Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
10MATCH BANBRIDGE YCOB LEAD CHARGE IN GOAL GLUT
EAMONN MCCARTHY is demanding a reaction from his players this evening after seeing his Crewe side fall short of their own high standards.
Two defeats in four days to their biggest title rivals did nothing for the United gaffer’s mood on Saturday night.
After slumping to a 6-3 loss at home against Hanover in midweek, Crewe were again on the wrong end of things as Banbridge Rangers blasted their way to a 3-0 victory at Cheney Park on Saturday.
That means, from winning 14 of their opening 15 games in all competitions, Crewe have now won five of their last 11.
And their mathematical advantage in the Intermediate A title race has been reduced to a goal advantage.
Mccarthy said: “Crewe are a bit of a scalp this season and teams are raising their game against us.
“We’re playing some really good sides in this league and I’ve been very impressed by the standard.
“I would say Mid-ulster is a higher standard of football than the Amateur League if you leave Crumlin Star to one side.
“I was very impressed by Hanover when we played them, Windmill Stars is a really tough place to go and so was Banbridge on Saturday.
“For those three games to come when we’re struggling for rhythm couldn’t have been worse timing.
“We’re looking for a settled side but we just can’t get it – I would love to have a week where everyone is fit and available.
“But we’re getting close to that again.
“We haven’t become a bad team overnight, momentum has just turned a bit but we’re all itching to put it right out on the pitch.
“We can’t be worrying about Hanover or Banbridge Rangers, we have to get our own house in order.
“We’re a bit shellshocked, but we’ve a really good bunch of lads here and I’m confident they will get it right.”
This week brings a league game at home to Moneyslane this evening, followed by a Marshall Cup quarter-final against Markethill Swifts on Saturday.
Win those and suddenly the picture is rosy again, of course.
But they will need to play better than they did in the second half against Banbridge at the weekend where goals from Jordan Hayes, Josh Cahoon and Matt Hazley kept the Gers upwardly mobile.
Mccarthy added: “The game was so, so level. We were cancelling each other out really.
“Both had chances and I actually felt that it would take a mistake for someone to win the game.
“They managed to get the first goal and took it very well and fair play to them, they picked us off as we pushed on for the equaliser.
“That’s a very difficult place to go on the 4G which they’re really comfortable playing on.
“They use it well and they’re very organised and hard to play