Park FC (Under 12 B) 1 – Camp 3
On a rain-soaked pitch, Park welcome league leaders Camp to their home turf. After a rousing pre-match speech from Manager Paul, Park took to the pitch with a defensive line-up, with Park aware that Camp had blasted seven goals past one of their leading challengers, earlier in the campaign.
Park’s mighty midfield quartet of Finn, Eldion, Odhran and Sean Heaslip, battled hard, with Finn racing through one-on-one only for Camp FC’s man-of-the-match Carl Mitchells, to make one of several outstanding saves.
Camp dominated the early exchanges with Zach, Cillian and Rory on their toes constantly to keep them out and they deservedly took the lead with a low strike from close range to lead 1-0 at the break which squeezed past Mateusz in goal. Lone striker Adam, and William, when he replaced him, ploughed a lonely furrow, chasing down ball after ball.
Park had the advantage of the wind in the second half and brought on Sean Solomon, Trey, Marc, Rex and Sean Whelan as both teams came close in an end-to-end battle. Sean Heaslip had taken over between the sticks, but the turning point in the game came when Cillian put his hands up to protect his face from a fierce shot and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Camp duly tucked away their second goal of the tie. Moments later as Park pressed for a goal to get back into the game, with the rampaging Jacob, making his debut for Park, tearing up and down the wing, Camp broke the off-side trap and slotted home a third.
With seconds to go the referee again pointed to the spot. Jacob had been hauled down following a long through ball from Zach. The exceptional Carl Mitchells got one hand to the ball, but the power of Jacob’s spot kick made sure it nevertheless rattled into the back of the net. It finished 3-1 to Camp. A thorougly entertaining game, full of positives for Park FC against a strong Camp team who ran out deserved winners on the day.
