U9 Red Division v Carnew on Saturday 13/10/12 Ashford Rvs 5; Carnew 2All 11 Ashford Rovers U 9 team players contributed to the best team performance of the year to date. Cian Garland stood out amongst all the players from both teams. His reading of the game, tackling, passing and contribution was fantastic – well done Cian. Ashford led 2 – 1 at halftime, coming back from being 1 nil down. Ronan Gilpin scored both goals, the first directly from a corner and the second a shot from outside the box – both getting deflections on the way into the goal. Ashford came close scoring on a number of occasions with Adam Kearns unlucky not to score. Carnew scored any early goal in the 2nd half, but Ashford dominated the 2nd half with goals from Ronan Gilpin (another hat trick), Luke Fitzpatrick which was a real poachers goal from a corner and goal of the match from Laura Bloor. Ashford was again unlucky not to add to the total and the Carnew keeper made some fine saves. Ben Meade would played in goals in the 2nd half dealt with any shots Carnew had. Great Team Performance !! U9 Gold Division v Arklow Tn on Sunday 21/10/12 Ashford started well and took an early lead from an excellent corner from Ben Meade. Ben playing in midfield for Ashford battled hard and deserved the Man of the Match award. Arklow led 4 – 1 at half time having been quicker to the ball on a number of occasions. Ashford played much better in the second half. Arklow scored from an excellent free kick. Ashford were unlucky on a number of occasions, with the Arklow keeper saving well from Ronan Gilpin and Luke Fitzpatrick. The result painted a different picture to the actual match and the reality was the teams were closer than the score suggested. Charlie Clarke making his debut for the team settled in well and made some good passes. U9 Gold Division v Glencormac on Saturday 03/11/12 Ashford dominated the match in terms of ball possession and chances. Fine saves from the Glencormac keeper prevented Ashford from scoring more than one in the match. The Ashford defence was resolute and unfortunate to concede with Laura Bloor playing well in goals and Liam Cunningham outstanding. Liam is a deserved man of the match with his tackling, drilling skills and passing evident throughout. Ronan Gilpin scored the only Ashford goal, but was extremely unlucky not to have scored a couple more. Many thanks to Sam Greene and Oisín Denver for playing with the Under 9 team today as Ashford were short due to sickness and holidays. U9 Gold Division v Carnew on Saturday 10/11/12 For the second match in a row, Ashford dominated the match and yet lost by a single goal. Ashford had numerous attempts on goal and was unlucky not to have scored more goals. Luke Fitzpatrick linked well with both the midfield and his striking partner Adam Kearns. Luke’s vision, ball control and skills were evident and he is one of Ashford’s most consistent players this season. His footballing brain, balance and ball skills is beyond his years and one to watch for the future !!. Ronan Gilpin got Ashford’s only goal but in truth he could have scored 3 or 4. The Carnew keeper and indeed Carnew defence withheld an Ashford onslaught led by Luke Fitzpatrick and Ronan Gilpin and held on to their lead for a Carnew victory. Good entertaining match played in a sporting manner by all. U9 Gold Division v Enniskerry on Saturday 27/01/13 The first match of 2013 for the Ashford Under 9 team playing against a strong Enniskerry Team. Enniskerry, despite winning 4 – 2, know they were in a competitive match. Enniskerry scored the 4th with the last kick of the match with Ashford pressing for an equaliser. The man of the match was Ben Meade. He played in the unusual position of centre back for Ben, but both Joshua Kelly and Ben had a fantastic first half in particular. His reading of the game was excellent and he made a number of very important tackles and interceptions. Ben played with Liam Cunningham in the defence during the 2nd half and again was on top form. Ben’s attitude is always a credit to him and will play in goals, midfield, up front and like today in defence. He’s an all-rounder and a great team player. Ronan Gilpin continued his scoring record into the new year with 2 goals today. He was extremely unlucky not to get 3 or 4 goals, hitting the cross bar, shots just off target or blocked. He ran Ben closely to man of the match and is developing all the time into an excellent footballer. Enniskerry scored first with Ashford equalising but Eli from Enniskerry scored from out side the box. Ronan Gilpin equalised again for Ashford from a corner kick, but Enniskerry scored 2 late goals. Both Angela and Bernard, the coaches, were very pleased with the Ashford Team, their passing skills and attitude to keep going until the end of the match. Good entertaining match played in a sporting manner by all. Thanks again to Lee for referring and all the parents who continue to support the team and coaches.
U10 Division 1 – Cup Semi Final 05/05/13 Ashford Rovers A V. Roundwood A This was always going to be a tight game with both teams having played each other twice this season in the Shield. After an even start Roundwood had the first shot in anger which flew over the crossbar. After that warning Ashford started to dominate with some great passing and some clever play down the left wing that clearly caused Roundwood problems. Ashford’s first chance fell to Noah Sheridan who was denied by some great goalkeeping. The chances continued to come for Ashford and on the 10 minute mark the breakthrough came. David Lally linked up with Noah Sheridan who in turn fed Samuel Bishop. Bishop then unleashed a shot that was too strong for the Roundwood keeper to hold and ended up in the back of the net. One nil to Ashford. Ashford continued to dominate but Roundwood as they have proved in the past were a threat on the break and their number 7 looked lively when the ball was played into the Ashford half. But the Ashford defence led by Mikey Gleeson and James Hamilton stood firm. With almost 15 minutes gone Alex Butler played a defence splitting pass to Sheridan who was again denied by the very competent Roundwood keeper. Almost immediately Ashford created another chance as Bishop put Lally through on goal but this time the shot was dragged wide. Ashford continued to push put failed to capitalise on two corners before the break. Just before halftime Ashford made their first substitution, introducing Keavan Doyle. 1 nil to Ashford at half time. The second half was a different affair with Roundwood causing problems from the kick off. Almost immediately Roundwood broke into the Ashford box and just as they were about to shoot James Hamilton put in a goal saving and well timed sliding tackle to concede a corner. From the subsequent corner a scramble ensued but the ball was cleared by Gleeson. 5 minutes into the second half Ashford brought on Stephen Kearns for Hamilton . Another quality corner for Roundwood but this time the ball was cleared off the line by Bishop. Roundwood then broke 8 minutes into the second half as the Ashford defence where caught out by a long ball, but this time it was the Ashford’s experienced No 1, Dylan Lynch who was quick off his line to smother the strikers shot. Another substitution for Ashford as Reece Doyle come on to add firepower upfront. Having taken ten minutes to settle Ashford were now starting to come into the second half as every ball was contested by both sets of players in what was proving to be a very tense and exciting encounter. On 15 minutes it was Ashford’s turn to break with Reece Doyle on the right playing to Sheridan at the edge of the box whose snap shot was parried away by the alert Roundwood Keeper. A long clearance by the Roundwood keeper was met bravely by the head of Bishop who cleared out for a throw. Roundwood from the throw moved the ball up the right and were given a free on the edge of the box for what was deemed a push by an Ashford player. But once again Ashford held firm with Butler clearing to safety. The final few minutes saw Roundwood throw everything at Ashford but Butler, Gleeson, Kearns and company were not going to let this one slip by. Final score: Ashford Rovers 1 Roundwood nil. Ashford Man of the match: None, this was all about the team performance. Team: Dylan Lynch, Mikey Gleeson, James Hamilton, Alex Butler, Samuel Bishop, Noah Sheridan, David Lally, Keavan Doyle, Stephen Kearns, Reece Doyle.