Boys U14 (2013) Major 2 - Sallins Utd
Naas Hit Six in the October Sunshine
A beautiful warm October morning, with the sun shining and a dew-covered pitch, provided the perfect setting for what turned out to be a brilliant day at the office for the Naas lads.
From the opening whistle, the effort and attitude from every player was excellent. Naas looked to get on the ball, play football and work for each other, and that energy was maintained right through to the final whistle.
Naas thought they had made the breakthrough after 20 minutes when Charlie produced a wonderful ball for Tighe, who finished superbly, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. It looked a very tight call — and certainly one the Naas sideline felt had gone the wrong way!
The breakthrough eventually arrived on 29 minutes. Oscar Ross did brilliantly to keep the ball alive before laying it back to Sheasy, who slipped a lovely pass through for Ryan.
Ryan showed great composure, taking the ball around the advancing keeper before finishing well to open his account and give Naas a deserved 1–0 lead.
Just three minutes later, Naas doubled their advantage. After a real tussle for possession in the middle of the park, Cian Keogh picked up the ball and produced a neat finish at the near post to make it 2–0.
If there was any danger of Naas taking their foot off the pedal after the break, it disappeared almost immediately.
The first attack of the second half produced a third goal, with Ryan grabbing his second of the morning. Another composed finish, driven low to the keeper's right, gave Naas the perfect start to the half and put them firmly in control at 3–0.
The lads continued to push forward and were rewarded again on 50 minutes. Adam delivered a quality corner into the danger area and Robbie attacked it brilliantly, powering a bullet header into the net for 4–0.
Five minutes later came perhaps the most spectacular effort of the morning. Cian Keogh unleashed a rasping strike from an acute angle which smashed against the underside of the crossbar. The ball somehow stayed out initially, only to rebound against an unsuspecting defender and end up in the net.
A little bit of fortune in the finish perhaps, but the strike that created it deserved a goal.
Naas weren't finished yet.
On 65 minutes, Oscar Ross capped off the scoring with a terrific attacking run down the left. Anticipating a wonderful cross coming in from the right, Oscar timed his run perfectly before driving the ball home to make it six.
Full-time: Naas 6–0
While six goals will naturally grab the headlines, the clean sheet was every bit as pleasing. The defence was solid throughout, dealing with anything that came their way and giving the opposition very little opportunity to build any sustained pressure. The concentration levels remained high even as the scoreline increased, with everyone continuing to track runners, compete for loose balls and do the less glamorous side of the game.
That defensive discipline provided the platform for the attacking players to express themselves at the other end.
A brilliant day at the office for the lads on a warm and sunny October morning. Six goals, a clean sheet, some excellent football and, most importantly, a fabulous effort from every player right up to the final whistle.
Nobody switched off, nobody stopped working and the lads continued to play for each other regardless of the scoreline.
A thoroughly deserved result and a performance the whole squad can be proud of. Days like this are there to be enjoyed — well done, lads!
