Harps pushed all the way by 10-man Ardee
TWO late goals spared Boyne Harps’ blushes as they eventually overcame 10-man Ardee Celtic in a controversial and action-packed Premier Division showdown at Townparks last Friday night.
Wayne Wright’s Harps lined out without five first-choice players, but they still had experienced campaigners like Guy Bates, Manny Smith and Darren McCann to call upon, while Ardee were looking to the Gaynor brothers Ross and Darryn for inspiration as both sides sought to build on opening-day victories.
It was John Flanagan’s Ardee who started the brighter and they had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock on 20 minutes when Harps keeper Jason Lowney was penalised for bringing down Bryan O’Connor as he bore down on goal.
There looked to be minimal contact, but in any case Lowney redeemed himself by diving to his right to keep out Ross Gaynor’s spot kick in brilliant fashion.
Gaynor’s miss proved costly
Ardee Celtic Boyne Harps 2 4
as five minutes later Harps took the lead in fine style as Bates spread play wide to Stephen Carter whose cross was turned home at the back post by Graham Reynolds.
For the next 10 minutes Harps threatened to add to their tally. Reynolds scuffed another chance wide and Nathan Seery fired a well-struck shot straight at Ardee keeper Declan Butler before sending another effort wide.
Just past the half-hour mark Harps did double their advantage with a contender for strangest goal of the season.
Butler took a quick free towards one of his teammates who hadn’t realised the kick had been taken, and the ever-alert Reynolds stepped in to intercept before going on to finish past the goalkeeper as his defenders stood still.
There was no doubt in Harps players’ minds that it was a per- fectly legitimate goal, but Ross Gaynor was yellow-carded for his protest and then talked himself into a second booking following an exchange with one of the referee’s assistants.
Down to 10 men, Ardee survived until half-time without conceding any more goals, but they seemed to have a massive uphill task in the second half.
However, they had a dream start when Niall Sharkey ghosted into the box between two Harps central defenders and applied the finishing touch to a free kick from close range.
Remarkably, Ardee made light of their numerical disadvantage and went on to draw level on 55 minutes, although Harps bitterly disputed the goal, very much as Ardee had questioned the second Harps strike.
It came from a mis-cued daisycutter-style corner kick which wasn’t dealt with by the Harps defence and was instead stabbed goal-wards by O’Connor. Harps midfielder Mickey Leech booted the ball clear from under the crossbar, but the referee decided it had crossed the line and awarded the goal, sparking furious scenes.
Ardee had the upper hand at this stage and they were playing with renewed confidence, but their momentum was halted when it was their turn to suffer misfortune in the 70th minute as keeper Declan Butler suffered a serious-looking leg injury after taking a goal kick.
There was a long delay while he received treatment and eventually he was taken from the field and replaced by 17-year-old debutant Hugh Murphy.
As Ardee tired, Boyne Harps came strong again and they hit the front when McCann’s pass picked out Bates and the former Drogheda United star controlled the ball on his chest before lashing an unstoppable shot past the diving Murphy.
In the end Bates could have helped himself to a hat-trick, but the alert Murphy denied him on two occasions.
However, the young Ardee netminder was powerless to prevent Carl Dowling scoring a fourth for Harps late on, applying the coolest of finishes after an assist from Bates.
ARDEE CELTIC: BOYNE HARPS: