Colfer rifles roof of net as Corach strike late on
DUNCANNON 2 CORACH RAMBLERS 3
THIS RICHIE Dwyer Memorial Over-35 soccer league game burst into life from the very first minute and it was non-stop action at both ends throughout.
A terrific advertisement for the competition, it left onlookers in Fethard on Friday highly entertained.
As early as the fourth minute, some great play by Corach opened up the Duncannon defence and a cross found the unmarked Wayne Whitty whose powerful headee came back off the crossbar into the grateful arms of Mark Hanton in the Duncannon goal.
From the kick out, the ball eluded the Corach defence and in nipped Keith Donnelly to chip the ball over the outrushing Jason Sinnott to give Duncannon the lead.
Corach were probably wondering how ten seconds earlier they weren’t 1-0 up, but to their credit they equalised almost immediately from the kick-off.
A high ball in caused problems in the home defence again. Wayne Whitty got a head on it, and again it came back off the crossbar, only this time pressure applied from the inrushing forwards forced a defender into steering it into his own net.
Again from the kick-off Duncannon scored as the referee awarded a penalty following a clumsy tackle, and up stepped Keith Donnelly to put the hosts back into a 2-1 lead with only eight minutes played.
Shortly after another Wayne Whitty header was just over, while at the other end Marty Keane cleared off the line following a header from a Duncannon corner, not once, but twice in quick succession.
Another chance for Corach’s Wayne Whitty was well saved by Hanton before a pinpoint cross from Keane found Mark Colfer all alone on the back post, and his shot was dragged wide when it seemed easier to score.
Alan Diskin and Johnny Kinsella both had chances before the break, and the home side had a penalty claim turned down, but amazingly it remained 2-1 at half-time.
The second-half was one minute old when Corach found the equalising goal.
Similar to Duncannon’s first, a long punt forward was not dealt with and Alan Diskin nipped in for an easy finish to level the game.
With the game entering injury time, the ball broke in the box to Alan Diskin whose toe-poke found Mark Colfer and, from a tight angle, he rifled it to the roof of the net to give Corach Ramblers all three points.
Group A: Duncannon 2, Corach Ramblers 3; Taghmon United 1, Campile United 1.
Group B: Shamrock Rovers 12, All Blacks 2; Rosslare Rangers 4, Kilmore United 2; Forth Celtic 4, Fastnet Rovers 1.
Fixtures - Cup preliminary round (extra-time and penalties if necessary), Tuesday, May 29: St. Leonards v. Rosslare Rangers; Fastnet v. Taghmon United; Duncannon v. Kilmore; Corach Ramblers v. Forth Celtic.
Friday, June 1: Group A (7.30 p.m.) - Taghmon United v. Ross Celtic; Corach Ramblers v. Campile United; Group B (7.30 p.m.) - All Blacks v. Rosslare Rangers; Kilmore United v. Forth Celtic.
Saturday, June 2: Group A (7.30 p.m.) - St. Leonards v. Duncannon; Group B (7.30 p.m.): Fastnet Rovers v. Shamrock Rovers.