Rock continue steady progress with Navan win
NORTH EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE Bay lose 100% start
BAY surrendered their 100% start to the season in Skryne on Sunday afternoon after a lacklustre display. The win lifted the winners to the head of the division 3 table, but Bay have two games in hand, and trail them by three points.
Skryne started out the day fourth and Bay fifth, where they remain.
The visitors started the better side, with Ryan Dillon sending a couple of shots just wide in the early stages.
The first real chance fell to Robbie Murphy whose sweetly struck half volley looked destined for the bottom corner only for the Skryne ‘keeper to pull off a fantastic finger tip save to send it around the post.
Shortly after Skryne had the ball in the Bay net, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside.
Skryne were starting to get the upper hand and went ahead with 15 minutes left in the half. With more than one player in an offside position Bay were left cursing their luck as Frank Carthy swept the ball into the net from a free kick.
Bay then had ‘keeper Kevin Mullen to thank when he took off a point blank save to leave the score one nil at the interval.
Bay found chances at a premium in the second half with Skryne dominating proceedings early. Their second goal resulted in bizarre circumstances. Fox lashed a cross in seconds before being taken down. The referee seemingly blew the whistle for a foul while the ball proceeded to sail into the net after all Bay players stopped for the whistle, but the official turned and signalled for a goal to leave the Bay players and sideline bemused.
A handball in the Skryne box shortly after further incensed the Bay players as the referee waved away protests.
Skryne broke on the counter attack again and Mullen came to the rescue, denying Fox with a superb one on one save.
Overall while both their goals came about in fortuitous circumstances Skryne fully deserved their win.
BAY: Kevin Mullen, Kevin Scollon, Robbie Rafferty, Angelo Stanley, Ciaran Boland (David McCarthy 65), Aaron Kelly (Edgar Barros 80), Robbie Murphy, Johnny Winters, Paddy Connor, Damien Bailey (Nikola Jurkovic 55), Ryan Dillon.
ROCK CELTIC NAVAN TOWN 1 0
ROCK extended their good run to four games without defeat with a hard earned win with the only goal of this their second successive match at home after playing their first three away.
Since they suffered defeat by the only goal of the game, away to Square in the second series in the league, they have been unbeaten, registering 11 goals in their three previous outings, including a three all draw with Torro in a final group tie in the Kilmessan Shield, and four in each of two league fixtures against Carrick and Kells Blackwater.
However, they struggled to score on Friday night against Navan, lying joint second last in the division 1 table, with goal opportunities at a premium.
It took the introduction of David Ward at the break to provide the sparkle and invention that inspired the all important goal ten minutes into the second half.
The veteran striker made a surging run from mid-field to put Jamie McCaul into space inside the left side of the Navan penalty box to draw a flying save from the visitors goalkeeper.
The latter could only push the ball out and the in-rushing Des Des McKeown celebrates the winning goal with Jamie McCaul.
McKeown met it emphatically with his head to send it into the roof of the gaping net.
However, it took a great save by Shane McCoy early on in his debut for the Seasiders and another full length save by the goalkeeper from a free-kick late on to ensure victory for Rock.
Defender Shane O’Callaghan also made a vital interception
in front of his gaol as a Navan player broke free in along the end line and pulled the ball back into the crowded goalmouth , as Celtic endured a tense finish with Navan pushing them back in search of an equaliser.
ROCK: Shane McCoy, Liam Keenan, Brendan Rogers, Shane O’Callaghan, Garry Lennon, Conor Rafferty, Ed Maguire (David Ward 45), Paddy Reilly, Aidan Curtin, Jamie McCaul, Des McKeown.