VILLAGERS UNFORTUNATE NOT TO TAKE THE POINTS

Division 4B(Over 35's League): St.Saviours 1-1 Abbeyside (Geraghty)

VILLAGERS UNFORTUNATE NOT TO TAKE THE POINTS AFTER A DOMINANT PERFORMANCE: Our Division 4b side travelled to Ballybeg on a wet Sunday morning to face tough opposition in Waterford city side St.Saviours. We started very brightly and we played some good football in the opening minutes. We came close on the 10th and 14th minute mark with Willie John and James O'Mahoney both hitting beautiful strikes from 18 yards only to be denied by the St.Saviours goalkeeper. This would become an all too familiar occurrence throughout the game. We were pretty comfortable at this stage and it looked as though only one team would score. In the 21st minute some wonderful play by David Cahill and John Hurney released Willie John and he was very unfortunate to see his effort clip the top of the home side's goalkeeper's boot and go over the bar. The home side were starting to pass the ball around the park and a mix up between our midfield and backline was punished when the home side's striker pounced and lofted the ball over the onrushing Enright to make it 1-0 to St. Saviours. We went into the break in disbelief as to how we found ourselves a goal down.

The second half started in the same vein as the first and some quick feet in the box saw Willie John upended and a penalty was rightly given. Up stepped David Cahill and unfortunately his penalty was well saved by a very good St.Saviours goalkeeper. The next 10 minutes saw us with plenty of possession but no real cutting edge chances until James Geraghty picked the ball up on the edge of the 18 yard box and unleashed a rocket that eventually beat the St.Saviours goalkeeper. One goal a piece and we thoroughly deserved to be back on level par. We pushed forward for the winning goal and we almost got the winner when John Hurney latched onto Willie John Kiely's flick on. The home side goalkeeper made an incredible double save, and as the ball broke to Seamus Hannon celebrations were imminent as the keeper was beaten but only for it to hit a St.Saviours defender on the line. Incredibly the teams were level and with 2 mins left on the clock a wonderful cross from David Cahill found the head of James O"Mahoney who's powerful header was just off target and that would be the last effort of the game as both teams shared the points. There are huge positives to take from this game as the lads created multiple chances and Stephen Enright in the Abbeyside goal was not called into action the entire game which is testament to the solid work of our backline. We go again on Saturday with a 1pm kick off at home to Southend. Please come and show your support.

Man of the Match: James Geraghty

Team: Enright, Curran, Morrissey, Ryan, McGrath, Cahill, Tobin, Geraghty, O'Mahoney, Kiely(C), Hurney. ('35,Hannon for Tobin), ('43, McCarthy for McGrath), (56' O'Donnell for Curran).