Glenmuir keep title race alive with late strike
LOWLY Glenmuir Celtic did a favour to the teams closest to the leaders with Patrick Curley snatching a last minute goal to earn a draw at Sandy Lane in the under-12 premier division.
With Glenmuir one rung off the bottom and the sides nearly the length of the table apart, this was a result that was not on the cards. But it was merited on the run of play with Glenmuir wiping out a two goal lead and twice coming from behind as the leaders laboured in the cold and windy conditions.
They went in front after nine minutes through Sean McKeever, who broke free of the Glenmuir defence and from the right of goal shot high into the roof of the net at the near post. The same player a minute later was unfortunate to turn the highly influential Aniss Himver’s free kick past his own goalkeeper to equalise.
Rock then struck twice in five minutes to open up a two goal gap. McKeever once again was on the mark to score his second goal.
A through ball by Ryan Doran eluded a Glenmuir defender leaving him on his own inside the penalty box and he calmly tucked his low shot past the exposed goalkeeper.
Adam Donoghue made it 3-1 in the 23rd minute when Doran was again instrumental, forcing a great full length save by Raivis Krumins to push the ball out but Donohue was on hand to tap the ball into the empty net.
Rock without being convincing looked to have the wherewithal and most importantly the cushion to secure victory, but against the wind in the second period Glenmuir put them under increasing pressure and concerted as well at times.
The re- introduction of the tall, powerful and strong running Ryan Doran stemmed the flow in the direction of the Rock goal, and they created couple of glorious chances to clinch the points.
However, luck deserted Francis Lynch whose mazy run brought him into the Glenmuir box and his measured shot beat the goalkeeper but struck the butt of the opposite post and rebounded out and was cleared.
He and Ben Cahill displayed lovely trickery and dribbling skills. But when Cahill weaved past two defenders into the box again and the Glenmuir goalkeeper saved with his legs, and Tom Cunniffee shot across the face of the visitors goal, Rock visibly were hanging on for dear life in the closing minutes to try and protect their slender lead.
Emmanuel Ojo had delicately chipped the ball over the busy Rock goalkeeper as he was set free on the right with ten minutes remaining.
Ojo became increasingly menacing, finding ominously room in behind the Rock defence on the right. The leaders failed to address the danger he presented as he forced a fine save from Shane O’Connor in the home goal.
When he found room again on the endline this time Rock paid the full price as his strong cross right across the face of goal was perfectly anticipated by Curley.
The manager’s son stole in completely unmarked at the back post to steer the ball into the gaping net. There was just about time to kick-off when the referee Niall Minto blew the final whistle. ROCK Celtic: Shane O’Connor, Lee O’Donoghue, Liam McNamara, Sam Twibill, Sean McKeever, Ryan Doran, Adam Donoghue, Cian Loy, Ben Cahill, Daniel Cartwright, Tom Cunniffe, Evan Kearney, Thomas McNamara, Francis Lynch, Jack McGeough.