CHAMBERS DELIVERS KILLER BLOW AS FAI AMATEURS COMPLETE CLEAN SWEEP
FAI AMATEURS......1
BULGARIA.............0
THE FAI Amateurs completed their successful UEFA Regions Cup qualifying campaign when overcoming a dogged Bulgaria at Spartak Varna's ground on the Black Sea this afternoon.
Gerry Davis' side had already qualified for next Summer's finals following their opening two victories over San Marino and Romania combined with draws in the other group games leaving them in an unassailable lead at the top of Group Six.
By EAMON SCOTT
But there was no dropping of standards and the Boys in Green completed an impressive campaign with a hard earned victory over their hosts.
The football may not have been as fluid as in the previous two games but referee Vassillis Fotias of Greece was lenient as time and again when Ireland broke through the lines, the Irish were dragged to the ground.
Skipper Jimmy Carr came in for lots of attention but saw more of the ball as the game evolved and led his team on the front foot.
It's been a tough but rewarding week for the FAI Amateurs but their preparation and decision to arrive three days in advance of competition has paid off handsomely.
With a back room staff well versed in the intricacies of negotiating the Regions Cup, the FAI representatives had a first class approach to their coaching and set-up for the games and the 14 new debutants will have benefited enormously as the group now look forward to next Summer
Said Head Coach Davis: "This has been a tremendous effort on the part of the players who have been excellent all week. We've had brilliant support from the FAI and I'm delighted for the Technical Staff too who have put so much work in behind the scenes. We've very high standards and we have applied ourselves in a thoroughly professional manner and we're earned the right to sit at the top table of European Amateur football and we look forward to the challenges next Summer will bring."
Gary Cunningham in goal came in for skipper Brendan O'Connell while there were also full starts for Glen Daly of Malahide United, Aaron Humphries of Kilbarrack United and Bonagee United's Jack Parke.
In a first half of few goalscoring chances both defences were on top although Westport United's Gary Cunningham saved with his feet in the sixth minute off a chance for Boyan Eftimov and the same player put a cross wide of the goal on the half hour mark when he latched onto Emil Trendafilov's right wing cross. Cunningham then reacted quickly to come out of his box and head clear as the Bulgarians pushed forward in numbers.
Ireland forced a couple of corners and free kicks but could not find a way past Kostadin Kotev in the Bulgarian goal but rarely looked troubled as the central defensive pairing of Jack McMullen and Glen Daly were more than comfortable dealing with what was thrown at them while Donegal fullbacks Jack Parke and Lee McColgan was excellent in their duties.
The game was sometimes fractious and much of that fell at the feet of the Bulgarians who constantly fouled and then played the victim. That fouling eventually drew the ire of Greek referee Fotias in the 55th minute for a scything tackle by Efa Ali on Lee McColgan while Kaayolan Radkov saw yellow for contesting the dismissal decision.
Part of the FAI Amateurs' key attribute this week has been their discipline and while tackles flew about them, they kept their composure and refused to react to the histrionics of their opponents and the demanding of yellow cards.
The winning goal came in the 71st minute after Rockmount substitute Eoin Murphy drew a foul by Emil Trendafilov out on the left hand touchline. Kotev set up a wall but Killester Donnycarney' Chambers was more than equal to the challenge and while Kotev awaited a far post delivery, Chambers outfoxed him with a dinked free kick over the inadequate two man wall to the near post and the pace of the ball beat the scrambling and unsighted Bulgarian netminder to nestle in the net for what proved to be the only goal of the game.
Sam Burgess saw yellow on 63 for a foul on Gerogie Madzahrov and AJ O'Connor and Krastev saw yellow in the 79th minute after a clash. Jack McMullan also saw yellow for a foul on Kristyian Hristov in the 90th minute, but the Boys in Green were in no mood for a late concession and saw it out to kick-off a deserved celebration with a 100% record .
The Amateurs can now look forward to next Summer's finals at a European venue yet to be chosen but on the displays in the group qualifier, the FAI Amateurs will certainly be a formidable force to be reckoned with.
Certainly their professionalism and approach over the 10 days was exemplary and players, technical staff and FAI support were a credit to the country.
FAI Amateurs: Gary Cunningham; Jack Parke, Lee McColgan, Jack McMullan, Glen Daly, Aaron Humphries (AJ O'Connor 63) , Stephen Chambers, Nathan Broderick, Jimmy Carr, Sam Burgess (Deiric Hyland 82), Eoin Hayes (Eoin Murphy 55);
Referee: Vassillis Fotias
