Mullen saves the day for Bay
BAY progressed in the Tully Bookmakers cup after a hard fought win over Park Celtic Summerhill.
For a long time it didn’t look like they would as the losers dug in and frustrated Bay as they held onto a 2-1 lead deep into stoppage time, but ‘keeper Kevin Mullen emerged as their hero in the penalty shoot out, saving two kicks.
Bay started off the brighter. Anto McLaughlin warmed the hands of the home ‘keeper with a shot from outside the area. Paddy Connor seen his shot go just over the bar with Bay looking dangerous early on but it was Park who opened the scoring.
A scuffed shot found its way to an un- marked striker in the box and he couldn’t miss from six yards out.
Bay didn’t panic and equalised five minutes later. A well worked move down the right finished with Brian McCloskey crossing and Shaun O Connor slotted home from close range
It was all Bay but disaster struck for the Dundalk side as a defensive error left the winger one on one with ‘keeper Kevin Mullen and from a tight angle he finished well into the top corner..
The second half started fairly evenly with both sides testing the ‘keepers with free kicks and substitute Alfonso Crespo seeing his top corner bound shot pawed away by the home ‘keeper
At the other end Mullen was forced into a great save while one on one with the Park Celtic striker.
Bay peppered the home goal as the game wore on but to no avail and Park ran down the clock at every opportunity. But in the 97th minute Paddy Connor sent the ball back into the box from a poor clearance and his namesake Shaun was there to slot home his second goal and a deserved equalizer to force the game to extra time.
Park Celtic were fading and Bay hemmed them into their own half in extra time, but couldn’t force a winning goal. So the tie went to penalties.
Alfonso Crespo set the right tone by smashing home his penalty and ‘keeper Kevin Mullen guessed right and made a great save at the other end. Pairic Browne and Joe Woods slotted their respective penalties home as did the Park Celtic midfielder, leaving the stage for Mullen to make a vital second save to allow Steven Mc Guinness to step up and strike the decisive goal, rifling his kick into the top corner.
BAY: Kevin Mullen, Brian McCloskey, Steven McGuinness, Angelo Stanley, Pairic Browne, Anto McLaughin, Johnny Winters (Joe Woods 65) Paddy Connor, Kevin Scollon (Alfonso Crespo 65), Shaun O’Connor, Mario Kolak (Alan McCartney 70).