Wicklow Rovers U12 A team began their competitive league campaign yesterday with a pulsating match against Arklow United at the Rocky Road. Despite being without at least four players due to illness, the lads showed great character and determination to secure a 3-2 victory against a good Arklow outfit.

Rovers took the lead after ten minutes when Rian Jameson scored the opener, following some neat play down the left. However, United equalized shortly after. Rovers failed to clear the initial corner, and Arklow reacted quicker to the second ball, firing it home. Arklow then took the lead just before halftime, leaving the score at 2-1 in favour of the visitors at the break.

In the second half, Rovers fought back and leveled the score at 2-2. Nathan Quinn played a through ball for Mark Yukhymenko, who drove a low shot past the keeper and into the bottom corner. With ten minutes remaining, Rovers grabbed the decisive goal. A Nathan Quinn free-kick into a dangerous area took a deflection off an Arklow player and ended up in the net.

The final score was 3-2 to Wicklow Rovers.