Match Reports >> 2008 Match Reports >> Crossmolina 2-3 Urlaur United

July 6th 2008 Crossmolina 2-3 Urlaur United

In a season of many lows this result rates at the worst, or best depending on your interpretation of the rating. The corresponding fixture earlier in the season had seen Crossmolina over-turn a one goal half time deficit before romping to a 4-1 triumph. The Deelsiders must have experienced a little déjà vu when the visitors capitalised on an energetic opening to forge another lead in this encounter. Urlaur had been unlucky not to score after a couple of minutes when the Crossmolina defence allowed them a clear strike on goal but the effort was skewed wastefully wide. After a quarter of an hour, and a few more missed chances, the visitors punished some more generous Crossmolina defending to seize the lead. Direct from the restart the hosts could have equalised when John Duggan’s low cross from the right found Derek Greham in the centre but his goalbound connection from six yards out was well blocked by a sliding defender. Duggan himself could have levelled matters after half an hour when he tracked Johnny Burke’s booming kickout as it bounced high into the Urlaur penalty area. The Urlaur netminder raced out to claim the high ball but Duggan nodded the ball over him, only to see it accelerate towards the byline forcing him to resort to a hooked effort that was blocked on the goal-line by an alert defender. Crossmolina had created some good chances, mostly from an assortment of Greham corner kicks that were as varied as they were successful. One in particular was floated out to Pierce Loftus on the edge of the penalty area and he smacked a wicked shot that struck the post. The hosts did restore parity when a thundering tackle by Stewart Griffin dispossessed a visiting midfielder. Duggan collected the loose ball and turned to slip a pass between the two centre backs that Greham received in stride before thumping it into the net.

The second half descended into a turgid affair with Crossmolina dominating the opening quarter hour without managing to penetrate the resilient Urlaur defence. The introduction of Mark Loftus fortified the left flank and his combination with Anthony Ruddy provided a launchpad for many of the hosts attacks. However, after a generally frustrating half, the visitors retook the lead with only fifteen minutes remaining when a free kick delivered low from the right wing was nicked into the net from close range as it traversed the face of the goal. Michael Cafferty thought he had salvaged a point for Crossmolina when lashed a vicious twenty yard shot that struck the crossbar. It was his defensive partner who would redeem the situation for the team when Pierce Loftus levelled the game with only eight minutes remaining. Duggan controlled another long kickout by Burke and found Adam Gordon stationed in front of goal but the substitute failed to connect with the pass and the ball ricocheted out to Ruddy on the edge of the penalty area. He tiptoed past a couple of challenges before teeing the ball up for Lofuts to smash his shot inside the left post. But with three minutes remaining it all proved to be for naught when Urlaur counter-attacked and after a couple of botched efforts they bludgeoned the ball into the net. With only three points separating Crossmolina from the relegation zone and with their form practically non-existent these are worrying times for the Deelsiders.

Crossmolina - Johnny Burke, Matthew Coldrick (Mark Loftus 45), Michael Cafferty, Pierce Loftus, Kenny Canavan, Mark Howley (Michael Timlin 88), Stewart Griffin, Paul McGuinness, Anthony Ruddy, John Duggan, Derek Greham (Adam Gordon 80)

Referee - Jimmy Cawley

Match Reports >> 2008 Match Reports >> Crossmolina 2-3 Urlaur United