WICKLOW ROVERS A 1 NEWBRIDGE UNITED 2

The WDSL’s involvement in the 2023/24 U15 SFAI SUBWAY National Cup - South Leinster came to an end today in Round four as Wicklow Rovers bowed out.

Newbridge advanced to the last four of the provincial section as they defeated the Green and White’s 2-1 at a bitterly cold Whitegates on Saturday afternoon.

United posed the more attacking threat throughout the contest on a sticky pitch that hadn’t fully recovered from the overnight frost.

Despite some fine approach play, Wicklow lacked that clinical edge up front to trouble their opponents.

But two red cards in the space of just 70 second half seconds contributed to the home side’s loss.

Rovers though were aggrieved before that – and afterwards - at a number of disputed decisions - including the first period penalty which gave the Kildare outfit the 1-0 interval advantage – as well as apparent time wasting.

Away substitute Joey Gordan had just come onto the field of play in the 29th minute when he struck a cross-shot into the penalty area.

Defender Rhys Behan missed his kick with the ball inadvertently bouncing up on his arm. Referee Ruben Collins pointed to the spot.

Tommy Smith expertly blasted an unstoppable 12-yard dead-ball into the top left hand corner of the net.

The visitors doubled that lead in the 49th minute.

Gordan broke free and evaded the attention of home goalkeeper Ted Hasler in the box. But the covering Sean O’Brien blocked the low shot near the left endline.

The ball came to Corey McGrogan to send over a cross from the left flank. It led to a front post scramble where the match official deemed Ronan Barry had forced the ball over the goal-line from close range.

Rovers were dealt a blow in the 58th minute when Rhys Behan was red carded for an apparent kick on Idris Ryan in the away penalty area after the defender felt he had been fouled when the duo challenged.

Then in the 59th minute, team-mate Cillian Czwalina was penalised for a foul. It led to a second yellow card to the midfielder who had been cautioned for dissent in the 42nd minute when protesting a free against his team.

Despite the two-player deficit, the hosts rallied and pulled one back in the last minute of normal time.

Dan Farrell quick’s corner wide left to Abdul Alham with the sub delivering a hanging cross into the box.

United custodian Mark Carroll parried under pressure. The ball dropped to Sam Goodbody who teed himself up with a first touch before blasting to the net from 12-yards with his second.

WICKLOW ROVERS A: Ted Hasler; Oscar Doyle, Sean O’Brien, Sam Goodbody, Rhys Behan; Dan Farrell; Cillian Czwalina, Tom Donnelan; Nathan Gough, Girogio Morgillo-Fidyk; Wolsey Sloan Kelly.

SUBS: Darragh Cullen, Alex Zevatskyi, Abdul Alham

NEWBRIDGE UNITED: Mark Carroll; Charlie Moylan, Kevin Gallagher, Zack McGrogan; Idris Ryan; Myles Darcy, Patrick Diaconu, Tommy Smith, Corey McGrogan; Ronan Barry, Sam Carley. 

SUBS: Joey Gordan, Peter Dillon, Conor McCarthy, Cody McGouran. 

REFEREE: Ruben Collins. 

Report by 

Paul Dowling