05.12.2013 Fernandes 2:6 Green Briar O30 8:30AM (Roosevelt HS)
Goal: Kearney Assist: Hunter
Goal: Kearney Assist: O'Connor
Goal: McGuinness Assist: n/a
Goal: Kearney Assist: Hunter
Goal: O'Connor Assist: Graham
Goal: O'Brien Assist: O'Connor
Goal: Kearney Assist: O'Connor
Goal: McGuinness Assist: n/a
Goal: Kearney Assist: Hunter
Goal: O'Connor Assist: Graham
Goal: O'Brien Assist: O'Connor
Green Briar recorded their long overdue first win of the season at the sixth attempt. Tom McElwain should be happy with the performance and result. Tom is finally seeing the deserved fruits of the new coaching style he's brought to the training ground and the sideline. Performances have been there, just not the result. Today, the Greens got it right.
A terrific opening 10 minutes saw the Briar fly into a 2:0 lead. Firstly Ian Hunter rose well to nod the ball into Eamonn Kearney's path who beat the keeper at the second attempt. As Fernandes were licking their wounds the Briar struck again. Leo O'Connor threading a slide rule pass through to Kearney who slotted the ball into the corner with the coolest of touches.
The Briar were unlucky not to make it three later in the first half. Gavin Hall volleyed tremendously from the edge of the box but the ball agonizingly rebounded off the inside of the upright and away to safety. Fernandes finally got into the game 10 minutes before the break. Indecision in the Briar back line afforded the Fernandes striker enough space to side foot the ball to the bottom corner and as the half came to close with a scoreline of 2:1, the Briar felt they hadn't capitalized on their dominance.
The second half followed in the same vein as the opening minutes of the match. Brian McGuinness found a wonder strike from distance as he swept the ball into the top right corner with his cultured right foot. Minutes later it was 4:1. Ian Hunter was yet again tormenting his marker down the right. His pin point cross was met on the volley by hatrick hero Eamonn Kearney. The emphatic strike put the rubber stamp on the striker's great day in front of the net.
Playing comfortably at this stage, the score was made 5:1 when a nice freekick was hung up at the back post by Michael Graham. Leo O'Connor, with his head like a 50 pense piece actually got one right this time, and nodded home from inside the 6 yard box. To Fernandes' credit, they answered with a header of their own makig it 5:2 soon after, but the final word went to John O'Brien, as he bundled a ball home from 6 yards after Leo had done some spade work in the box.
Great win for Tom and his charges, as the Briar climb from the cellar in Division 3S, but there is plenty of work to do in the coming weeks.
05.12.2013 Celtic FC 0:2 Green Briar FC 1:00PM (Millennium Park)
Goal: McLoughlin Assist: McGuinness
Goal: McLoughlin Assist: n/a
A controversial penalty was at the centre of discussions following the meeting of Celtic and the Briar. While defending a free-kick that was delivered into their box, a Celtic defender, having heard a whistle, deliberately handled the ball thinking the play was dead. The ball was in fact live, and after consulting his linesman, the referee pointed to the spot, much to the ire of the Celtic players.
Brian McGuinness stepped up and saw his penalty saved by the Celtic keeper but Keith McLoughlin reacted quickest to the rebound driving the ball home from close range. Celtic will be further agrieved as claims of encroachment on the kick were also waived away.
Celtic had earlier rocked the crossbar of the Briar, unlucky not to take the lead themselves. So to find themselves down after that strange passage of play, while earlier spurning their own best chance, Celtic needed to push on looking for an equalizer.
In doing so, they left themselves shorthanded at the back on a couple of occasions. The first instance, a four on two breakaway was spurned by the Briar, but the second, a two on one break was converted. Keith McLoughlin picked up a clearance on the halfway line and advanced the ball down the left and towards goal. His squaring pass was settled by Michael Hardy but the shot was blocked. Celtic failed to clear their lines, however. Keith McLoughlin again was sharp, nicking the ball from the defender and flicking home with the outside of his left boot.
The second goal made the points safe for the Briar and capped a great performance on the wing by McLoughlin.The welcome return of Peter Miller was also notable as he and the backline secured another clean sheet. Up next for the Briar is a home fixture versus Lowell United, once again at Millennium Park with a 2PM Kick Off.
Goal: McLoughlin Assist: n/a
A controversial penalty was at the centre of discussions following the meeting of Celtic and the Briar. While defending a free-kick that was delivered into their box, a Celtic defender, having heard a whistle, deliberately handled the ball thinking the play was dead. The ball was in fact live, and after consulting his linesman, the referee pointed to the spot, much to the ire of the Celtic players.
Brian McGuinness stepped up and saw his penalty saved by the Celtic keeper but Keith McLoughlin reacted quickest to the rebound driving the ball home from close range. Celtic will be further agrieved as claims of encroachment on the kick were also waived away.
Celtic had earlier rocked the crossbar of the Briar, unlucky not to take the lead themselves. So to find themselves down after that strange passage of play, while earlier spurning their own best chance, Celtic needed to push on looking for an equalizer.
In doing so, they left themselves shorthanded at the back on a couple of occasions. The first instance, a four on two breakaway was spurned by the Briar, but the second, a two on one break was converted. Keith McLoughlin picked up a clearance on the halfway line and advanced the ball down the left and towards goal. His squaring pass was settled by Michael Hardy but the shot was blocked. Celtic failed to clear their lines, however. Keith McLoughlin again was sharp, nicking the ball from the defender and flicking home with the outside of his left boot.
The second goal made the points safe for the Briar and capped a great performance on the wing by McLoughlin.The welcome return of Peter Miller was also notable as he and the backline secured another clean sheet. Up next for the Briar is a home fixture versus Lowell United, once again at Millennium Park with a 2PM Kick Off.
No comments:
Post a Comment