Hard fought win for Over 30's

Green Briar O30's 2:1 Harvard

With only a few games to go in the season and holding the lead in Division 5C, the Briar needed to navigate a tricky game against Harvard on a holiday weekend with many squad members absent. In fact Harvard would also be struggling for numbers on the day but nonetheless put in a decent performance.

This week's game would start like many others this season. The Briar are notoriously slow starters and with many players clearing their heads from a night of drowning the Champions League sorrows, it was to prove an even slower start than usual.

The Briar were struggling to unlock the offside trap of Harvard and it could be said they squandered much of the possession they enjoyed in the early going. Time and again the Harvard defense was aided by mis-timed runs and even slower deliveries out of the back resulting in an annoying number of offside decisions.

Kevin O'Donnell contributed with at least five offsides in the space of the first five minutes he was on the pitch as he tried to cheat the line and gain that yard he has lost in recent years.

The notable chances in the first half fell to Stephen McDonagh. After a cross was only half cleared, Kevin O'Donnell turned it goal ward. A defender stopped the attempt on the line and the rebound fell to McDonagh who snatched at his shot and sent it over from 6 yards. Later he would be on the end of a teasing cross from John Hickey only to see the effort go over once again from a free header at the back post.

Gavin Hall added to the abysmal showing in front of goal minutes later when an untimely bobble undone his good run from midfield and his shot went harmlessly behind for a goal kick.

The deadlock was finally broken with a nice strike from distance. A ball over the top from Paul Glynn on the right wing was mistimed by the Harvard defender and Michael Graham settled the ball to play a neat one-two with Gavin Hall on the edge of the box. After receiving the return ball he found space for a shot from just outside the area. His effort looped into the top left corner over the despairing keeper.

With the slender 1:0 lead at the turn the game was still in the balance. That lead would be relinquished fairly soon after the restart when an innocuous ball over the top caught Conor Hannick and Danny Concagh flat footed. Danny won the race to the ball but hurried his back pass which rebounded back off the keeper to the trailing Harvard attacker who made no mistake with his finish.

A rude awakening for our side who began to rue the missed chances from earlier. The response was good however as the Briar made some good chances in the ensuing minutes. Conor Hannick was unlucky not to hit the target from a towering header from a corner kick and John Hickey spurned two good chances also. His first effort finding the side netting from a barreling run of his own when perhaps the squaring ball was the better option. Later he was on the end of a cross from the left but shot wide on the half volley.

The lead was finally restored with a great move down the right wing. John Hickey made a run and was found with a nice ball over the top. He charged to the bi-line and cut an inviting ball back to Leo O'Connor who side footed the ball to the bottom left corner with deadly precision.

The Over 30's are doing well to keep the steady flow of wins coming in and with only 2 games left in the regular season they will need to regain some goal scoring form as the crucial playoffs approach.

Line Up: Keane, Glynn, Hannick, Concagh, McElwain(c), Graham, Joyce, Hall, Hickey, McDonagh, O'Connor

Subs: Kelly, Shursky, Nassar, O'Donnell