Boys U14 (2012) Major 2 - Sallins Celtic
The opening day of the 2025/26 season saw the two promoted M3 teams taking on each other in M2. The game started lively enough with both teams testing the keepers early on but it was Naas that was having the better of the exchanges with 3 early corners forcing Sallins into scrambled clearances. The breakthrough finally came in the 18th minute when Riley found Luke wide on the left, Luke cut inside and dances passed 2 defenders before steadying himself and curling the ball beyond the keeper into the bottom corner. The second wasn’t long in coming when Lavr, making his debut, used his strength to hold off 2 midfielders and play a through ball into Bens path but a defender brought him down before he could get a shot away. Ben picked himself up, dusted himself down and sent the keeper the wrong way. Last seasons top goalscorers were both up and running.
The second half started much the same way as the first with Naas on top and all of the Sallins attacks being repelled by a solid defence. Ten minutes into the second half three more of the new boys combined well to make it 3-0. Charlie took a quick throw in by the corner flag and found Frank who sent a dangerous cross into the area where James jumped to acrobatically finish from 6 yards out. But to act as a reminder that we have stepped up in divisions Sallins hit back immediately with a well worked goal. But the lads took that disappointment and used it to turn up the heat once more on their local rivals, this time another debutant Lorcan played a perfectly weighted pass down the right to Harry, who beat his marker before firing a cross into the 6 yard box where Frank found the bottom corner with a first time finish. Sallins to their credit never gave up and after a shot at the near post was well saved by Noah their next attack saw them reduce the deficit when another reaction save from Noah was finished by the Sallins attacker who reacted quickest. But on the day that belonged to the home side the last word was still to be head. James sent a defender the wrong way with a lovely drag back and found Harry just inside the 18 yard box. Harry took a touch before shooting underneath the advancing keeper.
A great start to the season with the well-deserved win against a team we failed to beat last year. The lads are still finding their feet but as the season progresses and they get to know each other we can only hope for more days like this.
