Result

Sun May 14th

U12 Div 6

Youghal United 6 Lakewood Athletic B 0

It was a long trek for Lakewood U12B’s to Ardrath Park in Youghal for the 11th game of their season in division 6.
Lining out against against a strong Youghal United outfit who have won eight of their nine games and who are sitting in second place on the league table with 24 points, it was always going to be a strong test.
And so it proved to be. Despite a solid team performance, a brave Lakewood lost six-nil.
Despite playing into the wind in the first half, Youghal showed their intent early on with a good run up the right wing, and a threatening cross which sailed over the bar.
And their early pressure paid off with a goal within three minutes following a goal line scramble.
Youghal were two up a minute later when a shot from the right wing across the box was poked home.
Owen was unlucky when he connected with a corner which was which saved on the Youghal goal line and cleared.
But Youghal attacked again and Lakewood were lucky not to go three down when a cross from the left hit the post and the rebound was gathered safely by Tareq.
The Lakewood defence, which was under constant pressure, did well to regain their composure.
Tareq had to come off his line to save a powerful shot from just inside the box but he was powerless to stop the third when Youghal’s strong number 9 sliced through the centre of defence, rode several tackles, and hit the back of the net on 14 minutes.
He was at the centre of another good move through the centre but the ref disallowed the goal for offside.
Lakewood withstood more pressure and went into half time three down.
Tareq came outfield, Luke was put in goal and Owen was given man to man duties on their number 9.
Youghal pounced on a defensive mix-up inside the first minute of the second half and Lakewood were four-nil down.
Lakewood tried to work some moves but they faced into an increasingly strong wind and an even stronger Youghal midfield and defence, and they found it hard to threaten the goal.
Youghal picked up their fifth goal when their number 9 won a kick out in midfield and fired an excellent pass into his striker who slotted past Luke.
Lakewood stepped it up with Jack, Bradley, Sean, Mark and Tareq combining to put together some good attacks.
Owen got a handle on their number 9 in midfield and restricted him to long range shots.
Despite constant pressure, defenders, David, Adam, Mark and Oscar performed well under fire and Luke pulled off several important saves.
But Youghal’s danger man, the number 9, bagged their sixth when he showed great control at the edge of the box and fired an unstoppable shot to the back of the net.
Moeez was unlucky not to get on the end of a free kick but the ball just ran over the end line before he could pull it back for a cross.
It was gutsy performance from Lakewood against Youghal’s only team at under 12 level and they showed great character and never stopped fighting until the final whistle.
Lakewood’s last victory was back on March 25 when they beat Mallow 3-2.
But a drawn game in April, and four defeats in a row, leaves the team with 13 points and in 6th place in the league, just one point behind Wilton Utd.