Hosts prevail after pressure pays off for AFC

Straight from kick off the home team looked threatening.

After dispossessing an AFC midfielder they got the ball wide and delivered a dangerous ball in towards the front post, however centre back Martin got in front of his man to divert the ball behind for a corner. This was an early warning for the visitors as to what lay ahead in the tie.

Dollingstown then got in down their right flank and delivered another great ball into the box, finding its target, only for the header to be thwarted by a great save by Goan down low to his right.

This pressure grew and grew, however, the young AFC defence stood firm, with Johntson in particular utilising his great aerial ability to head clear any cross the home sides attack threw at him.

AFC’s best chance in the first half came when a poor clearance from the home ‘keeper fell to Hayes who couldn’t work an opening for a shot, into an empty net, and played in strike partner McCavitt who would have slotted home were it not for the whistle to blow for offside.

The second half was to continue with much of the same as AFC were pressed back deep into their own half by a very good home attack.

After the hour mark AFC started to get more of a foothold in the game and went close through Johntson’s whose header went wide of the far post after a great set piece delivery from McCavitt.

In between long periods of sustained pressure by Dollingstown, AFC strikers McCavitt and Hayes both got in down the sides of the hosts back line with good runs, however, they came to no avail for AFC.

Finally with only two minutes remaining of normal time, Orr played a neat ball down the line for Hayes whose cross-come-shot looped over the keeper at the back post, giving the visitors the lead.

With the late goal seemingly settling the tie, Dollingstown fought back and won a cheap free kick on the edge of the area at the start of injury time.

A neatly dinked ball over the wall was bundled in from close range by a Dollingstown midfielder.

The hosts then won the game after AFC gave away cheap possession down the left and a quick counter by the hosts forced keeper Goan to parry the initial shot into the path of an oncoming blue shirt who tucked the ball home from two yards out to give the hosts a deserved victory.

Town AFC management were very proud of how their young team performed, and against all odds gave a very strong Dollingstown team a real run for their money.

Team: Goan, Orr Downey, Johntson, Martin, Williamson, Toner, Kelly, Heaney, Hayes, McCavitt Subs: Jordan, Close, Monaghan, Burns.