Green Briar O30's 3:3 Foxboro Freaks
The away fixture against Foxboro earlier this season saw the Briar lose all 3 points from a comfortable 2-0 half time lead. The home fixture in Watertown would have similar story lines for the Briar as they yet again failed to hold a lead and relinquished their grasp on the 3 points in the last 5 minutes of play.
The opening exchanges of the game were even and Foxboro yet again proved to be a worthy match for the Greens. The opening goal was gifted to Foxboro after a poor sequence of defensive play in the Briar penalty area.
Conor Hannick seemed to have the situation under control as he shepherded the ball out for a goal kick. The ball failed to cross the line however, and having to deal with it he chose to turn and attempt a clearance on his weaker left foot. The clearance fell to a Foxboro striker 10 yards from goal whose shot somehow got through Paul Fallon when it looked like he had everything behind the ball.
In response the Briar fashioned a chance through David Coen and Leo O'Connor who played the ball through to Michael Graham down the left. His attempt to find the far corner was well wide of the mark as he let his shot go between keeper and defenders.
Parity was restored shortly afterwards. David Coen earned a free kick on the edge of the box, and stepping up for the kick himself he sent a beautiful strike to the top corner on the keeper's side of the goal.
As the second half got under way it would be Foxboro who would get their noses in front once again. A break down the right hand side was not closed down quickly enough and the squaring ball was met in the 6 yard box for the 1-time finish and 2-1 lead.
The equalizer from the Briar came 1 minute after the restart as the urgency of their play was lifted. Route 1 was chosen by Conor Hannick as he delivered a booming ball over the top with enough back spin to hold up on the dewey surface. Leo O'Connor ran onto the ball and eluding several defenders he sent a sweet shot arrowing to the bottom left hand corner of the net.
John Hickey produced the next piece of inspired play. His run down the right and delivery into the box was excellent and but for lady luck he could have added to his goal total on the season. On this occasion however, the ball sailed over the keepers head and cannoned off the far post. Michael Graham attempted to make the rebound count but the Foxboro defense held out.
With David Coen retired from the game through injury, Peter McNamee, Gavin Hall, Brenny Joyce and Conor Bagnell were all lifting the Briar's performance as they looked to gain the lead for the first time on the day.
The Briar's third goal came ten minutes from the end. Leo O'Connor sent PJ Kelly marauding down the left wing. The Clare man entered the box at full tilt and squared a beautiful ball across to Leo who followed up the play. With one touch to settle and an exquisite curling shot to the top corner to find the net, the Kerry man surely must have thought he had won it for the Briar.
It took all of 5 minutes this time for the Briar to self destruct. Entering the final few minutes of the game Foxboro sprung the offside trap but Paul Fallon was alert to the danger and rushed from goal to clear the ball from outside his area. Taking exception to the challenge from the advancing forward Fallon retaliated as he returned to goal.
The incident was spotted by the referee and resulted in a direct free kick from the edge of the Briar area. The Briar failed to set themselves up correctly for the kick however. The wall had one too many players in it and with the keeper's view obscured the Foxboro player placed the ball with ease into the keeper's side of the net.
A costly 2 points thrown away by the Briar who seem to find new ways each week of conceding goals. It is interesting to note that Foxboro are in play off contention with only 2 wins on the season (the same total as the Green Briar). Going forward, Leo O'Connor continued his fine season now totaling 18 goals in 18 games.
Division Champions United International are up next as the Briar look to secure their Division 4 status in the final weeks of the season. A clean sheet next week would greatly help in that task.
Line Up: Fallon, Glynn(YC), Concagh, Hannick, McElwain(c), Graham, Hall, Coen, Flannery, Hickey, O'Connor, Kilber-Stearns, Kelly, Bagnell, Joyce, McNamee
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