KDFL Senior Division
Naas United FC 5 Newbridge Hotspurs FC 3
Despite several of Hotspurs players missing and number of players playing with injuries, a highly entertaining game was had in Monread Park this morning which saw league leaders Naas Utd overcome Hotspurs on a 5-3 scoreline. Hotspurs got off to the best of starts when Scott O’Donoghue took the lead on the fourth minute. It came via a fine pass from Tommy Walsh to Scott on the left hand side, he ran at the right back and then took a shot with it taking a slight deflection to go past Naas Keeper Keith Higgins, 1-0 to Hotspurs. On the seventh minute, Naas had their first chance of the game when following some good play from Paul Omoteso who freed Sheldan Mbala and he took a shot but it was deflected wide. At the other end on the tenth minute, Hotspurs had another chance when Tomas Hennessy shot just wide of the mark and six minutes later Hotspur’s Reece Winders pulled off a fantastic save from close range to deny Naas an equaliser. On the twenty second minute, Hotspurs were denied a penalty when Greg Kelly was taken down in the penalty box, the ref however waived play on. Following some near misses by Naas’s Daragh Faherty and Niall Faherty who went very close on two occasions, the equaliser finally came for naas on the hour hour following a great cross from Daragh Faherty who found Paul Omoteso and the striker on his return debut made no mistake. On the stroke of half time Naas hit the post. In injury time of the first half, Hotspurs were denied a second goal when Greg Kelly’s shot into the back of the net from a Scott O’Donoghue pass was adjudged to be offside. The game went in at half time 1-1.
Hotspurs started the second half quite brightly and it was Hotspurs Greg Kelly who had the first chance of the half, his shot went just over the bar. Seven minutes later Hotspur’s Scott O’Donoghue had a shot well saved by the Higgins in the Naas goal. Two minutes later Hotspurs conceded a second goal of the game when a Niall Faherty cross found his brother Daragh to finish superbly on the volley .Naas were well on top now and added a third when more terrific wing play from Sheldon Mbala resulted in Niall Faherty slotting home. Naas fourth arrived three minutes later when Paul Omoteso got his second after good set up play from Ritchie French and Jordan Martella and Manny Phillips. The home team were rampant now and the best of the lot was scored two minutes later through a thirty yard dipping volley from Sheldon Mbala. Some changes were made by Hotspurs and to Hotspurs credit they kept fighting. They were rewarded on the seventy second minute when a fine Greg Kelly cross was met by Noel Kelly on the edge of the box whom struck an outrageous half volley for it to got into the top corner, 5-2 and with ten minutes remaining Hotspur’s Mikey Murphy shot just wide for Hotspurs, five minutes later a Mikey Murphy free kick was parried by the Naas custodian Keith Higgins but Noel Kelly was on hand to chip over him from close range to make it 5-3. With two minutes remaining of normal time Hotspurs almost put the minimum between the sides when Noel Kelly almost had a hat trick but his header was well saved by Higgins. Best for the winners were Daragh Faherty, Danny Phillips, Paul Omoteso, Victor Oladapo, Marvin Mbala ,Jamie Nolan, Ritchie French and man of the match the very impressive Sheldon Mbala. Best for Hotspurs were Scott O’Connor, Greg Kelly, Mikey Murphy and Hotspurs Man of the Match Noel Kelly
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