Hayes hits hat-trick as Forth open Over-35 campaign on high
ON A foggy night in Murrintown, both Forth Celtic and Rosslare Rangers lined out for their inaugural appearance in the Richie Dwyer Over-35 league.
Rosslare Rangers started quickest with Ian O’Leary on the scoresheet early on to give the visitors the lead.
Rosslare had settled quicker than Forth Celtic at this stage as the home team were struggling to keep the ball.
However, they soon settled down to the task at hand and began to put some good passages of play together, with Gavin Driver in the Rosslare goal being called upon twice in quick succession following good work from Forth Celtic’s Stephen Daly.
The visitors held out until half-time and indeed could have doubled their lead following a mix-up in the Forth defence, but at the break it remained 1-0 to Rosslare.
To their credit, Forth started the second-half much better, and were deservedly rewarded after some good inter-play down the right side.
The cross from Roger Doyle was not dealt with by the defence and, when the ball broke to Anthony Hayes only a few yards out, he couldn’t miss, and he didn’t.
It was 1-1 with the home team in the ascendancy at this stage.
A great through ball soon after put Stephen Daly through but he just dragged the shot wide.
A free-kick to Forth soon followed and up stepped Anthony Hayes to put them into the lead as Gavin Driver in the Rosslare goal was well beaten.
The hosts were now 2-1 up and as most teams tend to do when they take the lead, they retreated slightly and allowed Rosslare some territory and possession.
The final ten minutes saw the away side push on in search of the equalising goal and, indeed, they had the ball in the net, only for the referee to disallow the goal for an offside infringement.
Rosslare kept pushing but were limited to shots from distance as Forth held firm, preferring to sit deep and play on the counter, and it was from such a counter-attack late on that Forth were awarded a free-kick just outside the box.
Up stepped Anthony Hayes and unleashed an absolute pearler past the hapless Rosslare ‘keeper to put Forth into a 3-1 lead and to complete a wonderful hat trick.
Group A results: Ross Celtic 1, Corach Ramblers 0; Campile United 4, Duncannon 2; St. Leonards 0, Taghmon United 1.
Group B results: All Blacks 1, Fastnet Rovers 4; Kilmore United 0, Shamrock Rovers 2; Forth Celtic 3, Rosslare Rangers 1.
Fixtures (Friday, May 11) - Group A (7.30 p.m.): Duncannon v. Taghmon United; Corach Ramblers v. St. Leonards (Saturday); Campile United v. Ross Celtic.
Group B (7.30 p.m.): Rosslare Rangers v. Fastnet Rovers; Kilmore United v. All Blacks; Shamrock Rovers v. Forth Celtic.