Glens grind out win
Hard-earned victory for United against Ashford ‘B’
ASHFORD ROVERS ‘B’ GLENCORMAC UNITED 2 4
GLENCORMAC United maintained their impressive form with a hard-earned victory over Ashford Rovers ’B’at Ballinalea Park last sunday.
A half-time rollicking from manager Colm Mulligan seemed to spur the men from under Sugarloaf to turn a half-time deficit into a comfortable victory.
Goals in the second period from Daniel Hill, Sam Kerr, James Delahunty and Nathan Watters saw the Glens home.
With both teams at opposite ends of the Division 2 table , Glencormac were rightly considered favourites for this game but any Ashford team will rise for a cup game against superior opposition and this proved the case.
With Sean Beale and the industrious Shane Farrell they tore into their vaunted visitors from the get go. Glencormac short of the O’Callaghan brothers knew they were in a battle.
The first real chance arrived for the hosts after eight minutes when winger Gavin McDevitt galloped down the line his pull back found striker Leon Murphy in space but the ball got stuck under his feet and the Glens cleared.
Rovers were dealt a blow soon after when Paul Conyard pulled up with an injury. His experience was sorely missed in the later stages.
However from adversity they struck first. A Glencormac corner was headed clear by Beale, it was picked up by Murphy who swept a ball out to Conyard’s replacement Chris French, with Glencormac caught up field he sprayed the ball down the line to McDevitt who squared to markman Shane Farrell and he placed past keeper Gabor Radoczy for a deserved lead. A great team goal.
The rest of the half was quite even with Ashford having plenty of possession without creating anything.
Indeed it was Glencormac who came closest to scoring when Dean McCormack’s first time shot was majestically tipped onto the bar and behind for a corner by Tommy Sullivan in the Rovers goal.
From the following set-piece centre-back Michael Rooney hit the bar with a helped on volley.
With Mulligan’s words ringing in their ears United came out rejuvenated.
After 20 seconds Watters had a snapshot from distance work Sullivan. The next attack saw the Glens get their reward.
After earning a free to the right of the Ashford large square, Delahunty floated in a cross that was clipped home expertly by Daniel Hill
Glencormac were on the up as with Watters coming to the fore in the middle of the park they got on top.
However, Ashford threw on centre forward Chris Sillery on the hour mark and he made an instant impression.
A renowned long throw expert his launched arrow alluded everyone till it fell to Paul Duffy at the back post, Duffy’s shot was heading for the next parish untill it cannoned off an unfortunate United defender and wrong-footed Radoczy in the goal.
The lead lasted less than three minutes as a floated free from the visitors was nodded across goal and Sam Kerr showing great bravery toe-poked home in front of a clutch of Rovers defenders to restore parity.
The concession of the goal seemed to shock Ashford as they lost some discipline and it was punished.
Delahunty received the ball on the right wing he cut back in on his favoured left foot and unleashed a cannon of a shot off the inside of Sullivan’s post to give the visitors a lead.
Four minutes. later the tie was as good as over. A tussle between Kerr and centre-back Kane O’Shea saw referee Dominic Lauchesse award a penalty much to the disagreement of the hosts sideline.
Up stepped Watters to roll home a goal his performance deserved. Ashford had chances late on with Farrell unlucky on occasions and Sillery denied by a spectacular save after a delightful nutmeg to create the chance.
Overall a fair result Ashford were superior in the first-half with Beale and McDevitt their best performers.
For Glencormac Rooney, Hill, Delahunty and Watters were impressive.
Man of the match had to be Kerr up front.
He was energetic and lively throughout set up a goal scored a goal and was a constant menace to the Rovers backline.