Thursday, December 10, 2009

Pembroke take Leinster pole-position

Men's Leinster Division One:
Pembroke 3 (Tim Lewis, Adam Pritchard, Alan Sothern) Monkstown 0
Pembroke's reclaiming of top spot hinged on a 20-second swing in the 43rd minute of their tie against Monkstown at Serpentine Avenue as the visitors caused their share of problems for the national champions. Frank Ryan's pull-back took David Harte out of the game but, under pressure, Brian Groves miscued with the goal beckoning. Fast forward to Pembroke's next attack and Groves was sin-binned for a frustrated-looking tackle in the 25.

From an ensuing corner, an Alan Sothern switch to pusher-out Tim Lewis (pictured, left) finally broke the deadlock of a high octane fixture. And while the Town had their moments, Pembroke's slicker turnover play garnered two late goals for the 3-0 win.

Pembroke gave the Town goal a battering in the first half but Dave Fitzgerald was in immense form, saving spectacularly from Sothern and Andy McConnell among others. The best chance, though, almost fell to the Town when a penalty stroke was awarded only for a consultation to downgrade to a corner - the judgement was that David Harte was covering behind the defender's foot en route to goal.

Scoreless at half-time, Lewis bravely deflected in that opener, taking a blow to the head in the process. David Harte was called on to produce a remarkable triple save from Stephen Cole, Gareth Watkins and the reinstated Groves with rising aerials in quick succession.

But when Cian Speers was sin-binned for breaking down an auto-pass, the gaps opened for Pembroke to seal the win. Andy McConnell raced down the left flank and his pull back skipped the near post to find an unmarked Adam Pritchard to dink over Fitzgerald. A third was disallowed for a push on Matt Fairweather but it was only a stay of execution as McConnell, again, intercepted on the 22, exchanged a pass with Lewis before picking out Sothern's stick for a divine goal.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

big one Saturday. Anyone care to call it? I'm thinking Glens will edge it, Pembroke will miss Justin and Gordy too much.

Anonymous said...

GO ON WAKIIII!!!

Anonymous said...

pembroke to win convincingly! glens are leaking goals in the league at the minute, even to the lowest opponents. 5-2

Anonymous said...

has to be pembroke. theyre a cut above anyone else at the moment

Anonymous said...

Against a inproving Ucd in the the heavyest of fog with out sharpie and butsie. And when they do play pembrouke i think that everyones form will change

Anonymous said...

Yep, true about form changing. Most teams tend to up a gear when your playing your rivals. Only happens a few times during the year for the better teams and Sat's game will be one of those times.

Anonymous said...

Has to be Pembroke, they are a cut above everyone at the moment. Play more as a team, Glens still rely on 3 keys players to do it.

It will be close though, Glens always up their game against Pembroke.

Anonymous said...

when and where is the game on Saturday?

Stephen Findlater said...

Saturday fixtures:
Three Rock Rovers vs Clontarf, 1pm, Grange Road; Corinthian vs Railway Union, 1.15pm, Whitechurch Park; YMCA vs Fingal, 2:45pm, Alexandra College; Pembroke vs Glenanne, 1.30pm, Serpentine Avenue

Anonymous said...

Where are Albert + Gordie???

Anonymous said...

Glens to win 3-1. Easy win for them. Will dominate in the midfield

Anonymous said...

it'll never be an easy win for either team, its all down to who performs on the day. Lets just all hope for a cracker of a game.

Anonymous said...

easy win? Seriously? Who write this kind of stupid comment? It must be just to get a reaction...

Anonymous said...

Fox in the box

Anonymous said...

2-2 O'Malley Double, Lewis and Sothern one each

Anonymous said...

4-2 to pembroke, southern to clean up against a ageing back four