England 1-2 Ireland FT

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17/05/2002 - Irish Eyes Smiling as Owens loses record

England 1:2 Republic of Ireland ; Wales 2:1 Scotland

The UniBond Four Nations Tournament progressed to the mid-way stage last night, and after victories for Republic of Ireland at Boston United and Wales at Kettering Town, Saturday�s final fixture between the two countries at York Street will decide the destination of the inaugural UniBond Four Nations Trophy.

Wales lined up against Scotland at Rockingham Road geed-up by their Manager Tommi Morgan, who described himself as �absolutely gutted� when Simon Weatherstone�s late strike denied them victory against England on Tuesday.

Wales left-back Gary Lloyd of Welsh Double winners Barry Town put the Red Dragons a goal up on 55 minutes when he struck a curling free-kick from 20 yards into the top right-hand corner, and added to their tally on 84 minutes with a goal from Caersws� Graham Evans.

Mark Dickeson of Llanelli put in a cross from the left flank and Evans, who scored 18 goals in the League of Wales this season controlled the ball with his right foot, before hammering the ball home from 12 yards with his left.

With a win against Scotland, and a draw against England, Wales now take four points into their final match against Republic of Ireland on Saturday.

At York Street, the sun was once again out to greet the two sides, and a larger crowd of over five hundred had come out to watch John Owens' side take on a strong Republic of Ireland side managed by Don O� Riordan.

In contrast to earlier games in the Tournament, both sides started the game extremely positively, with the ball being passed around by both sets of players and some crunching tackles being put in as a sign of intent.

The first shot came on 7 minutes, when Ireland�s Captain Tony Gorman fired just wide from 20 yards.

Seven minutes later and the Irish had an even better opportunity. A neat passing move and through ball from the Northern Ireland League Player of the Year Vinny Arkins found fellow striker Jason Byrne. Escaping the attentions of the England back-line, the ball took a cruel bobble as he struck the ball, and Andy Woods in the England goal was able to avert the danger.

If England appeared to be on the back foot, Barnet�s Mark Gower was doing his best to create some space in the midfield, and twice he got to the Irish right to put crossed in, only for Simon Weatherstone on both occasions to be denied by stout Irish defending.

The first goal came on 21 minutes, and full credit must be given to the speed and class of finishing of the move.
Adam Lockwood lost possession just inside the Irish half, and at that stage there appeared to be little danger. That was without the speed of thought of Ireland�s left back David Crawley. Seeing Jason Byrne making a run on the English right, Crawley hit a beautiful diagonal ball 50 yards and Byrne, outpacing Neil Moore let the ball drop once before firing a measured half volley across Woods from 15 yards which found the net in off the left hand post. 0:1

England could have been back on level terms within a minute. From the kick-off, a lofted ball over the Irish back-line of Delaney and Jodie Lynch saw Simon Weatherstone draw Irish �keeper Seamus Kelly off his line, but with two defenders getting back to cover, Weatherstone could only curl his right footed shot just over the bar.
If the Irish saw this as a wake-up call, they responded immediately, and the goal was testament to a move that had obviously been born on the training ground.

From a throw-in on the left hand touchline, Vinny Arkins nodded the ball down into the path of Derek O�Brien. O�Brien hit a first time cross to the back post, where Trevor Molloy deftly cushioned the ball back into the path of Byrne, who swivelled his body to hook the ball low past Woods into the same left hand corner of the net, to extend the Irish sides lead. 0:2.

For the next fifteen minutes, O�Riordan�s side cleverly looked to calm the game down, spreading the ball from flank to flank, and making England chase the ball around the hard York Street pitch.

On 38 minutes, Kirk Jackson had a half-chance to bring England back into the game. A shot from 25 yards by Simon Wormull was blocked yet again by Delaney, and as the ball rebounded to Jackson just inside the 18-yard box, under pressure he could only steer the ball just wide of Kelly�s right hand post.

With half-time approaching Ireland could have twice added their lead. First Trevor Molloy beat Tim Ryan on the right touchline, cut inside the England area and squared the ball to Vinny Arkins on the six-yard box, but his shot was bravely blocked by Adam Lockwood.

