KDFL League Shield (Round 1)
Newbridge Town AFC 9 Dunlavin AFC 1
Newbridge Town’s Over 35 team advanced to the Quarter finals of the KDFL League shield when they had a very convincing win over lowly Premier league side Dunlavin AFC on Saturday at Station road. The ‘Town plying their trade in the very competitive Ace sports awards Masters Division 1 league put on a display worthy of junior status when they demolished the garden county side.
Despite the ‘Town being 5-1 up at half time it was in fact the visitors opened the scoring early in the first half when they were awarded a penalty following an infringement in the danger area. Bradley Gin stepped up to tuck the ball past the home custodian. Newbridge sprung into action and struck back almost immediately with a well taken individual goal from the impressive Milton Benitiz. The home side began to look very comfortable on the ball despite the divisional gap and began to take the game to Dunlavin. They deservedly took the lead after twenty minutes when Stephen Burke latched onto a through ball to make no mistake from close range, leaving them 2-1 up.
The home side were winning the midfield battle and it was only a matter of time before they added to their tally, the third came on the half hour when Milton Benitiz struck his second and his sides third. Newbridge now firmly in the driving seat as Dunlavin struggled to contain the rampant town added a fourth when Benitiz completed his fine hat trick five minutes before the break. The half finished with another from the home side as the eventual man of the match Benitiz added his fourth and his side’s fifth on the stroke of half time leaving the Wicklow side with a mountain to climb.
Newbridge started the second half as they finished the first completely in control and were boosted by the addition of a sixth strike, this time from David Stanford who was also having a great game in midfield. Dunlavin to their credit never gave up and continued to play ball and were unlucky not to reduce the deficit ahen Ging was unlucky to see his effort rattle off the Town crossbar and cleared to safety. Despite Dunlavin’s efforts it was the Town who finished strong with the addition of three more goals from MOTM Milton Benitiz completing his tally for the day of seven, quite an outstanding achievement, leaving the final scoreline 9-1 in favour of the Newbridge men. Best on the day for the winners were Ray Coleman, Robbie Donnelly, David Standford and the outstanding Benitiz. Best for the visitors was Bradley Ging.