St Patrick’s SA U16s came back from behind to rescue point against Carmyle United

St Patrick’s SA and Carmyle United couldn’t be separated after a comeback thriller in the U16 GADYFL Division 2.

It was St Patrick’s that kicked the game off, with both sides getting an early chance each. The teams kept the pressure on one another, leading to a very tight and even affair in the opening 25 minutes.

The first real shot at goal came from Carmyle United, as Anthony Hutchinson showed great pressing to win the ball for his side, leading to the ball rolling to James Duncan, who had a pop that went just wide of the post.

However, the shots soon flooded in for Carmyle, as St Patrick’s keeper Leo Cooney was called into action just after the half-hour mark, being forced to make two important saves in the space of a few minutes. The first was a close-range shot across the surface from Lucas Woods, which was saved by the legs of Cooney.

Carmyle United were then rewarded for the chances they created when a free kick from around the halfway line was lofted into the St Patrick’s box by Declan Turnbull, and it was Jayden Canning who managed to get on the end of it, tapping it home for 1–0 just before the break.

The second half got underway, but just like the first half, it was Carmyle who found the net first, and in spectacular fashion. In the 52nd minute, a ball cut through the St Patrick’s defence and was again found by Jayden Canning, who hit the ball with height, clipping the underside of the crossbar and into the top right corner for 2–0.

Cooney kept St Patrick’s in the game, getting down low quickly to deny a header from a corner. Canning looked for a third but was again denied by Cooney, who rushed off his line.

St Patrick’s had it all to do going into the final 30 minutes, but they got one back through a great ball from Callum Downie into Austen Wylie, who took his touch well and poked it home into the bottom far left corner.

St Patrick’s kept the pressure on, but Carmyle United, on the counter-attack, looked to finish things off. However, a great tackle from Cameron Stewart in the box kept the game alive.

St Patrick’s hard work paid off, as in the final few minutes of the game, a dropping ball in a crowded box was found again by Austen Wylie, who slotted it low across the surface and into the left corner, leading to celebratory scenes as the game ended 2–2.

Both teams should be proud of their part in an exciting and passionate game.

St Patrick’s SA Player of the Match: Leo Cooney

Cooney made a number of not only good saves, but very important saves at vital parts of the game. Saves that kept his side in the game until the very end, which eventually gave them the opportunity to grab a point in a tight match.

Carmyle United’s Player of the Match: Jayden Canning

Jayden Canning was always getting himself involved every time Carmyle United went on the attack, scoring two goals to earn his side a point in the fixture.

St Patrick’s SA Magic Moment:

It couldn’t be anything other than the well-deserved equaliser right at the end of the game to complete the comeback. The moment it hit the net, you knew how much it meant to the St Patrick’s players.

Carmyle United’s Magic Moment:

It has to be Jayden Canning’s brilliant second goal of the match. Real skill and quality to find the top right corner — a shot that no keeper could have saved.