WDSL MATCH REPORT - U12 K&K WINDOWS PREMIER LEAGUE
WICKLOW ROVERS A 0 RATHNEW AFC 2
Rathnew remained unbeaten so far in the 2024 season of the WDSL U12 K&K Windows Premier League after a hard fought victory over local rivals Wicklow Rovers.
Substitute Callum Armstrong struck twice – once in each period on Wednesday evening at Whitegates – as the Villagers climbed up to second place in the charts.
The result moves the Shamrock Park based outfit up to second place – two points behind leaders Arklow United A – with both clubs having played four games.
The victory also moved Rathnew above Rovers in the standings, as the hosts suffered their fourth loss in seven outings.
But the final score did not reflect the effort put in by the Green and White’s. They were right in the tie until the visitors grabbed the crucial second goal two minutes deep into stoppage time.
The visitors were unlucky not to hit the front after just four minutes. But Zack Gough’s powerful run and 12-yard shot crashed back off the bar and bounced before the goal-line.
Gough rolled an effort just wide in the 11th minute before Rovers lost goalkeeper Caden O’Brien to injury.
Yet they almost levelled in the 20th minute only for Will McConnell to be denied by Eoin McManus.
Straight away, the Villagers took the lead.
From the result corner, they broke. Along the left channel, Fionn Fitzgerald showed great close to play in Armstrong who guided his low 15-yard finish into the far bottom corner of the net.
The second half hour was a tight contest.
Shane Lynch glanced a 37th minute header wide off a Ronan Merrigan free for the away team.
Then in the 41st minute, McManus again made a fine stop to deny McConnell again.
Fitzgerald fired wide on 50 after an attack from the centre circle.
With three minutes of normal left on the clock, McConnell’s looping header off Jamie McGowan’s corner dropped just wide.
With the game into the first minute of injury time, McGowan’s centre found Hugo Bradshaw. But his close range snap shot went just wide of the target.
Seconds later, Fitzgerald won possession on the left flank, He squared inside to the breaking Armstrong who drilled low to the net on the run from 15-yards.
WICKLOW ROVERS A: Caden O’Brien; Jamie McGowan, Matthew Costello, Hunter Hennessy; Sam Reade, Will McConnell, Hugo Bradshaw; Kai Hughes, Jamie Noctor.
SUBS: Ryan Newsome, Jacob Birrell, Darren Hennessey, Ben Murphy.
RATHNEW AFC A: Eoin McManus; Shane Lynch, Ronan Merrigan, Luke Gill; Luke O’Neill; Harry Mernagh, Rian Cahallan, Fionn Fitzgerald; Zack Gough.
SUBS: Joey Mitchell, Callum Armstrong, Zach Gough, Killian McCaul.
REFEREE: Tony Doran.
Report by Paul Dowling
