Second-half scoring surge sees Portlaoise soccer side defeat local rivals
They recorded a four-goal victory at the weekend
PAFC U14 Girls made the short trip to Abbeyleix Town for the return league fixture. PAFC had come out on top against a shorthanded Abbeyleix team when the teams had met previously. That game had been in the balance until the middle of the second half when PAFC capitalised being able to introduce fresh legs as Abbeyleix tired in the tough conditions.
Leah Gibbons lined up in goals behind a back three made up of Demi Byrne, Roisin Devoy and Hannah Scully. A very even opening 15 minutes meant they had to on their toes. Abbeyleix looked dangerous every time they broke forward. It wasn’t one way traffic though. The central midfield pairing of Charlotte Lalor and Katya Buckova worked hard and worked the ball forward. Chances came and went. The best of which was a rasping shot by Moya Ramsbottom that rattled the crossbar with the Abbeyleix keeper left helpless. Marvelous Aransi and Sarah Mousley worked hard alongside Ramsbottom, but the stalemate continued.
Under 14 Girls League
Portlaoise AFC 4
Abbeyleix Town 0
Portlaoise kept pressing with Abbeyleix looking dangerous on the break. After 25 minutes the breakthrough came for PAFC. Moya Ramsbottom broke clear into the Abbeyleix penalty box and finished clinically. Abbeyleix bounced back and created a few dangerous moments. The trickiest being when Leah Gibbons pulled up injured just outside the penalty box. Abbeyleix latched onto the loose ball, but great scrambling defence by Roisin Devy and Demi Byrne got the ball clear. At the other end Marvelous Aransi pressed a kickout, beat the last defender, but pulled her shot just wide.
A 1-0 lead at half time was just about a fair reflection of the game. The game was very much in the balance as the second half got underway. Charlotte Lalor moved up into the attack. PAFC started to look more dangerous. 10 minutes into the second half Moya Ramsbottom received the ball with her back to goal. She slipped a lovely ball in behind the Abbeyleix defence that Charlotte Lalor ran onto and finished to put PAFC 2 up.
An almost mirror image move had Lalor in again, but she was unable to get clear sight of goal thanks to some determined Abbeyleix defending. However, PAFC had the bit between their teeth now and pressed on. It wasn’t long before Lalor did get in again to make it 3-0 making the game safe. Ramsbottom completed the scoring for a convincing win.
The entire PAFC squad played their part in this victory through their hard work against a very determined Abbeyleix outfit. Despite the goals it was the defence that set the tone with a clean sheet. Hannah Scully gave a defensive master class. She has developed into an excellent defender with pace and good defensive technique. Time and time again she broke up Abbeyleix attacks. Leah Gibbons was solid as usual in goals, making a couple of excellent saves and marshalling her defence well.
The two teams will meet again in the first round the U14 Shield next week, so have another two games facing each other and are really getting to know each other!
PAFC POM– Hannah Scully
PAFC U14 Girls: Leah Gibbons, Clodagh Booth, Moya Ramsbottom, Roisin Devoy, Sarah Mousley, Hannah Scully, Demi Byrne, Lucy Keenan, Faye Cleland, Aoibhe Ging, Katya Buckova, Kirsten Gannon, Demi Byrne, Charlotte Lalor, Mia Guppy, Marvelous Aransi.