Sunday, 30th November, 2014
It was an early start for Malahide’s U14 girls as they set their alarms for a 9:30am KO away to Greystones Utd on Sunday morning. A perfect morning with the game played on the hosts all weather pitch made for an enjoyable and entertaining affair with both sides pressing throughout.
Rusty
Malahide were playing their first competitive game in over a month and this was evident in early exchanges where passing, reactions and tackling were not up to usual standards and a littlesluggish (not aided by the 7:30am rise for most of the girls!!). Alex McLoughney, Zoe Ellingboe, Aly McGrath and Izzy McCarville started in the back line in front of keeper Sophie Rickard. The midfield comprised of Naomi Flynn, Ali O’Keefe, Kathy Spain and captain Alexia Ridge-Sanchez. Erika Browne and Ellie Forrester were in attack.
Malahide had the best of chances in a relatively even first half. Spain put Ellie Forrester thru midway through the first period and her right footed drive cannoned back of the upright. In defence Zoe Ellingboe was superb in her reading and interceptions of the host’s speedy wingers. Alex McLoughney had her best game of the season with a very composed display of marking, tackling and accurate passing. Aly McGrath commanded the back four and instructed the midfield while McCarville made some great tackle and clearances. Terrific to see Aly grow into this role and starting to give instructions to her team mates. Eimear Crean came on up front and Thea Edwards replaced Spain who took a knock to the knee in midfield. Emer Kenny and Ellen Daly arrived with no shim pads and the ref would not entertain them playing. The coaches did try and experiment with swapping shin pads with players coming off but this was too time consuming and meant the team down to 10 players while that was going on.
All square at the break
So 0-0 at half time, the hosts came out in second half flying and only for some great defending by Ellingboe and some good saves by Rickard, Greystones would have had an early second half lead. The hosts did go 1-0 after another miss-placed pass by Malahide let them counter attack and they finished it off.
Malahide pressed for the equalizer and pushed on leaving themselves open to the counterattack. The Malahide defensive line had an outstanding day with both defending duties and also their distribution of the ball from the back. Flynn worked tirelessly down the left hand side of midfield and had several shots saved and crosses cut out. O’Keefe on the right side made some great runs and swung in some fine crosses too. Browne dropped back into midfield to help Edwards and Ridge-Sanchez and this move paid off when all the Utd pressure led to a pass to Erika who let fly with a marvellous volley from all of 25 yards which flew over the home keeper and into the roof of the net. 1-1 and deservedly so.
Malahide looked like the most likely to go on and sneak a winner. However, with 10 minutes to go, Greystones again counter attacked and a speculative shot eluded Rickard in goals. A stunned Malahide threw everything at the home defence in search of another equalizer only to concede again in the last minute to another counter attack.
A little harsh result based on the balance of play but all in all, the effort from all players was terrific and the rustiness wore off as the game progressed. The squad missed Andrea Roche and Emma Clinton who were both unfit for the game and will hopefully back in action next weekend. It was great to get a game under the belts although disappointed with the result against a very useful Greystones side, the Malahide girls put in a great shift.
Thanks to the travelling parents for their terrific support and to Vincent McGrath for the terrific pictures.
Squad: Thea Edwards, Aly McGrath, Ellie Forrester, Darina Flynn, Katie Spain, Zoe Ellingboe, Sophie Rickard, Alex McLoughney, Erika Browne, Sean McLoughney, Ellen Daly, Ali O’Keefe, Naomi Flynn, Eimear Crean, Emer Kenny, Bert Ellingboe, Issy McCarville, Alexia Ridge-Sanchez (Capt.).
