Boys U16 (2009) Major - Opponent

Naas Afc 5 Arlington 4. Todays win brings us to second in the table, and we maintain our unbeaten run. We now have 10 points after 4 games, almost triple last seasons total. 

We kicked off at 10:30 am , away in Arlington on the back pitch. Without our captain Sean we reverted to a back 4 for the game, playing a 4-2-3-1. 

We started well and went 1-0 up inside the first five minutes, after Drew Sinkey got on the end of an intelligent pass from Matthew Howard. Tadhg and Drew added a further 2 goals in quick succesion and it looked set to be a comprehensove victory. 

However, due to an error at the back, Arlington were gifted a scrappy goal and a way back into the game. We pushed on and Tadhg Keane added a second to his tally for the day. Before the half was out , sloppy defending allowed Arlington another goal. We went into the break at 4-2, in control with a two goal cushion. 

In the opening exchanges of second half we played a better game, keeping more ball in midfield and creating chances. Against the run of play, Arlington were the first to draw blood in the second half and we were left with a real game on our hands. 

we remained composed and didnt lose the heads just because we conceded. 

Shortly after the goal, Tadhg Keane found himself on the end of a long ball through and shrugged off his man to find the net for his hat-trick. This gave us back the two goal cushion and control of the game. Instead of pushing on however, we found our backs to the walls for the remainder of the game. After a bad mix up in the box, Arlington got a fourth and it was game on for the remaining 15. 

Craig stepped it up in the final minutes , with great saves and great catches off the corners. Superb defending from Ross Wheeler and Matthew Howard held off the relentless attack and we held out to win 5-4. 

A win is a win, but I think we all know we made a problem for ourselves today and turned what should have been a steady victory into a dogfight, although we did show our character in our defending to hold onto the game. We must learn from our mistakes and push on to next week.