With no regular fixtures scheduled in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League because of the holiday, Shamrock went into the match with a severely depleted roster.
To make up the numbers, Reserves coach Robbie Walsh was forced to call on several players from the Shamrock Over-30 team, among them John Guildea, Ronan Creaney and Kevin McPartland. One-time Shamrock ace Joe Behan also got a run.
However, it was a familiar Reserves name, Mark Dillon, who provided the finishing touch on three occasions in the Greek drubbing that bettered third-place Shamrock’s record on the Div. One (West) Reserve table to 3-3-3 (12).
Dillon netted his first goal in the 25th minute, off a Guildea assist. A former coach of the Shamrock first team, Guildea also set up Dillon’s other strikes (65th, 75th). John Walsh (85th) sealed the rout.
Greek-Atlas (1-6-2, 5) is rooted at the bottom of the table.
Said coach Robbie Walsh: “We were short of a lot of players because of the Thanksgiving weekend. But we worked hard and overall I’m happy. We’ve had an up oand down season.”
BAD STREAK
The Shamrock first team’s slide continued with a 5-0 pasting by West leaders Greek-Atlas at Cardoza High.
Shamrock were in the game during a close first half, albeit they trailed 1-0 to Hamir Niebles’ ice-breaker.
On resumption, Sean O’Higgins’s brace and a goal apiece by Ernest and Aaron Shalom finished off the Rocks (3-5-1, 10), who’ve now lost three straight in the league although they remain third on the standings.
Greek-Atlas (6-1-2, 20) moved five points clear of idle New York Albanians at the top.
METRO LOSS
At McCarran Park, Shamrock’s Metro Div. I side was pipped 1-0 by lowly Central Park Rangers. Adrian Gallagher (75th) connected for CPR (2-3-2, 8), who climbed one spot to third place.
Shamrock (2-3-3, 9) remain fourth from the bottom in the nine-team division.