Sunday 31st December
TSDL Division 2 League Peake Villa B 7-1 Clonmel Town B
Scorers: Andrew Halloran (pen) Kieran Hennessy (3) Eoin Dwyer (1) Stevie Fewer (1) Davy Bourke (1)
Villa ended their year on a high with one of their best performances of the season against a staring clonmel team who travelled in numbers for today’s game. Despite Villa suffering a set back pre-game with Kevin Croke failing a fitness test, Villa still had a strong squad out and took the game to the visitors from the kick off. Despite a number of players slipping in the conditions, Villa were bright and were testing the visitors defense with some lovely inter play from Darragh Byrne, Stevie Fewer and Eoin Dwyer, resulting in mounting pressure on the visitors defense leading to a number of corners which led to a penalty for home side from hand ball. Captain Andrew Halloran dispatched to the net. Clonmel has a couple of speedy forwards and looked to hit Villa on the break a couple of times but the defense stood strong notably Davy Carroll and Cormac Lanigan. Half time 1-0 Villa.
The second half stated brightly and the home side were stetching the visitors all over the pitch, with great work on the wings from Davy Bourke and Jamie Maher leading to a second score for Villa from Kieran Hennessey to put Villa 2 up. From the restart Clonmel were awarded a penalty which they dispatched to leave it 2-1 Villa. Again from the kick off, after some lovely football from Villa going forward resulted in a great team goal finished off by Eoin Dwyer. 3-1 Villa.
Clonmel's heads now started to drop and Villa began to dominate in all areas and soon made it 4-1 from another lovely move villa finished off by Stevie Fewer. Clonmel pushed forward a lot of players and had a couple of half chances but these were dealt with by a cool Shane McGuire in the Villa goal. Villa now had lots of space going forward and it was chance after chance and Kieran Hennessy got his second and straight from kick off got his hat trick after great work in middle from Andrew Halloran, substitute Seanie Butler and Davy Bourke. Villa 6-1. The Clonmel players only wanted the final whistle now as Villa pushed for more goals and wrapped up the game through the ever running Davy Bourke a just reward for his hard work. Final score 7-1.
It was a fabulous all round display from the whole squad today, possibly best performance of the season so far and some of the football they played Clonmel had no answer to today. It’s hard to single out any players today as all were excellent including the 3 substitutes Villa made, but man of match on day would go to Cormac Lanigan in defence followed closely by Davy Bourke and Jamie Maher.
Saturday 30th December
TSSDL u14 Premier St. Michael's 2-3 Peake Villa
Scorers: Own Goal (1) Scott Brennan (1) Niall Dunne (1)
Peake Vila U14A travelled to play St Michael's in what was their 2nd game over the Christmas period. Villa started the brightest and for the first 10 minutes had St Michael's pinned in their own half creating several half chances to no joy. It was Michael's who grabbed the lead when a quick break and their first attack of the game caught the Villa defense napping to go one up through a good move. Villa had several players playing with illness on the day and lost striker Ciaran Woodlock after only 10 minutes as he was too ill to continue, a credit to him for even trying to play through it. To their credit Villa didn't let the goal or loss of Ciaran upset their game plan and kept working away to get back on level terms. That equaliser did come from a lovely in swinging corner from Niall Dunne which was deflected home by a St Michael's player. Halftime 1-1.
The 2nd half started as the first finished with both teams playing some lovely flowing football. Villa had now managed to get to grips with the strong attacking front three of St Michael's and were pressing forward with more force when another series of flowing passes by Villa down the left saw Brandon Millsy playing a great pass inside to Robbie Stapleton, who played it to Scott Brennan, who cooly slotted it home from outside the box for a superb finish under pressure. 1-2 Villa. Villa kept the pressure up and looked the most dangerous on the ball but when a long diagonal ball by the Michael's midfielder found the left striker running into the box, the villa defender fouled him and gave Michael's a penalty to get the equaliser. This was finished by the lively St Michael's winger. 2-2
Villa to their credit didn't drop the head and kept the pressure on the St Michael's defense. Brandon, Robbie and Dean were a constant torn in their side making great runs all day. With just 10 minutes to go and continued pressure, Villa created another flowing attack down the right and were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box just off the end line. The resulting free was taken by Niall Dunne who curled the ball around the St. Michael's keeper from a tight angel into the far corner to give Villa a deserved lead. Another wonder strike from the in form Niall Dunne. 2-3 Villa.
Villa showed great composure to see out the last minutes without much incident. Villa had leaders all over the pitch on the day with Josh in goals being solid as a rock and the back four showing their improvement and understanding as a unit game on game. The midfield was marshalled from start to finish by Darragh, Kieran, Josh & Scott while up front we had outstanding performances by Brandon & Robbie, who lead the line so well all day. Another great squad performance with several players making impacts from the bench to keep this great run going.
Man of the match on the day was hard to call with both Brandon & Kieran playing outstanding but on this occasion it goes to U13 player Kieran Purcell who was all over the park breaking up and creating every play. Villa finish the first half of the leage season with a 100% league record and head into 2018 in fine form.
Thursday 28th December
TSSDL Boys u14A Peake Villa 4-0 St. Kevin's
Scorers: Brandon Millsy (2) Daniel Rossiter (1) Corey Moore (1)
Peake Villa U14A played host to local rivals St Kevin's in an eagerly anticipated local Derby match in the league. On a very cold and frosty morning and a long delay due to the pitch conditions the game kicked off with Peake Villa starting the brightest with Brandon Millsy causing havoc to the St Kevin's defence from the off. However due to the poor playing conditions both teams struggled to get any flow to the game. Villa tried to get some flow going to their play and when they did they made some good chances but it took 25mins before the first goal came when Brandon got onto a great through ball and rounded several Kevins players before coolily slotting it home under the advancing keeper. Halftime 1-0.
Villa took full control in the 2nd half and only for some good goalkeeping by the Kevin's keeper they would have extended their lead. Villa did find the 2nd and vital goal when Robbie Stapleton made a great run down the right, got to the end line and cut inside to pull the ball back to none other than Brandon to grab his and Villa's 2nd goal. Villa were flying now and added 2 more goals through Daniel Rossiter and Corey Moore to finish the game as a contest.
Kevin's to their credit kept battling as you'd expect in a local derby and did get a great chance to get on the scoresheet through a penalty but they failed to convert. They did get one last chance but Josh in goals was equal to it when he pulled off a fine save. Despite having very little to do all day he kept his consentration up until the last minute, sign of a quality keeper.
Man of the match on the day has to go to Darragh Minogue who was the driving force behind the team all day, winning every battle in the middle of the park and pushing the team on all day long. Overall this was a good squad performance with every player making an impact.