Ledwith stars as Arklow sink Bohs
Wednesday February 24 2010
ARKLOW TOWN welcomed none other than the mighty Bohemians to Bridgewater Centre Park in Arklow on Saturday afternoon for a Leinster FAI Youth Cup Third Round clash and the Wicklow side sent the League of Ireland club packing with a highly impressive 2-1 win.
The home team dominated proceedings for long spells in the opening half but failed to convert some good opportunities, with Keith Armstrong, Dara Verney and Adam Hanlon all denied by fine saves from Bohs' excellent keeper.
Things were no different after the break with the Arklow side still failing to capitalise, spurning a number of chances for the opening goal. But the deadlock was dramatically broken on the hour mark when a long clearance from Bohemians wasn't properly dealt with by Arklow keeper Jason Earls, resulting in the Bohemians forward slotting home into an empty net giving the visitors a precious lead.
Bohs' advantage was to last just a matter of minutes though as Arklow's response was immediate. Clive Crammond fired in a cross from the left wing, with the keeper getting a glove on the ball in an attempt to clear. His clearance found only Arklow's Irish Colleges international Daniel Ledwith and the Arklowman hammered home from 15 yards to level matters.
As the intensity of battle rose so too did tempers, with referee Lee Bevans doing a great job in keeping order.
With just two minutes remaining, and extra-time looming, a quick Arklow move out left saw good play from Jack Tim Murphy, Clive Crammond and Aaron Barry creating an opening; a delightful ball from Barry finding Ledwith clear inside the Bohemians area and he smashed home a powerful left-footed drive to steer Arklow Town into the next round in dramatic fashion.
In truth the home side should have won more convincingly with captain James Scallan and fellow defender Paul Rice excelling in Town's defence.
