Bay battle to earn precious win on the road
NORTH EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE ’Mor like it against Square
AFTER their surprise defeat in their opening match of the season, Muirhevnamor returned to their normal winning ways against newly promoted Square United on Sunday at Ardee.
On a terrible day for football with it bitterly cold and windy and the pitch rock hard, the cup holders reserved their best football for playing against the wind in the second-half.
Paudie Hearty was again introduced and the striker obliged with his second goal in as many introductions since his return form injury, which was a terrific finish from a very acute angle to secure the points in the closing ten minutes .
Brendan Hughes put the visitors ahead in a poor first half, gaining a little good fortune as the ball went in off him from a corner kick.
Square had about two chances in the match. The first was from a free-kick in the first half which they couldn’t avail of, and the other in the second period when the crossbar came to the rescue of Muirhevnamor.
Paul Mallon, deployed in mid-field, virtually wrapped up the points in the 70th minute when he made no mistake, hitting the loose ball into the roof of the net after the Square goalkeeper brought off a great save.
MUIRHEVNAMOR: Michael Cooney, Brian Begley, Nathan Murphy, Gavin Smith (Sean Conlon), Jimmy Cooney, Paul Mallon, Philip Duffy Brendan Hughes, Wayne Robinson (Paudie Hearty) Mickey O’Kane, Martin Smith
KENTSTOWN BAY FC 1 3
BAY picked up their first away win of the season to take all three points at Paul Lenihan Park with a fine display on Sunday morning.
Kevin Mullen was the first of the ‘keepers called into action as Kentstown sent one right down his throat. The Bay custodian showed good hands to hold onto it.
Quadri Olowu then went down the other end and smashed a speculative strike just wide of the top corner.
Bay kept hold of the ball well with much of the play in Kentstown’s half but failed to test the ‘keeper despite holding the lion’s share of possession.
They were punished for not making this possession count as Kentstown on the counter got a fortuitous deflection for the ball to sit up for their striker to lash a shot that cannoned off the upright. Their winger was quickest to react, nodding home the rebound for the home side to take the lead.
Five minutes later and just before the break Bay were on level terms. Luka Brlenic put a free kick through the eye of a needle for Olowu to stoop and send his header looping into the top corner.
The second half was barely minutes old when the away side took the lead. A long free was touched on by the head of Olowu and Pairic Browne was there to slot it in at the back post.
Kentstown rallied after that and had a few chances, one of which flew across the face of goal.
Alfonso Crespo sent a free kick low towards the bottom corner but the Kentstown ‘keeper was a match for his effort.
With time running out and Bay looking comfortable heading into the final quarter Kentstown threw caution to the wind and piled forward. Their striker cut inside and sent a thunderbolt of a strike goal bound which Mullen fantastically tipped onto the crossbar.
Substitute Anto McLaughlin was sent through by Mario Kolak as Bay caught Kentstown on the counter, and forced a good save from the home net minder.
With the clock ticking down Bay grabbed the all important third goal. Crespo played a delightful reverse pass into Aaron Kelly’s path and the winger made no mistake from close range to wrap up the three points for the away side and continue their good start to life in division one.
BAY: Kevin Mullen, Kevin Scollon, Brian McCloskey, Angelo Stanley (Jimmy Byrne 75), Pairic Browne, Luka Brlenic (Anto McLaughlin 75), Paddy Connor, Aaron Kelly, Alfonso Crespo, Quadri Olowu, Mario Kolak.