Shels Match Report for ET.ie
http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/11302/2/
By Gordon Hunt
Ritchie Baker was the provider tonight as Shelbourne beat a quite handy Wexford Youth’s side at Tolka Park. Baker first crossed for Paddy Madden’s debut goal for the Reds halfway through the first half. Gavin Doyle equalised for the Youth’s just before the break however a Baker corner in the seventieth minute set up Anto Flood to tap in the winner.
After a fairly dull start, devoid of any half-chances, let alone clear-cut ones, it took a Red’s legend to create an opening. It was a nostalgic goal for Shels’ as Ritchie Baker turned back the years in the twenty-fifth minute with a fantastic cross from the right wing. Paddy Madden rose highest and headed the ball into the far corner with Packie Holden unable to do anything about it in Wexford’s goal.
With that, Shels’ seemed to grow in confidence, and began playing some mildly decent football. However Wexford were level just before the break when some poor defending allowed Gavin Doyle to smash in a fine effort from eight yards out. The Youth’s were not much of an attacking force in the opening 45, so the goal was as surprising as it was disappointing, from the home side’s point of view.
Shels’ came out firing in the second half, looking to make amends as quick as possible. However despite three corners in the opening few minutes, it was the visitor’s who almost took the lead: Shane Dempsey ran on to David Miller’s ball and blasted a thirty-yard effort just over the bar.
Keely shook things up immediately, replacing Madden with Anto Flood and Mark O’Brien with Derek Doyle: with Shels’ moving to a 4-3-3 formation. It didn’t seem to be working however, as Wexford began to threaten on the break. David Miller was enjoying plenty of space on the left and Wexford really should have made more of his many crosses throughout a dangerous fifteen-minute spell.
However a Ritchie Baker corner twenty minutes from time again provided the home support with something to cheer about. Shels’ seemed to abandon their rather awful training ground set-piece plan, which I won’t even go into, and David McAllister peeled off his marker to head across goal. Last season’s top scorer, Anto Flood, was on hand to tap home.
Flood almost made it three with eleven minute’s remaining when he burst through on goal from the halfway line, however Shane Dempsey did just enough to put him off and his shot went just wide.
Shels’ began to sit back as the clock wore down and almost paid the price in the eighty-seventh minute. John Flynn-O’Connor’s corner was met by David Breen, six-yards out, however he couldn’t direct his header on target.
Wexford continued to press however could not break through the home side’s defence and Shels’ will be pleased to have started the season with a hard fought win.
Man of the match: David McAllister – No real standout player but the midfielder did well all game, rarely losing possession.
Attendance: 1077
Shelbourne: Delaney, Brennan, Crawley, Keely, Doherty (Whelan 79), O’Brien (Doyle 62), McAllister, Cassidy, Hynes, Madden (Flood 62), Baker
Subs not used: McGill, Quigley
Wexford Youths: Holden, Rossiter, Flynn-O’Connor, McGrath, Breen, Russell (Keohane 80), Malone, Dempsey (Kelly 64), Doyle, White, Miller (Sinnott 80)
Subs not used: McCurtain, Broaders
