Europa Conference League Report: Shelbourne 2 - 1 St Joseph's

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Tommy Healy reports from Tolka Park

Early Mark Coyle magic and a Will Jarvis penalty earned Shelbourne a crucial first leg win, taking a one goal advantage to Gibraltar next Thursday.

The hosts wasted no time at all, Will Jarvis twist and turned around defenders, before squaring the ball to captain Mark Coyle whose well-struck shot found the bottom corner, taking the lead just 27 seconds in.

The first half went on with not much action to note as Shelbourne dominated possession.

St Joseph’s began to grow into the game as the half transpired when Liam Walker had a shot from distance narrowly pass Conor Kearns’ post.

The goal-scorer for Shels came close once again when a Liam Burt free-kick was swung into the box, but his header went straight into the hands of Alejandro Navas Ruiz.

The visitors were applying more and more pressure, when Alvaro Rey and Pablo Moreno combined to win a corner. The resulting cross met the head of centre-back Francisco Curado, and the sides were level on the 40-minute mark.

The second half started how the first ended, with Shels holding onto the ball searching for a way back in front.

That came for them when Juanma brought down a speedy John Martin, winning the home side a penalty just before the hour mark. Will Jarvis made no mistake with converting. Placing the ball in the top right corner to restore their lead.

Ali Coote generated the majority of Shelbourne’s chances from there, with two almost identical chances on the right hand side being deflected into the hands of the Spanish keeper.



The Gibraltar side came close to getting a second equaliser when substitute Juan Peña’s header from close range flew over the crossbar.

The match was boiling over into an ugly affair when a dispute over a head injury for a St. Joseph’s player and subsequent drop ball lead to a verbal row on the touchline and seeing both Abraham Paz and Damien Duff given yellow cards.

St. Joseph had one last big chance towards the end of the game when Alvaro Rey’s free kick went just past the uprights.

The full-time whistle went shortly after and Shelbourne take a one goal lead to the home of St. Joseph’s next week.

 

Shelbourne: Conor Kearns, Sean Gannon, Patrick Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson, Liam Burt (Ali Coote 59), Mark Coyle (Evan Caffrey 74), Jonathan Lunney, Will Jarvis (Sam Bone 89), Matthew Smith (Sean Boyd h/t), John Martin (Harry Wood 59).



Subs not used: Shane Griffin, Lorcan Healy, Mark Isong, John O’Sullivan, Ali Topcu, Keith Ward, Dean Williams.

Booked: Damien Duff (not on pitch, 88).

 

St Joseph’s: Alejandro Navas Ruiz, Alvaro Rey (David Bautista 85), Francisco Paul Curado (Alain Pons 69), Ethan Jolley (Marco Rosa 85), Gabriel Cardozo Tomas, Facundo Rafael Alvarez (Christian Aznar 63), Liam Walker, Juanma, Manuel Sanchez Lopez, Jayce Oliviero, Pablo Rodriguez Moreno (Juan Peña 63).

Subs not used: Bradley Banda, Alejandro Paz Aguero, Lucas Gaucho, Erin Barnett, Dylan Borge.

Booked: Pablo Rodriguez Moreno (45+1), Abraham Paz (not on pitch, 88).

 

Referee: Luis Teixeira (Andorra).

Attendance: 3655.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Will Jarvis (Shelbourne).

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