February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Jay Mwamba
Super-striker Tim Cummins brought his goal tally to five in four appearances in this year with a killer strike in Shamrocks’ 1-0 victory over Fairfield/Westchester United at Downing Stadium on Sunday.
Cummins pounced on a volley from veteran midfielder John Guildea to bag full points for the Sunnyside club. The result also sent a message to Fairfield, who return to Downing Stadium this weekend for the delayed League Cup quarterfinal tie with the ‘Rocks.
"We deserved to win," said Guildea. "Sure it was a close game and they played good football, but they lacked a bit of a punch upfront."
Guildea gave credit to Shamrocks’ back four, marshaled by Robbie Walsh, on whom he bestowed Man of the Match honors, for securing the win, which elevated the side into joint sixth (5-8-3, 18 points) with Fairfield in
the First Division standings.
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Right fullback Michael Bishop, a New York State Under-23 pick, and midfielder Darren Thunder were Shamrocks’ other standouts in what Guildea termed as a "big, big, win" for the side in their fight to avoid relegation. .
Saints edged
St. Barnabas’ spirited second-half rally was not enough to avert a 2-1 defeat at the hands of First Division leaders New York Dinamo at St. John’s University.
The Saints, who barely managed to muster 11 first team players before kick-off, got off to a shaky start and were duly punished by Dinamo’s wiry goal-poacher Mured Ibrahimov (15th, 35th). But they came back breathing
fire after the break to pull one back through Nick Hennessy (71st).
"It was a game of two halves," the Saints’ Aidan Dennis said. "We just couldn’t put the ball in from a host of corners and half chances."
"They didn’t have enough players until the last minute and we went up 2-0. But in the second half they came back," observed Dinamo coach Kristo Curanovic.
St. Barnabas remain fifth on the table (7-4-1, 22) despite the defeat.
The reserve fixture wasn’t as close, with the Saints posting a 7-3 win courtesy of hat-trick hero Chris Boyne, Sean O’Flynn (two), C.J. Doherty and Kenny Cavanaugh.
Simon scores
Relegation-threatened Lansdowne Bhoys had Simon Hopkins’ goal (35th) to thank for their 1-all tie with Clarkstown in a Second Division tussle at the Kennedy/Zucor Field.
At Randalls Island, New York Wanderers coach Eamonn Reynolds was still able to find fault in his team’s performance despite their 4-1 thrashing of Astoria Gaels 4-1.
"We were probably lucky to (win) 4-1. We played poorly and they battled hard. They were unlucky not to get a point," said Reynolds. Steven Anderson (1st, 50th), Mark Burns (60th) and Muridith (80th) scored for Wanderers.
NYAC on track
Ronan Downs had only five starters to call on for New York Athletic Club’s Travers Island clash with New York Albanians, but the defending champs were still able to prevail 3-2 to stay three points behind Dinamo (35).
Jules Mbogi (40th), Nick Philips (55th) and Tim Harding (70th) connected for NYAC, who have a game in hand to Dinamo.