GLENDERMOTT VS ROE ROVERS RES
Glendermott manager David Robison knew that this was a must win for the men in red to keep their great league form going and also a result here would be a moral boosting result going into the Irish Junior Cup tie away to Red Star FC.
Roe Rovers won the toss and decided to keep things the way they were giving Glendermott the privilege to get the game under way.
Both sides started brightly sharing an equal amount of possesion in the early stages. The more the game materialised the more Glendermott started to get a foot in the game with the home side winning a few corners and their wingers Kyle Ross and Jordan Abbott showing the Roe Rovers full backs that they were going to be in for a tough afternoon of football. Glendermott's attacking midfielder David McKittrick got the ball on the wide right hand side, taking on a few players and hammered a low left footed drive into the bottom corner but the Roe Rovers keeper was equal to it pulling out a wonderful one handed save. A short time later Kyle Ross whiped in a lovely flighted corner which broke to Ricky McClelland on the edge of the box who connected with a volley that yet again seen the keeper equal to it - the Glendermott players looked at each other and started to think it might just be one of those days. The longer the half went on Roe Rovers had a couple of chances to break but Mark Campbell and Clark Smy kept a solid defensive line with full backs Stephen Grieve and Karl Abbott also keeping their men quiet throughout the half. Around the half hour mark Glendermott won a corner that yet again Kyle Ross curled a teasing ball into the back post where Clark Smy climbed high above his man powering a header towards goal that the Roe Rovers keeper pulled off an other unbelievable save - the ball broke to a bit of a scramble which the Rovers defender sliced in off his own crossbar giving Glendermott the lead - Definately NOT going down as a Clark Smy Goal :)
Half Time
Rovers Started the second half brightly forcing Glendermott to defend a number of corners from the off which the defence stood strong, winning the headers and clearing their lines without much trouble. The Glendermott keeper Niall Donaghey also commanded his area very well claiming a number off crosses, pulling of a couple off great saves and communicating well with his back line. Jordan Abbott was forced off with a nasty ankle injury which saw Matthew Kirkwood gracing the pitch at full back allowing Jordans brother Karl to be more adventurous and push forward - this in turn proved a wise decision by the manager as Karl caused the Rovers defence numerous problems with his strength and pace. Karl took on his opposite number a few times until he played in a beautifully weighted pass to a very greatful Adrian Donaghey who calmly slotted the ball passed the Rovers keeper making it 2-0! The half saw Glendermott tighten the screw to carve open a few more chances until they won a free kick on the edge off the oppositions 18 yard box. Ricky McClelland slotted a ball to the on running Matthew Kirkwood who made a great run to the by line crossing a beautiful ball into the edge off the 6 yard box to yet again Adrian Donaghey who climbed well beating his man firing a header into the back off the net making it 3-0 to the Glens. David Robison and Glenn Crawford decided to tighten things up by putting on the experienced Alan Lynch who won a number off headers in the middle of the park and closed out any danger from the long ball.
The referee called the game to an end which saw the Glendermott boys smiling knowing they had a job well done!
Man of the match goes to Adrian Donaghey because of his 2 goals and tiredless running! From the neutrals point of view the whole Glendermott team had a team of MOTM players!
