New Santos vs Park Lodge

Recently relegated New Santos started their season in Div 1 at home to Park Lodge, who had won the Division 2 title in the previous year.
The start of play was delayed for several reasons, kit clash, misinformation re allocated pitches etc but eventually the whistle blew and the new season was off and running.
Both teams were obviously rusty and missing players, but the cobwebs were soon shaken off when a ball over the top saw a hestitant JP Byrne beaten to the ball by the Park lodge striker, who headed past him towards goal, before being caught by the keepers attempted punch. Thankfully, for Santos, Joe Magee was covering behind his goal keeper and an early goal was avoided.
This let off seemed to rouse the Santos players and they were soon on top without the goals to show for it. Santos eventually took a deserved lead, though when Steven Copeland met the ball in the Park Lodge box into the top corner with an emphatic left footed volley.
Minutes later, Santos were 2 - 0 up when Copeland dispossessed the Park Lodge winger and broke down the left, whiping the ball across for Tony McGreavey to finish with a thumping header.
Santos were well on top but missed several good chances to extend their lead and were punished when Park Lodge pulled one back.

Half-time: New Santos 2-1 Park Lodge

Santos restored the 2 goal cushion when a Martin Magee free kick found it's way through the Park Lodge defence and into the net.
Park Lodge made it 3 - 2 with about 15 minutes left when a speculative drive slipped through Byrne's hands and ended up in the net.
There was a tense finish as Park Lodge piled on the pressure in search of an equalizer and tempers flared with a few minutes left.
New Santos will be happy with the 3 points in the opening fixture, especially given the off field incidents that marred the opening day of the season, but they know they will need to improve on this performance if the season is to be in any way successful.

Full-time: New Santos 3-2 Park Lodge

New Santos Team:

GK: JP Byrne

LB: Kevin Carson
CB: Chris Monan ( Eamon Caldwell )
CB: Joe Magee
RB: Connor Chambers

LM: Stevie Copeland
CM: Martin Magee
CM: Kevin Kerr
RM: Patty Moore ( Patty O'Reilly )

CF: Tony McGreavy
CF: Gareth Downey

Goals: Stevie Copeland, Anthony McGreevy (Stevie Copeland assist), Martin Magee
M.o.t.M: Stevie Copeland