to get on the end of. An equalizer was definitely deserved but they just couldn't get it. Top performers on the day were Chris Mahoney and Eoin Copeland. TEAM: Donal Ring, Chris Mahoney ,Miichael Collins, Jack Gleeson, Lee Nichols, Eoin Copeland, Gary McCann, Ciaran Kelly, Murray Kennedy, Cal Connolly, Conor BrennanSUBS: Jack Byrne, Adam Whelan, David Lacey W/O 12/02/12 Games Week 23 U12 Premier Div ST.Anthonys 3; Ashford Rvs 2. A great start to the game say Ashford pressing ST.Anthonys back and shooting at will but were unable to score. ST. Anthonys did not have the problem as they attacked three times and scored three times in the first half. 3-0 to ST.Anthonys at the end of the half. At the start of the second half Ashford attacked again and kept attacking until they eventually scored their first goal followed shortly after by the second but were unable to get the draw. Great team performance as the lads never gave up. Goal scorer on the day were Nathan x 2. Team: Ross Hamilton, Jamie Byrne, FinnO'Gara, David O'Brien, Shane Manley, Sean Garland Cormac Doyle, Ruadhan F Verbruggen, Luke Robinson, Nathan Doyle, Evan Butler, Dylan Porter, Ben O'Sullivan & Tom Connolly. W/O 11/12/11 Games Week 14 U12 Premier Div Newtown 0; Ashford Rvs 3. Another good game for the lads this week. Ashford Scored midway through the first half when the ball was passed out to Luke who let fly a left footed shot that went over the%