Champions League Final
Bluestreak 6-1 Wembledines
The free scoring Bluestreak started fast in this Cup final encounter. 4 minutes in, a snapshot from Gary forced a save from the leg of Wembledines keeper Frank McEvoy. Bluestreak were happy to take the game to Wembledines and looked intent on a plan of attacking and hoping to outscore the opposition even if meant they were left vulnerable at the back. 17 minutes in, Bluestreak centreback Dara Shanahan did his best Thiago Silva impression and rifled a pass from inside his own half dissecting the Wembledines back line. The ball arrived in between the six-yard line and eighteen-yard line but the Bluestreak winger was just a second too late to connect with the ball.Two minutes later, Frank was called into action again making another good save with his feet. Bluestreak finally made the pressure count in the 22nd minute. A move starting from a throw in from the right side saw Gary finish and put Bluestreak 1 up. Despite protestations for offside, the player in an offside position was deemed to be inactive while the goalscorer had stayed onside. The second goal came a minute later after a break down the left. A low cross was squared to a central area on the edge of the box and the ball was banged home. Wembledines responded well and in the 28th minute grabbed one back with a right footed curler from outside the box. 2-1 Bluestreak going in at half time and all to play for the in the second half.
The game took a crucial turn in the 40th minute. The aerially dominant Bluestreak won the initial ball from a corner forcing a fantastic low save from the Dines keeper (video below), the unlucky Wembledines succumbed to the rebound and Bluestreak went 3-1 up.
Bluestreak kept the pedal to the metal and hit the post from distance in the 41st minute. In the 42nd, an almost carbon copy of the third goal saw Bluestreak win the initial header from the corner and force another great save from McEvoy. This save was more towards the top corner than the bottom corner but the resulting loose ball was again met by a Bluestreak man and Dines found themselves with a 3 goal deficit to make up. Dines never gave up and threw caution to the wind to try to get back in the game. The mountain proved too big to climb and Bluestreak added two more before the game's end to record a emphatic 6-1 win and retain the Champions League!
Europa League Final
Team Lightning 5-1 Alfies Heroes
Team Lightning picked the right night to find their first ever win over Alfies Heores. Boasting a lifetime series record of 5 wins and 1 draw vs Lightning, Alfies never really got going in this Plate final. A 30 yard screamer from Colm Heffernan saw Lightning take the lead in the 15th minute. On the stroke of half time, a deep ball into the back post was met again by Colm Heffernan and Lightning came in 2 up at the break. In the 43rd minute, Lightning killed off the game when a through ball found Kevin who slotted home. Alfies got one back in the 50th minute but a remarkable comeback wasn't to be as Lightning added two more in the closing stages to cap off a 5-1 win.
UL Friday Night League Results 2022/23
