A travelling Dublin University Association Football Club (DUAFC) side showed steely resolve as a late Rory Nairn strike was enough to seal a well-fought victory over CYM Beechwood. With impressive league form so far this season, DUAFC has moved one step closer to promotion as the team completed a fifth-straight win in Division 1B of the Leinster Senior Football League.
After finally opening its account in the Colleges and Universities Football League on Wednesday, with a 1-0 over Dublin Institute of Technology in College Park, DUAFC renewed its pursuit of silverware in the Leinster League. The side’s flying high in the league of late and came into the game on the back of four-straight wins. Before proceedings began, DUAFC was sitting comfortably in second place with three games in hand over league leaders Mullingar Athletic.
In defiance of the confines of the long, narrow pitch, Beechwood endeavoured to play an attractive brand of football in the opening stages, with the team’s centre-halves keen to work the ball out from the back. However, DUAFC lacked the ability to play the incisive final ball from midfield, and as a result it was the visiting DUAFC who had the better of the early exchanges.
Captain Robbie Gaul drove the side on from midfield, while Nairn also looked dangerous as Trinity comfortably controlled the opening half. DUAFC should have arguably taken the lead before half-time. Nonetheless the excellent Beechwood defence held firm and limited DUAFC’s chances, leaving the sides level at half-time.
The second half saw a marked change in tactics for the home side. Trinity abandoned the passing that had characterised its early endeavours in favour of the direct brand of play familiar to the football connoisseur of these shores.
Devolving into a scrappy affair, discipline became a serious issue for Beechwood’s players who, physical throughout, soon became largely unsuccessful with their tackles. DUAFC remained on the front foot, creating some good chances before coming inches from breaking the deadlock when the perennially dangerous Nairn saw his shot cannon off the crossbar.
Beechwood’s more direct style was also paying dividends as Trinity’s players created some good chances of their own. Only some desperate defending from DUAFC prevented the hosts from taking the lead when the ball bounced loose in the box.
As the game moved towards its conclusion, it seemed that neither side would be able to break the deadlock. Leading by example, captain Robbie Gaul collected the ball on the edge of the Beechwood area before picking out Rory Nairn who fizzed the ball across the goal to find the bottom corner. The hosts seemed deflated by the late goal, being unable to create anything in response in the closing moments as Trinity ensured that its impressive five-game winning streak in the league continued.
The game was by no means a classic, as two well-drilled defences largely negated both sides’ attacking talent. Nonetheless, DUAFC will be pleased with the win, which leaves the team just a point behind league leaders Mullingar Athletic with two games in hand as the hunt for promotion and silverware begins to heat up.
DUAFC hasn’t enjoyed nearly the same degree of success in the league. After three consecutive defeats in the Premier Division North, the side was sitting bottom of the group and looking much more like facing a relegation battle than pushing on towards the upper echelons of the table. However, a 1-0 victory over Dublin Institute of Technology later, things are looking brighter for the side. Trinity will seek to build on its good form in the next fixture against NUI Galway.
