Southend walking in the air after super comeback
Southend United goalscorers Fareed Alabi Alfie O'Brien (2) and Michael Edward O'Reilly against Dungarvan in the SFAI U13 Cup at Ben Wadding Park last Friday night.
Southend United staged a remarkable comeback to clinch victory after a five-goal thriller against Dungarvan United in the U13 SFAI Cup at Ben Wadding Park on Friday night last.
Dungarvan led by two goals to nil, but the introduction of Alfie O’Brien into the fray for Southend changed the whole course of the game. The winger hit a brace to bring his side level, and then Michael Edward O’Reilly and Fareed Alabi hit late goals to give the Tangerines a well-deserved win as Trevor Elliott’s side advanced to Round 5.
Dungarvan opened the scoring with the first real attack of the game after only two minutes of play. The Southend defence got themselves into a muddle following a John Mike Fitzpatrick cross, Emily O’Regan saw her clearance blocked down, and Tadgh Nolan turned sharply in the box to fire a right-foot shot into the far corner of the net. Southend fought back and should have drawn level four minutes later when Luke Casey fired in a low cross that Fareed Alabi missed at the far post.
The city side went close again minutes later as Darragh Wyse and Michael Edward O’Reilly both had shots on target, but the impressive Dungarvan centre back Rory Kiely got across to make two goal-saving blocks.
Dungarvan hit Southend with a quick counterattack on 17 minutes as Johnny Gleeson released striker Tadgh Nolan, and with the Southend defence out of position, the striker raced into the box, but Southend keeper Jack Allen dived low to his left to make a fine save. Southend continued to dominate the first half, but Dungarvan defended well with goalkeeper Zach Bracegirdle making a couple of outstanding saves.
The second-half was just two minutes old when the Old Borough doubled their lead. Mason O’Neill fouled Johnny Gleeson on the edge of the box, up stepped Tadgh Nolan, and he hammered a right-footed shot into the roof of the net.
Southend pulled a goal back with 37 minutes on the clock when Michael Edward O’Reilly burst into the box, but Dungarvan keeper Zach Bracegirdle saved at his near post, and Alfie O’Brien was on hand to fire home the rebound.
Both teams exchanged chances, and both goalkeepers made some excellent saves. However, on 52 minutes, Southend scored a deserved equaliser. Fareed Alabi played the ball out wide to Alfie O’Brien, who cut inside, and his right-foot drive flew into the roof of the net.
The turnaround was complete four minutes later as the pace of Alabi took him into the box, and Michael Edward O’Reilly turned in his driven cross. With some good attacking players on the pitch, Dungarvan remained in the game, but the victors of the cup tie scored a late goal in 59 minutes.
Southend winger Fareed Alabi took the ball to his feet on the edge of the box. He took the ball past two defenders before hitting a low, powerful right-footed shot that flew past the Dungarvan keeper and into the far corner of the net.
Jack Allen, Jack Roche, Darragh Long, Emily O’Regan, Gabriel Korzeniowski, Mason O’Neill, Luke Casey, Ryan Egan, Darragh Wyse, Michael Edward O’Reilly, Fareed Alabi, Danny Connors, Hollie Roche Murphy, Toby Fitzgerald, Mikey Connors.
Zach Bracegirdle, Iarlaith O’Sullivan, Ben Horgan, Ryan Walsh, Rory Kiely, Liam Kearney, Johnny Gleeson, Callan Ferncombe, Tadgh Nolan, James Cullinane, John Mike Fitzpatrick, Stehen Dalton, Tiernan Hogan, Jack Hickey, Patrick Curran, Archie Crotty, Rory Kiely.
Owen Tubbritt.