Two minutes later though and Lockwood found himself beaten by O�Brien on the left and his pinpoint cross was just inches away from finding Jason Byrne who was looking to complete a first half hat-trick.

Half-Time: England 0:2 Republic of Ireland

If John Owens was to preserve his unbeaten record as Manager, and more importantly get his side back into the game, they needed an early second-half goal. It came on 50 minutes.

Mark Gower was fouled on the left hand touchline, and despite twice taking the free-kick, he was called back by Scottish referee Charlie Richmond who was still pushing the Irish wall back the full 10 yards.
At the third attempt, Gower found Neil Moore steaming in at the far post, and Moore powered a textbook header home from 6 yards to give Kelly no chance in the Irish goal, and bring England right back into the game. 1:2.

The goal galvanised the English side, and could even have seen England take the lead inside the hour mark. First Jason Goodliffe who was winning nearly everything in the air, won another header on the halfway line, flicking the ball out to Lockwood. A first time lob in the box saw Kirk Jackson momentarily escape his marker, but just at the moment of impact, he lost his footing and couldn�t direct enough power on his shot to beat Kelly.
Three minutes later it was the turn of Simon Wormull to float an inch- perfect cross from the right for Adam Stansfield, and the young Yeovil Town striker glanced his header agonisingly inches wide of the Irish left hand post, with Kelly beaten.

The final half hour saw a flurry of substitutions, as both sides continued to press. Billy Woods who came on to replace Derek O�Brien on the Irish left twice put in crossed that Arkins and Byrne just failed to connect with, whilst at the other end, the pace of Stansfield almost took him clear after a neat knock-down by Jackson, before Delaney got across to shield the ball back to Kelly.

James Taylor who had already hit the side-netting on 78 minutes then almost got the equaliser on 88 minutes. After a corner was only cleared as far as Tim Ryan, the England captain hooked the ball back into the Irish box, and Taylor could only agonisingly guide his shot just wide of the target.

TheFA.com caught up with the two Managers at the end, who were in understandably different moods:

�I thought we started the game well�, said Owens, �but we were made to pay for losing concentration in a five minute spell in the first half. The Irish side have some quality players and they took their chances extremely well.

In the Second Half I felt we took charge and got the early goal, but we just couldn�t find the equaliser, despite creating a lot more chances than against Wales.

I am disappointed that we will now not be lifting the first UniBond Four Nations Tournament Trophy, but now have to ensure that the players are prepared and motivated to finish on a high with a good performance and a win against Scotland on Saturday.�

Don O�Riordan was buoyant as he reflected on his side�s performance:
�I am absolutely delighted for the players tonight, and I felt we deserved the win. To be invited to take part in this tournament, and to represent their country is a huge honour for my players, and we came to this Tournament to try and take the Trophy back to Ireland.

I felt that we created more chances during the game, and I was especially pleased for Derek O�Brien who played brilliantly on the left despite not being fully fit, and for Jason Byrne who will collect his Man-of �the-Match Award at the Tournament Dinner on Saturday: he took his goals very well and could have scored another three."

Talking about the impact such performances will have back home, O�Riordan said:

�The Eircom League has had a lot of adverse publicity this season due to some administrative problems with player registrations, but for us, the Tournament gives our players the chance to showcase their talents to football club scouts present at the games, but also to boost the profile of our league, and to raise the perception levels of the quality on show in Ireland.�

O�Riordan now faces Wales on Saturday at Boston United, knowing that a draw will be enough to see his side clinch the Tournament. In a move to encourage and mobilise local support for this Tournament decider at York Street, The F.A. have decided that the game will be free admission to all supporters.

The final fixture of the Tournament will see England take on Scotland at Kettering Town, with pride and possible second place to play for.

Saturday 18th May � 2pm Kick-Off
Wales v Rep. of Ireland � Boston United

England :

Woods, Lockwood (75 mins � Roddis), Ryan (Captain), Goodliffe, Moore (84 mins- Drummond), Wormull, Weatherstone (75 mins � Taylor), Gower, Jackson (84 mins � McDougald), Stansfield, Angel

Ireland:

Kelly, Slolry, Crawley, Lynch, Delaney, Gorman (Captain), Osam, Molloy (86 mins � Tresson), O�Brien (64mins � Woods), Arkins (82 mins � Grant), Byrne