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Crossmolina 2-1 Glenisland United What`s rare is wonderful I: Crossmolina
enjoyed only their second win of the season on Sunday against Glenisland,
thereby alleviating early relegation fears. An exciting match between two
midtable sides ended in a fortunate 2-1 victory for the home side, despite
deserving to win after dominating the match for long periods. Right back
John McGuinness produced the first threat of the game when he unleashed a
20 yard shot in the 12th minute. Crossmolina suffered an early loss when
midfield dynamo Steven Canavan was injured and had to be replaced by Paul
McGuinness in the 15th minute. The cloud provided a glorious silver
lining, however, when the substitute struck up an instant rapport with
midfield partner Joe Keane, which gave Crossmolina superiority for the
remainder of the game. McGuinness jitterbugged across the field throughout
the match as he played in a controlled state of panic, while his colleague
Keane bossed midfield with a composure which seeped through to the rest of
the team. It was Keane who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when he
turned in Paul Flaherty`s poorly defended corner at the back post from 3
yards out. The goal settled the nervy hosts and within a minute they
should have doubled their lead. Keane instigated the move with a pass from
midfield which was cleverly backheeled by Derek Greham out to John Duggan
on the right wing. The winger`s cross was headed over by striker Adrian
Conway from 10 yards out. Paul McGuinness seized on a poor defensive
clearance to thump a crisp 30 yard shot which rose over the bar.
Crossmolina striker Greham then nodded a Paul Flaherty left wing cross
wide as the home team revelled in their new-found confidence. Glenisland
struggled to impose themselves on the home defence despite some lively
midfield play. Only referee Jimmy O`Brien could cease the attacks on
Glenisland`s overworked defence when he blew his whistle for half time.
The visitors emerged with a renewed vigour for the second half and a
rehearsed tip-off attack was only halted in the opposing 18 yard area.
Glenisland seized on their opponent`s overconfidence to create some
threatening situations, none more so than the 58th minute when they
equalised. The home defence had endured a tough four minute onslaught from
Glenisland and they eventually cracked when John McCarthy manouevred in a
crowded 18 yard box to score from 15 yards out. Unperturbed, Crossmolina
retook the lead within a minute. Conway hooked a right wing throw in
across the goalmouth to Keane on the left. Keane centred the ball for
Greham who scored with an eight yard header to give Crossmolina a 2-1
lead. The home side wasted numerous chances to seal the victory
afterwards. Duggan dinked a pass through to Greham but he dragged his shot
wide from 12 yards out. Paul McGuinnes struck an 18 yard effort too high
in the 70th minute. After absorbing another spell of Glenisland pressure
Crossmolina launched a counter attack up the right wing. Eoin Syron
dribbled into the Glenisland half before passing to the overlapping John
McGuinness who squared the ball, but Keane`s shot was over the bar. It
nearly proved to be a costly miss when Glenisland`s Paddy Ryder turned a
cross onto the crossbar with 5 minutes remaining. The re-energised
visitors pressed further in a frantic closing sequence in which Ryder
scooped a cross over the bar when an equaliser looked certain. So after
dominating a competitive game, often with some stylish passing,
Crossmolina were nearly undone by their inability to stifle Glenisland`s
sporadic forays upfield. |
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