Match Reports >> 2008 Match Reports >> Crossmolina 1-1 Westport United B

June 28th 2008 Crossmolina 1-1 Westport United B

The meeting of these two struggling teams resulted in a predictably tense struggle that neither side could claim the upper hand in after the ninety minutes had elapsed. Both teams sparkled at different stages of the contest but both were betrayed by the shortcomings that have consigned them to the nether regions of the division. Crossmolina began brighter and the confidence that they gained from last week’s victory resonated through the team as they caused Westport numerous problems in the early exchanges. However, in keeping with the scoring drought that has blighted most of their season, they were unable to register many quality attempts on goal. The best effort was credited to Stewart Griffin when he cracked a thirty yard free kick that just zoomed over the goalie’s fingertips and the crossbar. The booming kickouts of both goalkeepers were a feature of the game and it required both defences to be alert even when the ball was the length of the pitch away. The half had been bereft of goalscoring chances until Paul McGuinness changed everything with a spectacular strike after twenty minutes had passed. After winning a tackle in his own half that caused the ball to skip forward the energetic midfielder instinctively raced after the ball and he accelerated past a couple of attempted tackles before rasping a thirty five yard shot that kissed the inside of the right post before it snuggled in the back of the net. His teammates were possibly guilty of replaying the goal mentally because straight from the kickoff the Covies delivered the ball into Phil Keegan on the edge of the penalty area and he forcefully shunted the defender goalwards before spinning free and slipping a neat shot under Johnny Burke. The Deelsiders recovered from the disappointment quickly and maintained their pressure on the visitors backline but a lack of quality at both ends ensured the scoreline would not change before half time.

The second half was a tale of two sitters. Westport had great expectations midway through the half when James Fahy was unmarked in front of goal as the ball was delivered from the right flank but the striker somehow scuffed his shot and Crossmolina survived a horrible scare. The hosts laboured badly at the other end but their one moment for glory during the second period was squandered by Darragh Carroll. The ball was delivered into the heart of the congested defence from the left and it glanced off John Duggan through the throng into the path of the winger as he arrived at the back post but, with only the netminder to beat, he sidefooted his shot across the face of goal. In truth it would have been an unfair blow to the Covies who dominated the half for long spells. They were firmly camped in the home half for five minutes after Burke tipped over a dangerous free kick from thirty yards. There followed a succession of corner kicks and various deliveries into the Crossmolina penalty area that were all repelled by stubborn defending. With Westport looking the team most likely to earn the three points substitute Adam Gordon nearly robbed them in his brief cameo appearance. He fired wildly wide with his first attempt but with only five minutes remaining he ran onto a loose ball perfectly but his low drive was fractionally wide of the target. Westport could have won it in the final minute when they had a shot hooked just by the angle of post and crossbar but both clubs were content to add a point to their meagre tallies for the season.

Crossmolina – Johnny Burke, Jason Canavan, Pierce Loftus, Michael Cafferty, Anthony Timoney (Anthony Ruddy 70), Darragh Carroll (Adam Gordon 80), Paul McGuinness, Paul Flaherty, Mark Howley (Shane McGuinn 88), Stewart Grifin, John Duggan

Referee – Michael McCay

Match Reports >> 2008 Match Reports >> Crossmolina 1-1 Westport United B