Barely Athletic v Cutters
Not much split these sides all night. Both teams tried to work each other out for the entirety of the first half with no real chances to boot. The sides went in 0-0 and this was a fair scoreline. The game was turned on its head when the Cutters keeper went down with a hamstring injury. With no subs, up stepped the Cutters manager Eoghan Begley to help out the side. Again the second half followed suit with both keepers not really tested until a long range effort from Brian Howard helped Barely edge out a nervy affair with a 1-0 scoreline.
Black Swans v Bluestreak
This had the look of a post-Christmas tie as both sides had very little on the sideline, 1 sub for the Swans and just the bare 11 for Bluestreak. The tie started out scrappy and it was Bluestreak who nearly took the lead, but to be denied by the brilliant John Sheahan who would have to be called upon again as the tie went on. The first goal of the game came through the very lively Eric who proved too quick for the Bluestreak back 4. This would be the only goal of the half as the Swans went in deserved 1-0 leaders. A true moment of brilliance put the Swans 2-0 up when Dave Power made use of his terrific left boot and lobbed the keeper from a good 40 yards on the sideline. A Magic goal. Bluestreak pushed for an equaliser and a James Hayes free kick was met at the back post but was headed agonisingly over the bar. A huge and deserved 2-0 win for the Swans.
Sporting Viking v Polonia
This was the game of the evening. Both sides were very evenly matched for the first half. Players on either team holding absolutely nothing back in freezing conditions. The first real chance fell to Polonia and only for an excellent save from the Viking keeper it would have been 1-0. The first goal did then fall to Polonia when the excellent Kuba fired them ahead with a lovely finish. This kicked Sporting Viking into gear, and they levelled through a beautiful Alan Keane finish. He managed a lovely turn in the box and made no mistake when afforded his opportunity. Viking then got a huge goal on the stroke of half time through their main man and goal scoring machine Devlin Price. Price called for a ball into the box, and powerfully got his head to guide it into the near corner to put his side ahead at the break. Viking again pushed and made the momentum count early in the second half and again another great headed goal, this time scored by the influential Aaron Grant, who inexplicably was wearing a hat playing the game and his hat vacated his head as he nodded home! Viking did however sit back after this and drew unneeded pressure onto themselves and Polonia were getting plenty of joy in attack. They pulled one back with a great strike on the edge of the box. They had numerous corners at the death as they desperately searched for an equaliser, but Viking held strong and secured a big 3 points. 3-2
Wembledines v Alfies Heroes
Another very evenly contested game with two very experienced Friday night lineups. Like the Black Swans and Bluestreak earlier, both sides didn’t have much of a bench to call on. Alfies found themselves with their main man Ger Fitz in goals who did a fine job all things told. The game had few chances and went into the break 0-0. It stayed that way until Wembledines were awarded a penalty which a few of the Alfies lads were not too pleased about. Des o Donoghue riffled a confident penalty past the diving Fitz into the right top corner. Wembledines pushed on and grabbed a second through a lovely sliding finish from Richie. With his team in need, Ger Fitz retired the gloves and made his move up field. Alfies will bemoan not making this call earlier and Fitz fired home a goal to bring his side back from the dead! Alfies pushed hard and applied some real pressure to the Wembledines back 4, but Wembledines held out for a hard fought 2-1 victory
