Boys U16 (2010) Premier - Willow Park
Naas AFC U16s Storm to 6–2 Victory Over Willow Park
Naas AFC U16s produced a brilliant all-round team performance on Saturday, running out 6–2 winners against a strong Willow Park side from Athlone. The game was packed with skill, determination, and some truly memorable goals that had our supporter cheering from start to finish.
In tough windy conditions, Naas lost the toss and played into a gale force wind.From the first whistle, Naas looked sharp and hungry. The front line pressed high, the midfield battled hard, and the defence stayed organised against Willow Park’s quick forwards.
Naas dominated for the first 20 minutes and were camped in the opponents half, but could only create half chances. Willow were relying on long balls, to their speedy, tall winger. Against the run of play, Willow scored, when there winger struck from 12 yards.
Naas equalised within 10 minutes, following excellent play down the left fron Evan Malone, who found Jack inside the box. Jack produced a tidy finish from 8 yards.
Willow went back into the lead 2 minutes later, when we failed to clear our lines, and their winger looped a shot into the net from the edge of the box.
From here on in, Naas dominated. We equalised on the 35th minute, and was a carbon copy of the first goal, but roles reversed. Jack set up Evan, agin down the left. Evan Malone made no mistake from 8 yards. We took the lead just before half time. James Collins played a hopeful ball into the box, it looked like the keeper would claim it, but Evan Malone had other ideas, and jumped highest, to flick a header into the net.
The second half, aided by a strong wind, was all Naas. We started to move the ball quicker and created a load of chances. The 4th would not come.
But cometh the hour, cometh the man, with 10 minutes left,Evan Malone grabbed his hat trick in style.— a dazzling left-footed goal after beating three defenders, with some kind of Maradona esque skills before slotting the ball home. It was a moment of magic that summed up the confidence and flair of this Naas team.
Ned Keogh showed excellent composure to make it five with a tidy strike of his own after being played through by James Collins.
Captain James Collins rounded off the scoring in spectacular fashion — a thunderbolt from the edge of the box that rocketed into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper no chance. It was a true captain’s goal and the perfect way to cap off a commanding performance.
It was a fantastic effort from every player in blue — from the solid defence of Andrew, Dan, Evan and Cormac, and tireless midfield of Sean, James and Cian to the sharp, creative forwards, Conor, Jack, Ned, Loch, and Dara.
Special mention to Matthew McCarthy, who stepped into nets and gave an assured performance and Evan Malone who scored the perfect hat trick.
Final Score: Naas AFC 6 – 2 Willow Park (Athlone)
Goals: Evan Malone (3), Jack O’Brien (1), Ned Keogh (1), James Collins (1)
