Ace Sports Awards Masters Division 1
Celbridge Town FC 2 Newbridge Town AFC 2
On a fabulous day for football, Newbridge Town Masters team travelled to take on Celbridge Town in Div 1 of the Masters div.
Celbridge came out on top in this fixture earlier in the season and true to form this was a cracker of a game. Newbridge started the game with an attempt to stamp their authority, however those plans went out the window in the second minute when the Newbridge full back Dave O Connor was adjudged to have fouled the Celbridge Centre forward in the box and the referee awarded a penalty to Celbridge duly converted by the centreback Colin Cryan.
Newbridge tried their best to get back on level terms with recent signing Milton Benitez creating a number of chances for himself and his teammates. Indeed one of his attempts was heading for the top corner until it took a wicked deflection of a Celbridge defender for a Corner. During this period Celbridge were well served by defenders Colin Cryan, Paul Drew and Shane Harte.
As the first half wore on both teams created a couple of chances, and Dave Mc Gill was outstanding at the back for Newbridge Town. HT 1-0.
Newbridge Town were on top and with Conor McBride and Shane Bennett in midfield driving the team forward Newbridge was awarded a corner and from a fabulous corner into the box it was Milton who got his head to the ball to power the ball beyond the Celbridge keeper to level the game 1-1.
Newbridge were chasing a second and powerful shot from Shane Bennett struck the base of the upright with the Celbridge goalkeeper stranded.
Celbridge town created a chance and it resulted in them getting their second goal through Conor Cualfield, which stunned Newbridge to up their game.
Newbridge piled on the pressure and created more chances with Dave McGill, Milton Benitez and Shane Bennett, and eventually the pressure was rewarded when a shot towards goal was blocked by Celbridge and fell to Shane Bennet who powered the ball past the Celbridge keeper to make the score 2-2 with a few minutes remaining.
Newbridge went for the winner but Celbridge withstood and defended well while trying to get the winner at the other end, which the Newbridge defence held out.
In the end the game finished 2-2.
Best for Newbridge Town on the day was Dave McGill, on his debut, who organised the defence and in midfield Shane Bennett, Conor McBride and Milton Benitez. The man of the match award goes to Milton Benitez for his goal and performance on his debut. Best for Celbridge were Shane Harte, Paul Drew and Colin Cryan.