Leaders’ hard-fought points after sending-off
ALBION ROVERS REDEEMER CELTIC 2 1
ALBION Rovers scored the winning goal when down to 10 men as they boosted their Division 2 title prospects and dealt a big blow to Redeemer’s promotion hopes.
The Monasterboice side had to dig deep at Muirdeach’s Park last Thursday night to send the Dundalk men back up the M1 empty-handed, and from an early stage the hosts were on the back foot against a very talented Redeemer outfit.
Nevertheless, Albion would create the first notable chance when Stephen Martin sent Evan Corlett clear, the Redeemer keeper parried the resulting shot into the path of the on-rushing Martin who shot straight at the netminder. This time the rebound fell to Danny Starrs who dragged his shot narrowly wide.
Albion did take the lead on 10 minutes when Sam Kelly picked up the ball out on the right wing and cut inside, beating three players, before squaring to Helder Goncalves who finished low to the keeper’s right.
Redeemer had a lot of possession but didn’t create any clear-cut chances thanks to the Albion back four of Harding, Mota, McEvoy and man of the match Kelly.
Indeed, both teams were limited to shots from distance for the remainder of the the half - until Redeemer were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Helder Mota was adjudged to have hauled down the Redeemer number 9 in the box and Martin Murphy stepped up for the Dundalk side to beat Niall McDonnell in the Albion goal from the spot.
The second half had barely started when Albion had a penalty shout turned down and seconds later they were reduced to 10 men when Neil McEvoy pulled on a ball, only for the Redeemer man to get a nick on it and McEvoy then caught him with what looked like a wild swing.
At that stage Pat Mohan’s team would have happily taken a point, but they seemed to play a lot better with 10 men and remarkably snatched the winner with 10 minutes remaining.
McDonnell’s long clearance should have been dealt with by the Redeemer centre-half, but he mis-cued his header and Corlett latched onto the loose ball, beat the other centre-half for pace and won the race with the Redeemer keeper before finishing to an empty net. ALBION ROV: N McDonnell, K Harding, K Kelly, N McEvoy, H Mota, S Martin, S Kelly, D Starrs, E Corlett, S Martin, H Goncalves. Subs: C McQuillan, R Kinch, G Maher, D Moore, P Usher, D Smith, L Dvarionas.
REDEEMER CELTIC: K Murphy, A McDermott, P Gartland, C Brennan, C Carroll, K McCormack (J Clinton), W Gladyz, S Kellegher, M Murphy, C Bracken (C Leonard), D McConnell.