Quickfire goals help Cobh to claim victory over the students
U17 SOCCER
UCD…………………………………….0
COBH RAMBLERS……………………2
Daire Walsh
TWO first-half goals in the space of 60 seconds proved crucial at Belfield yesterday afternoon, when Cobh Ramblers claimed all three points against UCD in an U17 Southern Elite Division encounter.
Cobh were hoping to secure their third win of the current campaign, and even though Arthur Nganou produced a fine stop with his feet from UCD striker Luke Hannigan in the fourth-minute, Ramblers attacker Loic Nguefang was subsequently denied by Sean Prenter at the opposite end of the field.
This opportunity for Nguefang was created by Jaze Kabia (son of former Cork City and Cobh star Jason Kabia), and he ultimately broke the deadlock in the 22nd-minute.
Kabia raced onto a through-ball at a left-hand angle, and his composed strike found its way to the far corner of the net – beyond the reach of the stranded Prenter. This was a massive boost for Cobh, and they quickly doubled their lead in bizarre circumstances.
Under pressure from the hard-working Ramblers attack, Danny Bruce passed back to Prenter, but miscommunication from the UCD duo led to the ball trickling over the line. Conor Drinan, Nguefang and Kabia all had chances to create further daylight between the teams, but Cobh had reason to be pleased with a two-goal interval cushion.
Indeed, they continued to pose a threat in the final-third when the action resumed, and it took some last-gasp defending from UCD to prevent another goal for the St Colman’s Park outfit.
The hosts introduced a number of players from their substitutes bench in an attempt to work their way back into contention, and a 30-yard free-kick from Jack Ryan floated marginally past the Cobh left-hand post on 65 minutes.
Ryan also tested Nganou with a similar effort at the end of the third-quarter, but for the most part, the Students were restricted to speculative shots by a disciplined Cobh rearguard.
UCD U17: Sean Prenter; Sean Madden, Danny Bruce (Adam Byrne 51), Dan Mullen, Charlie Smith; Daragh Nugent (Ethan Levins 68), Jack Ryan; Dylan Reilly, Hugh Torfeldt (Harry McEvoy 51), Hugh O’Mahony (David Samson 77); Luke Hannigan.
COBH RAMBLERS U17: Arthur Nganou; Connor O’Leary, Jack Turner (Sean Hayes 63), Nathan O’Donnell, Kyle Murphy; Joe Meaney, Jack Ford (Conor Walsh 82), Conor Drinan; Cameron Harlson (Luke Quinn 82), Loic Nguefang (Dylan Walls 69), Jaze Kabia (Eoin O’Donovan 77).
Referee: David Dunne.