Season coming down to the wire

Green Briar O30 6:1 Delta Services
Goal: McGuinness Assist: O'Connor
Goal: Ribadu Assist:O'Leahy
Goal O'Leahy Assist: McGuinness
Goal: McGuinness(PK) Assist: Ribadu
Goal: Coen Assist: Ribadu
Goal: Java Assist: O'Connor

Frustrating result puts league title in the balance

Southborough 3:1 Green Briar O30
Goal: L. O'Connor Assist: unassisted

The dubious goals/assists panel

When is an assist awarded (and not awarded)? The following are the guidelines that have been followed up to now.

1. A person making the last pass before a goal is scored earns an assist.
2. A person fouled for a subsequently converted penalty earns an assist.
3. A person who took a shot that was parried/saved into the path of a goal scorer earns an assist.
4. If a defensive intervention significantly alters the path of an intended pass then no assist is awarded.
5. If a defensive intervention results in an own goal, an assist is awarded.
6. A person fouled for a subsequently converted direct free kick does not earn an assist.

A day of hatricks for the Briar

New England International 3:7 Green Briar O30

Making the turn with a scoreline of 1:1, Gary Keane must have been pleased with the team talk that led to the final result, seeing his side dominate the second half to run out easy winners in the end.

A hatrick of headers in the 7 goal scoreline along with a hatrick of assists for John Hickey and a hatrick of goals for John O'Brien provided a nice symmetry to the performance.

The Briar scored early with O'Brien nodding home at the back post from a deep Hickey cross. Paul Glynn hit the bar with a shot later on in the half, but was unable to convert.

NE International equalized before the break. A mix up at the back resulted in a squaring ball to an unmarked player at the back post to tap in the easy finish.

Two quick goals at the start of the second half all but set the Briar on their way to victory. John Hickey was once again the provider as he dropped a ball onto the head of John O'Brien to finish powerfully from 6 yards. Moments later, Hickey was in the midst of a text book training ground corner routine, turning a ball goalwards to Leo O'Conner to finish from close range.

The hatrick of assists was complete. Hickey, who'd earlier mentioned that he'd all but given up retaining the Silver boot this season now sits a-top the Silver boot table and his second assists title in succession is within his grasp.

John O'Brien went one better soon after by rounding off his hatrick of goals in terrific style. A barreling run and powerful shot off of the post secured the personal milestone and the Briar's fourth.

The remainder of the game saw the teams trade goals. Brian McGuinness, Java and a lovely headed finish from Diran Balekian rounded off the Briar scoring. The second half of the season has begun on a very upbeat note and sets the Greens up for the run in.

Line Up: Sullo, Glynn, Hannick, Nolan, Higgins, Hickey, Hall, O'Connor, McGuinness, Neto, O'Brien, Balekian, Concagh, Graham, O'Leahy, Java, Coen