WICKLOW ROVERS AFC CLUB NOTES WEEK ENDING 28th NOVEMBER 2021

On the senior front the Leinster Senior team, the under 18 girls and under 19 boys had no games. Our WDFL premier side lost out 4-3 away to Avonmore on Sunday morning in what proved to be a thrilling encounter. The lads travelled with several regulars missing for various reasons with a couple of youth players making the step up. Rovers scored first from a long range Alan Power free kick. It wasn't long after that the home team levelled matters after a good move down the right. Rovers restored their lead when Luca Rampersaud fired home to make it 2-1 but just before the break the home side squared things up again to send the teams in level at half time. The second half continued in the same trend with two evenly matched sides going for it. Rovers went in front for the third time when Luca Rampersaud weaved his way past five players starting his run in his own half before finishing in the bottom corner to make it 3-2. Avonmore levelled for the third time before going on to snatch a winner deep into injury time to break the hearts of the Rovers players. This was a brave performance from the lads and definitely didn’t deserve to leave empty handed. The third team suffered a heavy 8-0 defeat away to Arklow United on Friday night, the lads tried throughout but the home side were in clinical form in front of goal.

Our under 18’s travelled to Arklow Credit Union Park to take on Arklow United and were unlucky not to get something from the game as they suffered a 2-1 defeat. The lads created numerous chances but only scored the single goal from Zach Harris. They definitely should at the worst took a point from the game.

On the junior front our under 12A’s adventure in the National cup came to an end on Saturday afternoon. The team made the long journey to Portlaoise where they went down 3-1 to the local side. Trailing 1-0 at the break Rovers battled back in the second period equalising through Rhys Behan. It was all out attack from both sides in search of a winner and it was Portlaoise who prevailed with two quick fire goals late on to seal their passage to the next round. Well done to this little Rovers team for getting to this stage and hard luck on the day. Our under 15's welcomed Naas AFC to Whitegates on Sunday afternoon in round 3 of the National cup. The lads put in their best performance of the year to come away with a 3-0 win. Rovers started on the front foot from the first whistle with Brandon Battams causing the away team all sorts of trouble with his power and pace and direct running. Rovers scored their first from the penalty spot when they worked it well down the left before Georgie O'Neill was clipped in the box. Charlie Czwalina made no mistake from the spot to score his 17th of the season. Rovers kept pressing and had chances from Alex Earls and Evan Conyard who shot over from twenty yards. The second half started the same with Rovers on the front foot. Ten minutes into the second half Brandon Battams got in between two defenders and used his pace and power to hold off the centre back to finish neatly to put Rovers two goals up. Rovers were dominant in possession and were creating some good chances, but it wasn’t until five minutes from time when a well worked set piece set up Jack Macklin to head the ball in for Rovers third and a deserved victory which sees them into the semi-final of the South Leinster region of the National cup. Standout performances all over the pitch today with special mention to Matthew Keene in goal and Brandon Battams who was a hand full all day up front.

With Christmas only around the corner why not purchase some club gear as a stocking filler, 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 for Christmas but don’t know what to buy you can purchase a club voucher, all club items will come with the club crest.

Everyone at Wicklow Rovers AFC would like to extend their sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Patricia Neville (née O’Brien) Blackrock,  Co Dublin who sadly passed away recently. Patricia's son Keith coaches and manages our under 14A team, her grandson Jack plays on the team. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband William, daughters Dolores, Caroline, Denise and Deborah, sons Keith, John and Liam, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, adored grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. May she rest in peace.