Mallow United 5 – 4 Park United
Mallow United U15 Girls got their league campaign off to a flier when they hosted Mitchelstowns Park United in their opening game at St. Gobnaits Park last Sunday morning.
In difficult conditions Mallow began the game brightly and Rejoy Asante didn’t waste any time opening the scoring after just 3 minutes to put the home side a goal ahead. Despite dominating possession and forcing a number of corners it took until the 34th minute before Mallow extended their lead when Destiny Osayame cut in to score and give Mallow a 2-0 lead at half time.
Although playing against a significant wind Mallow started the second half as they had finished the first persistently attacking the Park United goal. Rejoy Asante added her second and Mallows third seven minutes after the break when she ran onto a through ball from her sister Lois and fired the ball into the back of the visitors net.
Despite trailing by 3 goals Park did not lie down and using the elements well gradually began to work their way back into the game with a brace of goals in a three-minute spell around the quarter hour mark. With their lead reduced to a single goal Mallow now began to feel the pressure and things were to get worse 6 minutes later when Park equalised from a free kick on the edge of 18 yard area. With confidence now riding high Park continued to press the Mallow defence and were rewarded with a penalty which they converted to take the lead only 2 minutes after they equalised.
While a lesser team may have capitulated after losing a three goal lead the fourth Park goal seemed to galvanise the Mallow girls who for the final 10 minutes produced their best football of the game. With the defence redoubling their efforts lead by player of the match Katie O’Toole and Clodagh O Callaghan and Osayame and Rejoy Asante dominating the midfield with wide players Emily Power and Mariam Yesufu attacking on the wings, Mallow chased an equaliser. This duly arrived when the Asante sisters linked up once again to put Osayame through to finish superbly. As the clock ticked down a draw looked like the most likely result however Mallow had other ideas and Emily Power finished off a great comeback with a powerful drive into the roof of the Park net to give the Mallow a 5-4 win and all three points on the day.
Location
St. Gobnaits Park, Mallow
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