Scorers: Mikey Wade (3), Evan McCormack (1), Keith Cahill (1)
Our A team travelled to Scart on Saturday evening and it was a great evening for a game and even better to be back playing soccer matches. Villa started well and were on the front foot from the start playing some nice passing football. It wasn't until the 35th minute before Villa got the breakthrough when a Vee free kick turned into a counter attack for Villa and Mikey Wade picked up the ball in his own half and made a great run and an even better finish. Villa made it 2-0 on 41 minutes when Frank McKevitt laid it off to Mikey Wade who unleashed an unstoppable shot. Half-time 2-0 to Villa.
The second half was much like the first with Villa on the hunt for a third to secure the points. It was Vee who had the best chance of the early exchanges when the hit the upright. That was as good as it got for the home side and Wade secured his hattrick on 67 minutes with a close range finish. Villa only had to wait 2 minutes to make it 4-0 when Evan McCormack scored with the head from a corner. Keith Cahill made it 5-0 on 71 minutes when Ronan McGuire put him through with a great pass.
This was a great team performance with Frank McKevitt, Dale Loughnane and man of the match Mikey Wade turning in fine individual performances.
Villa travelled to the league leaders in first game back minus a couple of regulars but from the kick off we were very competitive all over the pitch and took the game to the hosts. Cashel were very strong down the middle but Robert Jordan, Kevin Croke and Ger O Grady were a match for the hosts and gave them no time to settle on the ball. On the right side for Villa Davy Bourke and John Walsh we’re full of running and we’re causing Cashel lots of problems. A lost ball in midfield after 20 mins led to Cashel capitalising and taking a 1-0 lead. Villa kept on the front foot and after good work up front from the hard working Adam Garrett and Kevin Croke, Villa scored the equaliser through Robert Jordan. Cashel pushed hard to regain the lead but super defending from Villa kept them at bay, Half-time 1-1.
The second half began with the same tempo and Cashel were gaining the upper hand in possession and went 2-1 up and soon later were 3-1 up, as Villa appeared to tire on a very humid evening. But to their credit Villa got back into the game through Kevin Croke’s header and with 10 minutes left went in pursuit of an equaliser. To their credit Cashel defended well and put the game to bed with a couple of minutes left to run out 4-2 winners.
This was a very hard fought competitive game and Villa will now regroup for their last game of the season away to Slieveardagh next Sunday looking for the three points to maintain their status in division 1. All round it was a hard fought and brave effort from all the Villa players and best on the day were Darren Connor, Jordan Fahy, Davy Bourke and Robert Jordan.
Halftime came and Peake Villa’s fitness was now starting to kick in and it looked as if it was the home team who had the extra player. A fine move down the left result with a pin point cross by Frank McKevitt found Ronan McGuire who made no mistake from 6 yards, to put Peake Villa in the driving seat and make it 3-1. Not long after, another soaring run from Dale Loughnane on the left, got to the end line and delivered a peach of cross where Ronan McGuire was waiting to make it 4-1 and to complete his hat trick. Villa used all five subs to give some off the lads some game time as playing two games a week is tough going after such a long break. Full time 4-1.
Man of the match, easy one, our hat trick hero Ronan McGuire. A special mention of thanks to our Covid Officials and Club Committee who made our return to home football an enjoyable and most importantly a safe occasion.