Conor Vaughan (pic.) scored his first goal for VEC when opening the scoring in this ‘must win’ Premier Division match in Sandyford. Joey Byrne scored our second from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute when the home team were reduced to 10 and then Rory Kiely (also with his first goal for the Club) put ‘the icing on the cake’ with an audacious free-kick five minutes later to secure an important 3 league points for VEC.
Archives
VEC FC v Quarryvale FC
The number seven shows up a lot in everyday life: 7 days in the week; 7 continents in the world; 7 primary colors in a rainbow ; 7 basic musical notes (‘do’, ‘re’, ‘me’ etc.); the 7 seas; and even 7 dwarves with Snow White; and then the 7 wonders of the ancient world.
Well, the number 7 turned up a lot in this match, but there were no wonders unfortunately.
The visitors scored in the 7th, 21st & 35th minutes before Paddy Cook pulled one back for VEC in the 42nd minute (note: all multiples of 7)! Paradoxically, they went further ahead in the 56th minute (work it out) just before our no. 7 received a yellow card! Btw, it was pretty dark when the game ended at 7 minutes past 8.
Ciar McCormick
VEC FC v Howth Celtic
This was Shane O’Connor’s goal in the 66th minute to bring us back into the game after the visitors had gone 2-0 up after just 10 minutes and then made it 3-1 just before half-time. In between, Ciar McCormick scored his first ever goal for VEC when he was in the right spot to pounce on a defensive error. However, despite constant pressure in the final 20 minutes, we couldn’t ger the equaliser that the players’ efforts probably deserved.
VEC FC v Ely Woodlawn FC
VEC FC v Harding IF FC
VEC Pitches declared unplayable, so match switched to Ringsend Park pitch 2
Conor Callaghan back in action after 18 months out with injury …
and he came away with the ball.
Harding IF FC v VEC FC
It was uphill after just 8 minutes when the home team scored, but Pat Meghen’s glancing header 10 minutes before half-time got us back into the game. However, Harding’s direct free kick in the 57th minute restored their lead and then their 3rd with 15 minutes remaining effectively ended our hopes of getting something out of this league match.
VEC FC v Roc Celtic
After going behind to a 10th minute goal by Premier Division leaders Roc Celtic, this brilliant penalty save by Colly in the 37th minute left the score 0-1 at half time.
However just 3 minutes into the 2nd half, the visitors made it 2-0 and then added two more around the hour mark to deservedly gain all 3 league points.
Roc Celtic v VEC FC
It took Paddy Cook just 12 minutes to put VEC ahead in this Premier Division match which was switched to Sacred Heart Astro. The league leaders equalised 5 minutes before the break and then went ahead 5 minutes after the break when a Roc Celtic player headed the ball onto the arm of a VEC defender and the assistant referee flagged for a penalty! Further controversy followed in the 63rd minute when the assistant referee failed to see that the home striker was in an offside position when putting Roc 3-1 ahead. Finally, a sweet strike in the final 10 minutes put a gloss on the scoreboard for the home team.
Blackforge FC v VEC FC
Well, if ever there was a game of 2 halves – this was it. With a well-executed high press after just eight minutes, Paddy Cook closed down Blackforge FC’s goalkeeper’s space, and after blocking his attempted clearance, the ball spun beautifully into the net. Then, after we had successfully managed the first 44mins. with great teamwork and effort, an unfortunate own goal made it 1-1 at half-time.
The goal that put Blackforge 2-1 ahead early in the second half was from a free-kick, which was, by all accounts, an incidental contact with two players jostling for position and tackling for the ball and didn’t merit a free-kick. Of course, while this was an obvious error by the referee, it unfortunately had a significant impact on how the game progressed thereafter, with the opposition scoring 2 rapid goals on the hour mark and a fifth before the end.