- OUR PARTNERS
U13 A DDSL Saturday, Sat 13 th October 2018
Portmarnock AFC 1 - 0 Ballyoulster – Super Strike Wins Day for Porto!
An inform Porto, without a loss in their last 6 matches, took the rain drenched M50 out west to battle the 4 th
placed team in the league this morning. Visibility en-route was limited, focus on the game from the away
team was clear from the warm-up.
The wet surface asked questions of both teams technically, cat and mouse at times, neither side wanting to
make a mistake or walk away without any points. Porto stood strong throughout, a solid foundation at the
back from a vocal Mattie Gleeson in goal, and 4-man defence that has grown to have no lack of challenge
or communication when the ball is with the opposition. A brick wall performance again from Centre Half
James Reen set the precedence again this morning, with a relentless partnership with Archie Duncan at
Sweeper, taking care of the clean-up and any opposing runner. Their fellow wing backs also provided
confidence and spirit in the team at left side, Ian Goodwin and right side, Colin Buckley, both building
momentum up and down the pitch, proving too much for the away attack.
Porto were ready from the off today, and chances started to come. The ball zipped around a perfect
surface that suited them in possession. Constant availability from an energetic centre mid partnership of
Emmett Fields and Max Stanley, stretching the opposition with crisp passing and movement, keeping the
ball away from a conjected middle. Wide play started to build nicely on the left flank with Liam Lyons,
beating players for fun at times, and a solid Ian Moran on right flank, also threading balls through to the
front men and not allowing daylight to pass his right shoulder.
Several chances were created by Porto and a disallowed goal, clearly over the line, was their sole reward
in the first half. Most teams would drop their heads in sorrow, with no change out of these chances, but not
Porto, the decision drove them forward, into 4 th gear to create one or two chances more. Constant pressure
in the last 10 minutes of the 1 st , peppered the home team box with free kick opportunities. A teasing free
kick struck well by James Reen was managed with luck from their keeper, and a rasping shot from Emmett
Fields outside the box was also just about parried away, but the half time whistle came and gave
Ballyoulster a much-needed break.
Pride was the wake-up call for home team in the 2 nd half, talking just 2 or 3 minutes at the break then into
their positions for the 2nd half, a signal to Porto that they were ready for a different game and battle. The
home team started well in the 2nd and started to press balls through the middle, catching Porto off balance
at times. Good defending continued with the visitors, and a few direct balls down the channels from
defence supported the tireless demands of the ball from both Sean Killeen and Dylan Beed up front.
A chance arrived for Porto early in the 2nd, a channel ball down the left side chases Dylan Beed into
space, who is met by the home teams strongest mid field player, a bit of honest muscle in a 50/50 and a
cut inside by Dylan knocks their no. 8 off balance, a good touch on the inside to his favoured right foot
makes the home keeper move off his line. Keeping his head up and spot picked, like an arrow, outside the
box, 1-0 top corner, giving his team just rewards, super strike Dylan!
The Porto subs were drenched, but biting at the bit to get on the pitch today to support and taste this valiant
effort. The tireless Ian Moran was rested, and a vibrant Adam Gardiner came into the right side like a hand
in glove, with neat passing, strong tackling and heading a ball like a stone from the sky at one point for his
team. The enthusiastic Ethan Mitchell was asked to fill a new role up front as a holding player in order to
allow Sean Killeen to also have a breather – it worked, young Ethan used his physique on more than one
or two occasions shielding balls, holding off defenders and knocking balls out wide of danger to create
space on more than one occasion.
Porto held out, rode their luck once or twice in the 2nd half, but worked hard for it – well deserved, a credit to
themselves and a credit to the crest on their jersey’s.
With 3 games to go in the league, there’s a real chance of them getting higher in this competitive division
and maintain A league status next season. Not bad for a team who couldn’t buy a point before the break,
with also 2 of our best players unavailable for good reason today, suffering with injury and battle wounds
from this competitive division - we look forward to seeing you back soon lads- both team captain Joey
Kinnane and Jack LaComber!!
Man Of the Match – Sergio Ramos (aka Archie Duncan)
