Our under 18 team kicked off their season with a very impressive victory away to Arklow Town winning a seven goal thriller 4-3. This was an excellent match between two evenly matched teams who served up a tasty game despite the hot conditions. Rovers raced into a 3-0 lead, a Luke Dunne corner was met with a bullet header from Ben Patterson at the back post to make it 1-0. It was 2-0 shortly after, Luke Dunne was fouled out on the left wing, from the resulting free Ben Patterson got on the end of it for his second of the game with another brilliant header. Alec Richardson nabbed the third Rovers goal when he bravely beat the keeper to the ball to fire home. The home side showed great character to battle back as they took the game to Rovers, they got a route back into the match when they were awarded a penalty which they successfully dispatched. Just before the break they reduced the deficit to one goal when they got on the end of a corner to make it 3-2 going in at the break. Rovers regrouped at the interval and came out on the front foot, their slick passing in the middle third led to their fourth goal when Luke Dunne broke through to make it 4-2. Arklow made it 4-3 in the closing minutes but Rovers kept going, held strong and were unlucky not to add to the score. Well done to the full squad that made the trip. Next game up is a home tussle with Carnew on Saturday afternoon at 2pm.