U15 Major Kildare Town vs Clane United – Match Report 09/12/17
Full Time: Kildare Town 1 Clane United 2
Competition: U15 Major Division
Venue: Doctors Road, Clane Co.Kildare
On a day when most games were called off,Clane u15s were fortunate to have their 2.00pm kick off away to Kildare ,go ahead on a fantastic pitch at Kildare Community School.A full squad of 15 made the trip.The weather stayed dry for the match as a lively opening saw early attacks for both teams.Clane were playing the better football and almost took the lead after 15 mins when Ryan O’ Connell was set up after a lovely through ball from Oisin O’ Sullivan ,but unfortunately skewed the shot wide.He made up for it 5 mins later however when the same two players combined and this time Ryan slotted home,snapping up the rebound after the keeper made a good initial save.Clane grew in confidence then, and the midfield of Rasdi Nsimba ,Sean Newman,Sean Sheridan and Ethan Farrell were getting a grip of the game as they were able to play some good passing football on the best ,and widest pitch they had played all season. A few chances were created but Clane were unable to add another and almost paid for it when a Kildare striker slipped through to get a shot away but keeper Tom Nolan pushed it around the post .It was Kildare’s best chance of the first half,and the first time they breached through Clane’s solid looking defensive line of Cian Nowlan,Adam Farrell,David Lavin and Mark McCormack.
Two substitutions were made 10 minutes before the break with Rossa Hallisey coming on at left midfield and Joseph Conway up front.The first half finished 1-0 to Clane.
The second half saw the introduction of sub’s Ronan Murphy and Tom Whelan and the game continued in the same vein for the next 10-15 mins with both teams creating half chances.Kildare raise their game and had a 10 min spell of sustained pressure as Clane dropped deeper,protecting their lead,and they were rewarded 12 mins from time when their big striker got sent through on the right and, after he made it to the byline ,was able to squeeze a shot under the keeper and in at the back post. 1-1 and all to play for.
Kildare could sense victory and were committing players forward but Clane kept their heads and shape and played their way out of trouble, creating more chances eventually scoring with 5 mins left,what turned out to be the winning goal. Oisin O’Sullivan found Rossa Hallisey in space on the left and ,from 25 yards out,he let fly with a low, left foot drive which the keeper could only parry out into the path of the onrushing Sean Sheridan who made sure from 6 yards.
Clane celebrated but they had a scare near the end when Kildare’s goalscorer was sent clear for a one on one but was thwarted by an outstanding save by Clane keeper Tom Nolan,ensuring the points went home with Clane.
There was late drama at the end as Rasdi Nsimba was hauled down in the Kildare box with seconds to go but no penalty given by the referee, and as the ball broke out of the area through a crowd of players,Sean Sheridan unleashed an unstoppable shot from 20yards, in off the underside of the bar and into the net but the referee had blown for an unseen foul.
One Clane player got himself booked in the protests.
The full time whistle followed the Kildare free kick and the Clane Utd players were able to celebrate a hard fought but well deserved 2-1 victory.
A great match to watch between two committed but fair teams.
Man of the match:
It’s hard to pick out one individual but, for a great man marking job on Kildare’s best player ,Mark McCormack at left back just shades it.
Andy Newman
