WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 22nd AUGUST 2021

Hard luck to our WDFL A side who went down 4-3 to St Peters in the final of the pre-season tournament, this is a game the lads definitely left behind them. Peters went in front, but Rovers hit back with a screamer from Alan Power. The first half was even enough with both sides having chances, Conor Clack made two good saves for Rovers with the Peters keeper doing likewise. Peters went 2-1 up seven minutes before the break. Four minutes into the second half Rovers gave away a sloppy penalty which was converted to give the Bray side a 3-1 lead. This was to signal a complete dominance from Rovers for the remainder of the game creating chance after chance. After fifty eight minutes Alan Power swung the ball over to the back post to find his brother Jamie who coolly slotted home to make it 3-2. It was all Rovers and with eight minutes left Luca Rampersaud ran at the Peters defence resulting with a foul that led to the awarding of a penalty. Up stepped Adam Cuddihy who calmly fired to the top right hand corner of the net, 3-3 and game on. Unfortunately for Rovers Peters went in front with a header from a corner with five minutes left on the clock totally against the run of play.  Peters ran out winners on a 4-3 scoreline, but the lads deserved more from the game. Hard luck to Boodhan, Tom, Eoghan and the team.

Congratulations to our under 19's who claimed the WDFL Youth pre-season tournament when they defeated Ashford Rovers 3-1. The lads got off to the perfect start when they went one up after five minutes through a Sean Murphy goal. The lads had the better of the first half in the chances department but some fine saves from the Ashford keeper meant the sides went in at the break with the one goal between them. Ashford were the better side in the early stages of the second half and they equalised when their number five powerfully headed home. At this stage Ashford were on top, but Wicklow always looked dangerous on the break, a long pass from inside the Wicklow half found Sam Brown and with neat control in one movement he was around the Ashford defender and with a wonderful strike he made it 2-1 to Wicklow. With ten minutes left on the clock the lads sealed the game with a sweetly struck shot from Sean Murphy for his second of the match to make it 3-1 which remained the score until the final whistle. This was a good all round team performance in what was a very entertaining match with not a lot between the two sides. Once again, a big congratulations to Colm, Brendan and the team.

This week's junior action saw three games on Tuesday night, the under 12 white team suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to a good Newtown Juniors side. This was a good display from the team and with a bit of luck on the night they could have got something from the match. The 14A's won 1-0 away to Aughrim Rangers in a game were both defences were on top throughout. The winning goal came by the way of a cruel deflection off a home team player. Still the lads will be happy with the three points and a good solid performance. Our under 15's made it six wins from as many games with an excellent 3-1 away win over a good Avonmore side. A brace from Lorcan Sinnott and a single from Brandon Battams saw the lads race into a 3-0 lead. The home side pulled one back by the break, but the lads saw out the rest of the game with no more goals to claim a great win. This was a good team performance, a special mention goes to Charlie Czwalina who put in a good shift as stand in keeper for the night.

All games on Saturday were washed out after the heavy overnight rain. On Sunday our 13A’s lost their one hundred percent record when they narrowly lost 2-1 away to Ashford Rovers. The team felt they didn’t get the rub of the green on the day. Naoise Delaney nabbed their goal. The 15’s claimed three excellent points in a top of the table clash with Arklow Town. Lorcan Sinnott gave Rovers the lead after five minutes, but Arklow deservingly levelled from the penalty spot ten minutes into the second period. With the game looking destined for a draw Rovers were awarded a free thirty five yards out in the dying seconds, up stepped Lorcan Sinnott to fire a cracker into the top left hand corner to secure all three points. Dillon Vickers, Georgie O’Neill and Lorcan Sinnott stood out for Rovers on the Day.   

Tickets are now on sale for our September 50/50 draw, the tickets cost €5 each. The draw runs on a continuous monthly basis with a guaranteed monthly winner who will receive 50% of funds taken in, the winner will also have the opportunity to top up their winnings by predicting the bonus ball in the main National Lottery draw the following night after been drawn out. The September bonus ball jackpot now stands at €1500, to enter the September draw all tickets must be purchased before midnight Tuesday 31st of August with the draw been held on Tuesday 7th of September. Tickets can be purchased online at www.wicklowroversclubshop.com or alternatively you can get your tickets from any committee member or club member. Thank you to everyone for your continuous support, it is very much appreciated by everyone at the club.

The club’s weekly junior soccer academy continues every Saturday morning [weather permitting] under the watchful eye of senior club coaches Johnny Dunne, Stephen Clarke and Jimmy Nolan. The academy takes place on the club grounds at Whitegates and is open to all kids from the age of 3 years to 8 years. The academy starts at 11 o’clock and finishes at 12. There is no need for registration so you can come along to any week that suits. Come along and learn the skills of football while having fun and enjoyment, it’s a great way of meeting new friends as you learn the skills as you get prepared for the introduction to participate in organised league football in the coming years.