Glenhest Rovers 3-1 Crossmolina

Glenhest Rovers strengthened their promotion bid with a hard-earned 3-1 win against Crossmolina on Saturday evening. Crossmolina were enjoying a three game winning streak which had lifted them clear of the relegation mire but it came to an abrupt end amidst the rolling mountains of Glenhest. The game began as a combatitive midfield struggle with neither side distinguishing themselves enough to create good goal scoring opportunities. Glenhest’s Paul Coady seemed to have a "kick me" sign instead of a number on the back of his jersey as he emerged second best from a few committed challenges in the first half. The visitors came closest to scoring in the 20th minute when Derek Greham blocked a Glenhest defenders clearing attempt. The ball fell to Paul Flaherty on the left edge of the box who struck a 20 yard left foot shot just by the top right of the goal.Spurred into action Glenhest responded with the opening goal two minutes later. Crossmolina goalie John Heffernan seemed to be impeded by a Glenhest player as Noel McManaman’s left wing corner floated into the 18 yard area and Paul Coady scored from 10 yards out in the ensuing scramble. Flaherty threatened again for Crossmolina in the 29th minute when he curled a free kick just wide of Christy Syron’s goal. Glenhest pressed hard in the closing stages of the half and Seamus Brady had a shot deflected over the bar from a 38th minute corner kick. The subsequent corner was only half cleared and Coady fired over from 12 yards out to end the first half action. Crossmolina survived a scare with the second half only three minutes old when Damien Syron headed a left wing cross inches over his own crossbar. A 52nd minute left wing free kick by Flaherty found Adrian Conway unmarked 10 yards out from goal but he nodded a header straight at goalie Syron. The home team doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Johnny O’Donnell scored with an overhead kick after a left wing corner. The scoreline forced Crossmolina into attack mode for the final half an hour but some bright midfield moves were ruthlessly snuffed out by the solid Glenhest defence. The visitor’s adventurous tactics repeatedly allowed Glenhest to counter attack against an exposed defence but some desperate defending maintained the two goal deficit. With 15 minutes remaining Padraig Whittaker headed a corner off his own goal-line to keep Crossmolina within touching distance. However his efforts were in vain as Glenhest scored their third goal five minutes later, ironically from a Crossmolina corner kick. John Duggan’s pathetically weak corner was easily defended by Glenhest and they broke quickly through midfield past their demoralised opponents. The sweeping move culminated in a left wing cross which Noel McManaman sidefooted home at the back post to seal the victory. Crossmolina secured a consolation goal with the last kick of the game when Conway slotted in a penalty kick after Greham was fouled. The game was closer than the scoreline would suggest and, as so often is the case at this level, defending at set piece plays proved to be the difference between the two teams as Glenhest scored from three corners, two of which were their own.