Match of the Week: Oldbury move to the top in Division 3

OLDBURY FC moved to the top of the UCFL Division 3A section, as we head into the Christmas break, after a dramatic 3-2 win over fellow title contenders York Road FC in John Paul Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Bury were 1-0 down at the break and 2-0 behind minutes into the second half, but they dug deep and made the kind of recovery that will be talked about in the Tallaght area for the remainder of the season.

This was a really good game of ball with the home side taking the lead on 20 minutes, when Joseph O’Brien smashed home from the penalty spot after Sean Douglas had been fouled in the area.

Minutes after the break it was 2-0, with O’Brien delivering a cracking free kick into the top left hand corner of the net from outside the area.

It was a blow to the visitors who had seen a lot of the ball but just couldn’t put it where it belonged, in the back of the net.

But that all changed on 52 minutes when Aaron Delaney was hauled down on the edge of the area, and Daniel Barnwell stepped up to drive the free kick, low and hard, home.

Oldbury FC moved top of division 3A with a win over York Road FC

It was exactly what they needed and it gave them the confidence to chase a second, which was expertly delivered by Delaney on 64 minutes.

Chances did come for both teams, but nothing close enough to breaking the 2-2 deadlock, until added time arrived.

Robert Baxendale did the spade work when he picked up the ball on the left, looked up, and floated in a centre that Jordan Flynn slotted home with his shin.

Action from the Oldbury and York on Saturday

It sent the players, subs, coaches and small support wild delight, and for a deflated York there was no time left to pull a goal back as the clock ran down.

OLDBURY FC: D. Farrell, R. Baxendale, L. Callery, D. Barnwell, T. Aderogba, K. Flynn, T. O’Hanlon, J. Flynn, A. Nowlan, A. Delaney, S. Molloy, M. Burke-Sweeney, A. Kierney, D. Saul, D. Ryan, C. Patten, D. Carey.

REFEREE: K. Butterly