April 30th
English League Two
Cambridge United’s wait for promotion to League One rolls on as their fight back against Harrogate Town proved in vain. Wes Hoolahan scored the U’s first and set up their third goal in a 5-4 defeat on Friday night. Norwich City loanee William Hondermarck started in midfield for Harrogate.
May 1st
English Premier League
Seamus Coleman was the only Irishman to take to the pitch in the Premier League on Saturday. He captained Everton in their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
English Championship
In the second tier, Jordan Shipley’s goal for Coventry City was cancelled out ten minutes later by Huddersfield Town’s Danny Ward which resulted in a share of the points.
Glen Rea was also on the scoresheet for Luton Town in their 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough. The midfielder nodded the ball across the goal-line to give his team a lead which lasted just two minutes before Boro got their equalizer.
Derby County are well and truly in a relegation scrap at the bottom of the division. Jason Knight started in midfield as the Rams lost to Swansea City marking their sixth consecutive defeat. They are now just one point above the relegation zone with one game left this season, a home tie against second bottom side Sheffield Wednesday.
Alan Browne and Greg Cunningham both started for Preston as they beat promotion contenders Barnsley by two goals to nil.
Nottingham Forest drew their third game on the bounce with Cyrus Christie playing his part in keeping a clean sheet against Sheffield Wednesday.
Meanwhile Irish youngsters Danny McNamara (Millwall) and Andrew Omobamidele (Norwich) both featured in their respective team’s 4-1 victories on Saturday.
English League One
Ronan Curtis and Anthony Scully are two names at the top of the form table in League One. Curtis had a hand in all three of Portsmouth’s goals against Wimbledon. The winger scored the first, drilling home Marcus Harness’s ball across the six yard box, before assisting the final two goals in a 3-1 win. Pompey defender Sean Raggett’s performance in the win earned him a place in the League One ‘Team of the Week’.
Meanwhile at Peterborough, Anthony Scully scored two goals (including a terrific long-range effort) as Lincoln City were 3-0 up before the hour mark. However, Jack Taylor’s Peterborough side fought back in the second-half to earn a draw which sealed their promotion to the Championship.
It will go down to the wire for the final play-off spot after Mark Sykes’s Oxford United side scored a late winner against Shrewsbury Town to remain in contention. They are just one point off Portsmouth in sixth place with one game left to play.
English League Two
Exeter City kept their play-off hopes alive thanks to a 95th minute winner from Pierce Sweeney against Bolton. The defender headed in a stoppage time free-kick to give his team a crucial win.
Conor Wilkinson was back amongst the goals for Leyton Orient in their defeat to Carlisle United. The forward opened the scoring in the third minute with a well-taken finish. Carlisle equalized just before the half-time whistle when Joshua Kayode headed the ball back across the goal for Jon Mellish to smash into the net. The game finished 3-2 to the away side.
Mansfield Town eased to a 4-1 victory against Oldham Athletic. Stephen McLoughlin assisted the second goal of the game. The full-back featured in the League Two ‘Team of the Week’ along with Wes Hoolahan.
Bradford City and Scunthorpe United’s game finished all square. Bradford’s ‘Player of the Season’ Paudie O’Connor kept out the Scunthorpe attack with the help of his fellow defenders.
Scottish Premiership
Jamie McGrath came on as substitute to score his 15th goal of the season in St Mirren’s defeat to Hamilton Academical.
Livingston also suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Aberdeen. Jaze Kabia, also on a second-half substitute, assisted Livingston’s only goal of the game.
May 2nd
English Premier League
Ciaran Clark started in Newcastle United’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal while John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick were on the end of a 4-0 thrashing from Spurs on Sunday evening.
Belgian Pro League
Josh Cullen had to settle for a second-half cameo in Anderlecht’s 2-2 draw with league leaders Club Brugge who scored an 89th minute equalizer.
May 3rd
English Premier League
Dara O’Shea’s confidence took a knock on Monday when he was pulled from the game after just half an hour in West Brom’s 1-1 draw with Wolves.
May 4th
English Championship
James Collins, Glen Rea and Chiedozie Ogbene all featured in a goalless draw between Luton Town and Rotherham United on Tuesday evening.
English League One
Lincoln City came away from Charlton with nothing to show for in Anthony Scully’s 50th appearance of the season.
Mark McGuinness and Troy Parrott played the full ninety minutes in Ipswich Town’s 0-0 draw with Shrewsbury Town.
Scottish League Two
Ireland U-21 midfielder Luca Connell’s finish in the 87th minute was not enough for Queens Park who lost 3-2 to Elgin City.
Hampshire Senior Cup
A special mention for Ireland shotstopper Mark Travers who pulled off what every goalkeeper dreams of… Scoring from a corner. Travers’ terrific late header (assisted by Gavin Kilkenny) meant Bournemouth U-21’s cup final clash against Eastleigh went to penalties. The 21-year-old added to his heroic performance by saving the first penalty which ultimately won the cup for his team. A memorable night for Travers!
May 5th
Australian A-League
In the A-League, Andy Keogh grabbed his sixth assist of the campaign in Perth Glory’s defeat to Melbourne City.