Bridge United A 1

Shannon Town A 2

Brian O Connor ⚽

Brian Monaghan ⚽

Our junior A team kept up the great run of form with a another big win away to Bridge United Sunday morning, the game started out a bit sloppy for both teams as the pitch being very sticky after Saturday's rain made difficult conditions to start with. Both teams failing to really take control in the early stages, just over midway into the first half the Town did start to take control a small bit putting together some good passages of play only for the Bridge defense and midfield to keep the score at 0-0, the Town nearly did and probably should have made it 1-0 when a great run down the right wing by Brian O Connor saw him cross to Colin Scanlan at the back post, he controlled the ball which gave the Bridge defender a chance to make the block on the shot 6 yards from goal. As the half came to a close the Town did eventually break the deadlock when a through ball by Brian Monaghan gave Brian O Conner a foot race with the keeper trying to clear the ball, Brian winning the race he managed to flick the ball past the Bridge keeper and blast into the empty net to make it 1-0 at half time.

The 2nd half started with the Bridge coming out with a bit of aggression which saw them take control for a good 15 minutes and really push the Town back 4, but with Colum Treacy, Darren Griffin, Steven Carroll and Aiden Leahy all making some great clearances and blocks and the ever reliant keeper Darren Whelan making 2 excellent saves in succession to keep the Bridge out. But after 75 minutes on the clock the Bridge did get rewarded for their aggression when their striker was awarded a penalty for what the ref deemed a push in the back, but only to see Darren Whelan make the save from the spot, pushing the effort out for a corner. The Town defense clearing the initial corner resulted in a free kick just on the edge of the Town box. The Bridge striker blasted into the corner to make 1-1, making amends for missing from the spot a few minutes before. The Town knowing that they needed to up the tempo if they were to take all 3 points, with 85 minutes on the clock they saw themselves win a free kick on the edge of the Bridge box, up stepped Brian Monaghan, he drilled his effort to the keepers side of the net catching him off guard, the keeper couldn't make the save. 2-1 in the end and the Town showed a bit of desire to come away with all 3 points and go top of the Premier Division 2 points clear having played 1 game more than Avenue United in 2nd.

Up next for the Town A sees them take on 3rd place Newmarket Celtic A in McDonagh Park for an 11am kick off. This promises to be a thriller!!

Man of the Match

Darren Whelan