Bates set to spice up Harps’ attack
FORMER Drogheda United star Guy Bates will make his debut for Boyne Harps in the New Year after signing for the NEFL Premier side before last Friday night’s game with OMP.
Harps are waiting from international clearance from the FAI for the 32-yearold, who famously clinched the League of Ireland title for the Drogs in 2007 with the winning goal against Cork City.
Despite moving back to the top of the league following this point at the MDL Astro, goals have been a problem for Harps this season and only the bottom three teams have a worse goals-pergame ratio.
Manager Wayne Wright believes that Bates, who previously turned out for Black Bull before having successful spells with Glenavon and Linfield in the Irish League, will give his team more of a cutting edge in attack.
Wright said: ‘Guy has been coaching with me since I took over, doing a few sessions, and has played a couple of friendlies with us.
‘But we had a chat when we wee beaten 5-0 [by Trim Celtic on November 30th] about the chances we missed and he would bring a bit of experience.
‘We need somebody who is used to that role and he is a huge signing for the league as well as for ourselves.’
Looking to bounce back from that defeat by Trim, Harps took the game to OMP from the start on a freezing Friday night, with Tom Reilly and Darren McCann dominant in midfield.
The breakthrough came on 22 minutes when Stephen Carter crossed into the box and Martin Kelly’s mis-guided header flew towards the back post where Carl Dowling lashed a volley into the top corner from eight yards.
Harps probably should have been out of sight by half-time, but chances came and went for Kelly (2), Carter and Nathan Llewellyn.
In the second half Kevin Walsh had a powerful header palmed round the post by OMP keeper Conor Gilsenan, before Harps were unlucky not to double their advantage with what would have been a goal of the season contender.
Reilly took possession in midfield and evaded five would-be tackles before bearing down on goal, only for defender Sean Doyle to block as the Harps player lined up a shot.
Those earlier misses would come back to haunt the away side, who were pegged back after OMP emptied their bench with five substitutions around the 75-minute mark.
Harps keeper Ryan Brown continued to see little action, but he was picking the ball out of his net in the 84th minute after a controversial equaliser for OMP.
Harps felt aggrieved when the referee awarded a penalty for Darren McCann’s rather innocuous challenge on an OMP forward, but the decision stood and one of the OMP subs stepped forward to beat Brown from the spot.
Nevertheless, Wright was satisfied with his team’s performance.
‘The reaction I was looking for after the Trim game, I most definitely got it,’ he enthused.
‘It was a tough game and the lads felt very hard done by, not winning, but I was glad that OMP acknowledged how well we did on their Facebook page.’
BOYNE HARPS: Ryan Brown, Kevin Walsh, Manny Smith, Austin McCann, James Traynor, Nathan Llewellyn (Chris McDonnell), Stephen Carter, Darren McCann, Tom Reilly, Martin Kelly, Carl Dowling (Barry Reynolds). Sub not used: Colin Rafferty.