Boys U12 (2014) Red - Clane United
Fresh off the back of last night’s thrilling encounter vs the Naas AFC legends, the lads were up early and ready to go again for the league opener against our friends at Clane United.
Recent games against Clane have been close affairs and today was no different. The first half was cagey with both sides trading passages of play and feeling each other out. There were half chances at both ends but the score remained 0–0 at the break.
The second half was a more open game with both sides starting to create more chances and test the defence.
Clane were first to strike forcing an excellent close range save from Conall early in the half. Naas created some chances our own too with Geo, Eoin and Sean testing the Clane keeper.
Clane introduced some subs midway through the half which upped the ante. Naas had to be at their best to keep the Clane attack at bay & while riding their luck at times; John, Sam & Matthew unlocked their inner Maldini, Beckenbauer & McGrath in showing they were well up to the task with some incredible blocks & clearances.
Murilo & Adi were terrific in the centre of the park. Murilo offering a constant threat with his mazy dribbles and Adi breaking up play after play with his tackles. Up top, out wide and anywhere else we needed him, Logan ran his heart out but his best was yet to come.
With the clock ticking down, a winner was looking unlikely & Naas were forced into a change in the backline due to exhaustion. For a moment it looked like this change was going to be a turning point when the Clane forward beat the offside line and raced through onto goal. His effort rattled the side netting in such a manner that the away sideline celebrated in ecstasy!!! Alas, it was not to be….goal kick, Naas.
From the resulting restart, Naas were about to deliver
their sucker punch. The long kick from Conall made its way over the top and forced a corner on the far side. Up stepped Logan to take his second corner of the half; his first delivery was good, his second was even better finding Sam on the near post who bundled the ball into the net. 1-0 to Naas with about 5 mins to go….
The lads did a superb job absorbing the pressure for those last 5 mins (which felt longer on the sideline). And while Clane may have been unlucky in being denied a late penalty (swear the ref put his whistle to his lips…), Naas held in for the win!
While “1-0 to Naas” may not have the same ring to it as “1-0 to the Arsenal”, this was a performance that even George Graham’s most boring teams would have been proud of & we will take the same every week of needs be.
Result aside, the performance was one of the best this squad have put in since picking pockets out in Kill a couple years back! Well done lads & thanks as always to the parents & friends supporting on the sidelines!
