Boca Rovers shape up for league title with fine win

Chastened by past disappointments in trying to get out of the Meath & District League Div 3A Boca Rovers look determined to make sure that they're not going to miss the boat this time around. All too often in the past Boca's ambitions have floundered in the play-offs or by losing vital points in the business end of the table. They have only lost once this season and they rarely looked like letting the three points on offer in this contest slip from their grasp. They played the more incisive football and had a sharper cutting edge than Enfield Celtic who will not look back on this encounter with any sense of pride or joy. And Boca's cause was also helped by Enfield's implosion in the second-half when they lost their way and their discipline and had two players - JP Mullen and Mark Morgan - red carded. This was a 'home' game for Celtic, but because of the demands on their own pitch they opted to bring it to the MDL on Sunday. Both Enfield's dismissals were avoidable. Mullen was sent packing for a tackle on 64 minutes after seeing yellow for dissent in the first-half. Four minutes later Morgan made the long walk when he picked up a first yellow, then a second immediately afterwards, again for dissent. Not surprisingly Boca nabbed two of their goals while Enfield were struggling to use their nine men to deal with a Boca outfit who have the pace and the nous to make use of any extra space allowed them. Boca Rovers carved out their opening goal midway through the first-half by using the tried and trusted route one. When Davy Gavin won the ball in midfield he caught the Enfield defence unawares when instead of looking for a colleague nearby he lofted it long into the path of Stephen Gavin who skilfully tucked the ball home into the far corner. Perhaps because of the style of their play Boca Rovers appeared more hindered than helped by the strong wind at their backs in that opening half. They created the better opportunities, yet they seemed to find it difficult to gauge the strength of the wind when they took a pop at the posts. Up front Boca had Stephen Gavin and Dean Russell who were always looking for a chance to test the opposition goalkeeper and both players had shots that sailed wide or were blocked. Boca survived a few scares early in the second-half before they got their second with nine minutes to go. A fine move that involved Darragh Jennings and Stephen Gavin ended with Russell knocking the ball to the net with a powerful downward header. Soon after Stephen Gavin converted a penalty after Keith Russell was fouled. By that stage the Enfield defence was hopelessly over-stretched and the players exhausted as they sought to make up for the high imbalance in numbers. With players such as Stephen Casey, Paddy O'Brien and Kenny Gavin constantly probing and looking for openings in midfield any team facing Boca at this level cannot afford to relax for a moment. And yet Enfield may well look back on this game and reflect on - the dismissals apart - a couple of incidents that if they had been more clinical in front of goals they could have taken something from their afternoon's exertions. With impressive performers in Dean Brennan and Dalton McDonagh, Enfield were always capable of conjuring up something themselves. And in the opening minutes of the second-half they stitched together a fine move with Liam Foran slipping the ball to McDonagh who crossed for David Morgan at the far post. A goal looked on, however Morgan hooked the ball over the bar. It was their best opportunity of the afternoon. Earlier on Alan O'Donoghue had a shot saved by Ciaran McBride when the goal looked on. This was Boca's 10th victory of the campaign as they took another step towards a league title. Enfield Celtic - S Geraghty; E Gorry, R Clancy, J P Mullen, P Geraghty, D Morgan, D Brennan, D McDonagh, A O'Donoghue, L Foran, M Morgan. Subs - N Brennan for Gorry, C McGee for D Morgan. Boca Rovers - C McBride; W Gavin, G Haughton, S Milligan, D Gavin, S Casey, P O'Brien, K Gavin, S Gavin, K Russell, D Russell. Subs - M Kieran for O'Brien, D Jennings for K Gavin, A Farrelly for D Russell. Referee - Paddy Nolan (Midland Branch ISRS).