Midfield tussle with Saviours Joe Twomey and Villa’s Paul Ometoso. Photo: Jim OSullivan

St Saviour’s 1; Villa 0

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St Saviour’s ruined any chance Villa had of joining Tramore at the top of the Waterford Premier League on Sunday morning in Ballybeg. It was a dour struggle for the entire 90 minutes and goalscoring chances were few and far between. Having said that, it was a closely fought match with both sides closing each other down all through.

The play was mostly in the middle of the park and players from both sides were quick to get in a tackle and not allow open play to develop. The only goal of the game was a real beauty scored by Stephen Dalton seconds before the half time whistle. Villa remain in second place on ten points, three behind Tramore. St Saviour’s move on to seven points but they have a game in hand of Tramore and Villa.

Wonder strike

Stephen Dalton, the player who scored the only goal of the game got in a nice cross from the right after 11 minutes which was met at the near post by Billy Barron but his glancing header went narrowly wide. Paul Omotoso of the Villa tried his luck with a 25 yard free kick on 20 minutes. His effort came back off the Saints wall but when the ball came back to him he shot wide with his second effort.

The only goal arrived right on the stroke of half time. Anthony Jacob won the ball in the middle of the park and he knocked it out wide left to his brother John Paul Jacob who in turn crossed into the path of Stephen Dalton who hammered the ball past the Villa goalkeeper Robert Bresnan from 16 yards on the full and also on the run.

The only chance of the second half fell to St Saviour’s from a set piece. Brian Arrigan floated over a corner kick from the right to the head of John Paul Jacob who powered in a header which beat goalkeeper Bresnan but central defender Ian Sullivan was in the right place to head the ball off the line. The Saints goalkeeper Graham Cleary did not dirty his gloves all through the game because he did not have a shot to save all through the 90 minutes of play. He did collect a few corner kicks but that was all he had to do.

St Saviours: Graham Cleary, Brian Arrigan, John Keane, John Paul Jacob, Clifton Power, Kenny McLawrence, Phil Penkert, Anthony Jacob, Billy Barron, Stephen Dalton, Joe Twoomey. Subs: Aaron O’Neill for Keane (50 mins), Brian O’Donoghue and Colm Keane for Barron and Twoomey (78 mins).

Villa: Robert Bresnan, Des Mullett, Ian Nagle, Declan Furlong, Ian Sullivan, Nicky Corcoran, Ross Douglas, Paul Omotoso, Gerry Connors, Conor McDonald, Danny Sheridan. Subs: Kevin O’Brien for Douglas (64 mins), Danny Walsh for Sheridan (71 mins).

Referee: Paul O’Keeffe.