U14 National Cup 3rd round
Avondale United 0 Lakewood Athletic A 2
In a closely contested cup game, Lakewood managed to avenge the league defeat to Avondale United earlier in the season. A slow start from Lakewood resulted in David Hurley having to make a great one on one save, one a few during the match, from the Avondale striker. As the minutes wore on Lakewood settled into the game and started to create chances. The balls were being crossed in from both wings but no one was in the box to meet them. Lakewoood edged the first half as half time came and both teams went in even. In the first minutes of the second half saw Avondale denied a penalty call as David Hurley was alleged to have taken down their player in the box. Lakewood were more organised in the second half and were rewarded when Daniel Walsh received the ball from a corner and volleyed it into the bottom corner of the goal. Avondale had changed their keeper at half time and some unforced errors were producing chances for Lakewood. It was the second of these, when the goal-kick went straight to Dean Carey, that resulted in Lakewood’s second goal. Dean didn’t need a further chance as he went back towards goal, one on one with keeper, and slotted it away into the corner. Two goals up and 15 minutes to play. Avondale shuffled a few players in an attempt to get back into the game and it nearly worked as the ball was poked towards the empty goal and only just cleared from the line by fast actions of Diarmuid Ward. With Avondale searching for the next goal in the last 10 minutes it left them exposed to Lakewood fast breaks but no further goals were scored. Lakewood held their nerve and were rewarded for a great team performance rich in intensity and go through to the 4th round.
