ALBION SPORTS 4-2 KEIGHLEY SHAMROCKS
After losing their first two games against poor opposition, it seems Keighley Shamrocks have at last got their season underway.
The first game of the season Shamrocks suffered an embarrassing defeat against un-fancied Eastmoor and followed that up with a similarly poor performance against South Bradford who neighbours Steeton had hammered 5-0 the previous week. In both games Shamrocks came back from 3-0 to add some kind of respectability to reduce the deficit and record 3-2 losses.
Last Saturday they travelled to the brand new Myra Shay complex in Bradford and although they came away with no points, they will take a lot of assurance out of their performance against Albion Sports a side that is hotly tipped for the division one championship and to do well in the county cup.
The game couldn’t have started worse for the visitors as Albion went a goal up within 30 seconds of the kick off, A training ground set piece straight from the kick off was despatched by top marksman Aaron Heywood before any of the Shamrocks players had touched the ball.
Shamrocks rolled up their sleeves and went back at Albion and were unlucky when Joe Jalil went close from Neil Rollins downward header. Matthew Kershaw was in fine form on the left hand side of midfield giving the Albion right back a torrid time as he went passed him with ease firing over crosses at will, unfortunately the rest of the Albion defence stood firm until ten minutes before the interval, when Jalil’s persistence resulted in him being hauled over in the area by the luckless right back and Rollins fired home the resulting spot kick.
Albion got their half time rollicking at came out all guns a blazing and again stunned the Shamrocks by taking the lead within a minute of the re-start as long clearance from their keeper bounced over the head of Jimmy Christian and dropped into the stride of Heywood who drove the ball hard and low passed Steve Duff in the Shamrock goal.
Albion’s third goal was as bizarre a goal as you are likely to see, as Kershaw coolly came out of defence with the ball he somehow managed to collide with the referee and with both left in a heap Albion striker Jordan Missing took the loose ball in his stride before unleashing an unstoppable drive past Duff.
What was to follow spoilt the game from both teams points of view, a really good midfield battle between Albion’s Pav Singh and Shammies Gavin Finn was brought to an abrupt end when the referee decided that Finn had elbowed Singh in what looked like a fair challenge and to everyone’s amazement Finn was dismissed and Albion put the final nail in the Shamrock coffin from the resulting free kick when Missing smashed home leaving Duff no chance in the Shamrocks goal.
A late rally from Shamrocks saw Liam Walsh surge forward and unleash a thunderbolt which the Albion keeper could only stand and admire as it flew into the top corner of his net. The final score Albion Sports 4-2 Keighley Shamrocks.
Whilst Shamrocks welcomed back James Rutherford, Jalil and Kershaw were in fine form and look like two excellent future prospects, it was the ageless Gavin Finn who despite being dismissed picked up the Man of the Match Award.
This weekend Shamrocks play their first home game of the season when they take on Ventus/Yeaden at Marley 2-30 Kick Off.
DUFF HEROICS SENDS SHAMROCKS THROUGH
OVERTHORPE SPORTS 1-1 KEIGHLEY SHAMROCKS
SHAMROCKS WON 2-4 ON PENALTIES
After losing all four of their division one matches this season, things looked ominous for Keighley Shamrocks as they travelled to County Amateur Premier team Overthorpe Sports in the County Challenge Cup first round.
Late withdrawals of players and the absence of Manager Jason McNulty (away on holiday) meant that Gavin Finn would have to assist Mick Vickers on the touchline instead of marshalling his midfield.
Things were even early on and both sets of forwards worked hard to create openings but solid defending by both sides meant that opportunities were limited.
Overthorpe eventually broke the deadlock on thirty five minutes when a sweeping move down their right side saw Centre Forward Colin Green stroke home past the advancing Steve Duff in the Shamrock goal.
Shamrocks as on so many occasions before rallied and a great move down the left flank saw Joe Brady finish off Matthew Kershaw’s cross, it was to be Kershaw’s last action as he was clattered by a late challenge from the full back and damaged his groin.
Shamrocks played the remainder of the half with ten men and managed to hold out against an onslaught of Overthorpe attacking.
Finn introduced Richard Cummins after the restart shuffling his defence and pushing the ever improving Liam Walsh into the midfield, this seemed to give the visitors the edge and although playing against a strong breeze it was the Shamrocks who looked the most likely to score, Joe Jalil and Brady caused no end of problems for the home defence, Alan Higgins, Liam Bellamy and Cummins dealt with everything Overthorpe could throw at them and Walsh, Stuart Whitehead and Danny Finn pulling the strings in midfield whilst John Spurr worked tirelessly up and down the touchline delivering cross after cross, unfortunately the strong breeze played it’s part and Shamrocks could count themselves hard done to as the game ebbed towards extra time with the Overthorpe defence repeatedly asking the ref how long there was to go, when the final whistle did eventually go it was the home side who were breathing a sigh of relief.
Extra time saw Finn come on for Whitehead who fell victim to cramp and he immediately asserted his presence on the game when he fired a shot from all of 30 yards that saw the Overthorpe goalkeeper only manage to palm out for a corner.
Shamrocks thought they had broken the Overthorpe defence when a superb through ball from Danny Finn saw Brady clean through on goal, Jalil assisted him and gave him the option of a square ball, unfortunately Brady made the wrong choice and shot wide as the ref blew for the end of the first period of extra time.
Straight form the kick off Danny Finn used the wind and smashed the ball straight at the keeper who was fortunate to tip the ball onto the bar and over for a corner.
Try as they did Shamrocks couldn’t break the Overthorpe defence and as the ref blew for time Shamrocks knew it could have been a case of chances missed.
Steve Duff hadn’t read the script and saved no fewer than three of the Overthorpe penalties, Both Finn brothers and Brady despatched their penalties but Bellamy shot high to give the home side some hope, but as Duff saved the last of their spot kicks it meant that Walsh was spared the trauma of going up and having to score to win the tie.
Duff’s heroics throughout the game earned him the Man of the Match accolade but there were some fantastic performances none better than the shifts put in by Whitehead and Jalil.
This Saturday Shamrocks travel over to Salts in the hope that they can earn their first points of season as they go back into league action.