WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 3rd OCTOBER 2021
Our Leinster Senior team took on Dunboyne AFC on Saturday afternoon at Whitegates. The lads made the early running and had a couple of gilt edged chances but failed to hit the target. Ten minutes in Conor Clack was called on in the Rovers goal to save well. Both sides were guilty of wasting chances in front of goal, but it was the away side who drew first blood when they fired home after twenty eight minutes. The away side doubled their lead on thirty five minutes but Rovers hit straight back when Sam Brown finished off a beautiful through ball from Ian Brannigan. Disaster struck for Rovers six minutes after the restart when a long ball over the top caught Rovers napping to give Dunboyne their third. Rovers didn't drop the heads and they came roaring back four minutes later, Adam Cox who impressed when introduced from the bench took the ball down, played a defence splitting pass for Mick Delaney to blast home to reduce the deficit. Just after the hour mark David O'Connor headed narrowly wide from a corner. Rovers created a lot of half chances but couldn’t carve out a clear opening. Jamie Power fired in at the back post, but the keeper was in the right place. Then Rovers got caught with a sucker punch when the away side broke up field to seal the three points with a fourth. In the last minute Jamie Power showed great strength to shake off the defender before setting up Adam Cox whose goal bound shot was superbly saved by the keeper. Rovers will be disappointed to drop three points here as their efforts deserved something from the game. David O'Connor, Tommy Smullen, Adam Cox and Mick Delaney stood out for Rovers. Doc edged the man of the match accolade with his whole hearted contribution to the team, first upfront and then when he moved into defence.
Our under 19's entertained Arklow Town on Saturday afternoon in what proved to be a close and even tussle between two evenly matched teams. The game ended all square at 2-2 with both sides probably thinking they could have claimed all three points. The lads were reduced to ten men when they lost Calum Rawl through injury and had no sub to replace him so to earn a point was a great outcome for the team. They battled all the way through and were deserving of a share of the spoils. The Rovers goalscorers on the day were Kieran Fitgerald and Sean Murphy.
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.
Wicklow Rovers AFC promote soccer for schoolboys/girls, youth girls and boys, senior men and ladies in the community, our club is growing all the time and any assistance with the help of running the club would be very much appreciated. At present we have a very hard working committee but we are always on the look out for people interested in helping out, the club are always looking for people who are interested in getting involved in soccer, whether its coaching and managing or on the executive committee or a sub-committee, maybe you would just like to help as an assistant manager, help with fundraising or help just around the grounds or in any way at all. Don’t hesitate, get involved, anyone interested in helping out the club in any way can contact any committee member. So, if you’re interested in doing some work around the club please contact any of the following committee members, Johnny Dunne, Paul Delaney, Jimmy Nolan, Trevor Conyard, Stephen Clarke or Ross Byrne, contact numbers can be found on the club website or alternatively you can private message our club facebook page, all help is welcomed and very much appreciated.
If anyone is looking to purchase club gear it can be done online by visiting www.wicklowroversclubshop.com So if it’s socks and shorts, a polo shirt, rain jacket, coaches jacket, etc or something small like a beanie hat, water bottle, face masks, etc just visit the club shop or contact Colin Hindle at wrafcshop@gmail.com or by text at 087-1278510 . Also, if you want to give someone a present but don’t know what to buy you can purchase a club voucher, all club items will come with the club crest.
Anyone with anything for our club notes, Facebook page or our club website can contact me by email at jimmy.nolan09@hotmail.com or by text to 087-9108706 . For all news regarding the club, check out our club website at www.wicklowrovers.clubzap.com or the club facebook page.
