Hot-shot Corlett bags the winner for Albion

EVAN Corlett’s outstanding goal-scoring run continued at Muirdeach’s Park last Thursday night as Albion Rovers stretched their lead at the top of Division 2 with a narrow victory.

The game was in doubt beforehand as thick fog descended on Monasterboice, but just as kick-off approached it seemed to lift and referee Joe Dyas was happy to let proceedings get under way.

Pat ‘Mini’ Mohan handed debuts in this top-of-the-table clash to Dylan Delaney, Tom Adienka and Ciaran McCann and the hosts started on the front foot, pinning Bailieboro back into their own box early on and going close through young Tom Adienka and Corlett on a number of occasions.

Albion’s midfield pairing of Dylan Kirwan and Steo Martin dominated in the middle of the park and played some fantastic through-balls for Corlett to latch onto.

Just before half-time the Albion back four were caught flat-footed and a Bailieboro player found himself in a one-on-one, but Niall McDonnell in the Albion goal raced out to win the race for possession.

After a stern team talk from Mohan, Albion reappeared as a stronger force in the second half and they could have taken the lead on a number of occasions but for the Bailieboro keeper being in such good form.

Corlett latched onto a throughball from James Walsh and managed to beat the goalkeeper, only to see his effort hit the post.

However, Corlett eventually got his reward mid-way through the second half when ran onto a defence-splitting pass from Paddy Usher and chipped over the outrushing Bailieboro goalkeeper.

After that Albion saw the game out quite comfortably and never really looked like conceding at any point thanks to an excellent performance from their back four of Harding, McEvoy, Mota and Walsh.

However, their best players on the night were McCann, Kirwan, Adienka and man-of-the-match Corlett.

ALBION ROVERS: N McDonnell, K Harding, J Walsh, N McEvoy, H Mota, S Martin, S Kelly, D Kirwan, D Delaney, E Corlett, T Adienka, A Gartland, H Goncalves, T Kavanagh, K Kelly, D Starrs, P Usher, C McQuillan.