Alpha 2:3 Rovers

Rovers Futsal team survived a late scare to make it two wins from as many games in the Emerald Futsal League (Leinster) on Monday evening.

Emerald Futsal League (Leinster): Alpha FC 2 Shamrock Rovers 3, Monday 11th July, 2011.

Alpha FC have always proved a testing opponent for the Hoops and are renowned as a side that never gives up.

With several of their players experienced from playing for the Republic of Ireland Visually Impaired futsal team at the European Championships, they began the season with a 6-5 win over Fifth Infantry Battalion.

After taking a while to find their rhythm, Rovers eventually broke the deadlock in the eighth minute when Ian Byrne produced a brilliant strike to beat Alpha keeper Robert Vaughan.

Vaughan made a couple of impressive saves to deny Byrne twice more and Renan Silva as the Hoops found it increasingly difficult to add to their lead.

In fact Alpha deserved to be level at the break when Kevin Donnelly beat John Somers only to see his strike come flush of an upright.

Somers had produced a couple of impressive stops himself to deny Patrick Coates and Richie Baxter.

After the break the situation continued with Alpha's well-organised defence providing stubborn resistance before Byrne finally made it 2-0 with an excellent low strike.

Byrne had earlier produced a remarkable solo run that left three players on their backsides but his right-footed effort was parried by Vaughan, who also denied Renan Silva from the rebound.

Less than a minute after Byrne had found the net for the second time, Alvin Lawlor produced a second fantastic strike in as many games to make it 3-0 to the Hoops.

Ordinarily that would have been game over but Alpha's tenacity ensured that it proved a nervy final few minutes.

Graham Brett pulled one back with six minutes left after poor defending at a corner kick and then Coates cut the lead to a single goal with less than three minutes on the clock with a powerful free-kick.

Rovers second keeper Ian Donnelly made an important save - aided by good defending by Renan Silva - to ensure the Hoops claimed the three points.

"It was a closer finish than it might have been because we defended poorly in the final few minutes but Alpha are a side that will always punish you if you are at less than your best," said Rovers coach Stephen Finn.

"Ian Byrne's double and Alvin Lawlor's goals were all excellent but at the moment we seem to be a team that has to score stunning goals all the time. It's very entertaining but I'd be happier with a few more tap-ins!

"There were some good performances from Brendan Dawson and Renan Silva while Giorgio Cinti had an impressive first competitive performance for us.

"Our next two games are against Blue Magic and EID - both of whom have won their opening two fixtures - so it's going to be two massive games that we're really looking forward to.

"Before that we have an exhibition game on Thursday, July 16, down in Clare against Lifford AFC, who played in the FAI Futsal Cup. That'll be a good experience for the lads."

SHAMROCK ROVERS: John Somers (GK); Ian Byrne, Brendan Dawson, Renan Silva, Philip McDonagh, Stephen Haddock, Jandro Riquelme, Felip Bartalini, Alvin Lawlor, Giorgio Cinti, Ian Donnelly (GK).