Bay strike valuable blow
ON a big weekend in Division 3, leaders Bay struck a valuable blow in the title race on Friday night when they defeated third-in-the-table Skryne.
That was ahead of the other top-four clash between Rathmullen and Summerhill, who were second and fourth respectively, but the points guaranteed Bay remain top, with their lead extended temporarily at least to five points.
The result was also a big psychological fillip to Bay, with Skryne having inflicted Bay’s only league defeat so far, and had they repeated that result would have overtaken Bay.
The visitors were in bullish mood and started the game on the front foot, and with less than five minutes on the clock lively winger Fox cut in from the wing and curled a beautiful effort into the far corner to put Skryne ahead.
They had the bit between their teeth and were determined not to let the lead slip easily. In fact they nearly increased it, only for home keeper Kevin Mullen to turn the ball around the post at full stretch.
Other than a long-range effort by Kevin Scollon, Bay failed to trouble the Skryne keeper, with the game settling down into a midfield battle.
Then, with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Bay worked an equaliser - and it was a fine team effort. Mark Larkin split the visitors’ defence and Marcel Ekwueme held off two defenders to fire home into the bottom corner.
Bay began the second half the better side, spreading the play well and working hard to deny Skryne possession. Gavin Toner and Ekwueme both tested their keeper in the opening moments before the home side took the lead after 65 minutes. Larkin hit a wonderful free kick from 20 yards out around the wall and into the bottom corner to give the keeper no chance.
That goal seemed to jolt Skryne into life as they began upping the tempo again and pressuring Bay. They almost equalised, only for the brilliance of Mullen. A cross into the six-yard box was met by their striker who headed the ball to Mullen’s right, but he made a point-blank reflex save.
Bay cleared their lines and Scollon was sent through down the line on the counter and he drove a dangerous ball across the box. The Skryne keeper got a toe to it when it looked like Larkin was going to tap it in for number three.
However, Bay didn’t have to wait long for it to come, with Larkin turning provider. His cross clipped a defender and Mikey Burke sent the keeper the wrong way with a header to seal a big three points for Bay. BAY: Kevin Mullen, Robbie Rafferty (Angelo Stanley 85), Gavin Toner, Mario Kolak, Johnny Winters (Brendan Nash 70), Kevin Scollon (Mikey Burke 65), Afonso Crespo (Ryan Dillon 65), Jimmy Byrne, Paddy Connor, Mark Larkin (David McCartney 85), Marcel Ekwueme.