Conn Rangers 3-1 Crossmolina

Phillip Devers struck yet another hat trick for Conn Rangers to sink Crossmolina 3-1 on a drizzly Sunday afternoon. Devers, who has been prolific at recording trebles this season, clinched a valuable 3 points for Rangers who are pushing hard for promotion and this convincing win over fellow contenders Crossmolina kicks off the second half of their season in fine style.A scrappy encounter began with a fantastic free kick effort from 18 yards out by Rangers with only a minute gone in the game. Crossmolina keeper Johnny O'Hora had to be fully alert to tip the rasping shot over the crossbar. Rangers obviously had been rehearsing their set pieces because they caused Crossmolina many worrying moments with them. In the 10th minute the home side whipped a right wing free kick into the Crossmolina box and the ball somehow navigated it's way through a forest of legs to reach the unmarked John Ruane at the back post who could only hit the side netting from 3 yards out. Crossmolina were slow to learn however as 5 minutes later the scenario was virtually repeated. This time Rangers free kick was brilliantly saved by O'Hora as he palmed the ball to his right hand side but Ruane came racing in, only to once again steer the ball wide from close range. Rangers dominated the opening 20 minutes holding a monopoly on both possession and chances created. Crossmolina's infrequent forays upfield were comfortably handled by the Rangers defence, and their general play was disjointed and lacking fluidity. As a result they were on the back foot for the majority of the half as Conn Rangers constructed many openings but capitalized on none. Crossmolina's best chance of the half came when Michael Canavan hit a pass over the top of the home defence which John Duggan raced onto. He unleashed a cross to the back post where the Rangers goalie intercepted it, but then fumbled the ball to Derek Greham who shot wide under pressure from 6 yards out. The half time introduction of Paul McGuinness injected some much-needed imagination into Crossmolina's midfield but no sooner was he on the pitch than his team were behind. Six minutes into the half Devers latched onto a long ball from midfield and finished with great aplomb from 12 yards out to give Rangers a deserved 1-0 lead. Crossmolina showed great character to answer within 4 minutes with a beautifully orchestrated move down the right wing. McGuinness cleverly passed through a Rangers players legs to Jason Canavan who deftly relayed the ball out to the overlapping Michael Canavan. He carried it to the bye line and then drove a cross into the Conn Rangers box which Padraig Whittaker bundled in from 3 yards out to level the score at 1-1. Whittaker went from hero to villain in the space of 10 minutes though as the game erupted for a controversial 5 minute spell. Referee Kevin Reilly struggled to keep the peace as a melee broke out between several Rangers players and Whittaker. Despite both sides being equally at fault Reilly saw fit to only book Whittaker when the dust settled on the spat. It was inevitable then that Whittaker would be booked when he committed a rash challenge on a Rangers midfielder only minutes later and as a result be sent off. Faced with the prospect of playing with 10 men for the remaining 25 minutes Crossmolina collapsed and in the 70th minute Devers scored his second goal of the game. A right wing cross was dropped by O'Hora and Devers pounced to poke it home for a 2-1 lead. Ironicallly the visitors played their best football after this and Greham shot wide from 6 yards out while being tackled with 15 minutes to go. John McGuinness then dribbled throught the Rangers defence but shot weakly from 12 yards out. Rangers confirmed their superiority with an opportunistic third goal in the 80th minute. Devers dispossessed John Hegarty and outpaced Michael Canavan before slotting home his third goal of the day and sealing the win for his team. Five minutes later after an excellent run by a team mate he received the ball in the box but his curling shot was just over the bar. But he won't worry after leading his team to a vital victory which establishes them as pace setters for promotion to the Super League. Crossmolina, on the other hand, will want to forget about this and try to achieve some positive consistency for the rest of the season.

Crossmolina - J O'Hora, M Canavan, J Keane, J Hegarty, M Loftus, J Duggan(P McGuinness 45), S Canavan, P Whittaker, P Flaherty (J McGuinness 74), D Greham, J Canavan

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