Match Report: Anthony Garvey
Park FC Under 12Bs 2-0 Listowel Celtic – 14 April 2018
A full squad of fifteen Park players turned up on a fine, breezy day, to face a strong Listowel Celtic side. Park Under 12B coaches, Paul and Anthony rotated their players to make sure they all got at least 20 minutes game time in the match.
Park started both halves with the same team: Casper in goal, a strong defence of Sean Solomon, Sean Heaslip and Rory, a marauding midfield duo of Jakob and Zach, fast wingers Sean Whelan and Lucas and electric William up front.
From the start Park played with the wind at their backs knowing the breeze was worth at least an extra goal to them. Park had the bulk of the chances, with Listowel content to defend. Listowel’s game plan seemed to be to hit their hosts on the break, trying to beat Park’s offside trap as our defenders pushed up to the half-way line to keep the pressure on.
With 20 minutes gone, Zach floated a ball into Jakob who beat two Listowel defenders and curled a low shot into the bottom corner to put Park into the lead. Eugene, Odhran and Adam came on as Listowel pressed for an equaliser and Park brought on Mark, Jack and Rex to shore the defence up as half time approached. Paul delivered some powerful words of inspiration at the half-time break, encouraging the team to keep the ball on the ground when playing into the ever-increasing wind.
Disaster struck early in the second half when Jakob connected with a Listowel attacker in the penalty box and the referee pointed to the spot, but Casper stood tall and saved brilliantly. With both teams making further substitutions, the game flowed from end-to-end, with several goalmouth scrambles, until man-of-the-match William, who had run all day, skipped past the Listowel defence and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Two great team performance in a game played in good spirit and the enthusiastic crowd applauded both teams off the pitch.
