Late goals sink Galaxy but Love credits his side

Despite exiting the Mulhern Cup after letting a two goal lead slip late in the game, Enniskillen Galaxy manager Damian Love was delighted with his side’s performance in their loss to Glebe United at the Lakeland Forum on Saturday.
Two first half goals from Louis Lakes had Division Three side Galaxy in the driving seat at the break while their lead could have been greater with Lakes also twice denied by the woodwork in the first period.
However, Glebe pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute and when Eamon McGrath equalised in the 88th minute it knocked the stuffing out of Galaxy as Glebe struck twice more before the final whistle to book their place in the eight of the competition.
Love though had nothing but praise for his side against a team pushing for promotion to Division One.
“I was gutted after the match to go out but I could not have been happier with the performance. We were two goals up at half time and could have been three or four up as we hit the crossbar and the post. In the second half Glebe got on top and their first goal really rattled us. In fairness, they are a very good footballing side and they could well be a Division One side next season so I was really pleased with how we played,” said Love.
Galaxy started the game on the front foot with Lakes and Lee Farrell causing problems for the Glebe defence and with ten minutes on the clock it was the home side who took the lead.
Lakes latched on to a through ball and raced in before producing a composed finish for 1-0.
Glebe did have their fair share of the ball in the opening 45 minutes but they found the Galaxy defence in a stubborn mood while the final ball at times let them down.
And it was Galaxy who were to go on and extend their advantage as Lakes bagged his second of the game.
Farrell put through strike partner Lakes and he clinically dispatched his effort to the net.
Two minutes later Lakes went close to completing his hat-trick but his attempt hit the bar while the woodwork denied the same player again in the 43rd minute as he rounded the goalkeeper only to see his shot cannon back off the post.
Glebe began to take control of the game though in the second half although Galaxy stood firm at the back with Robbie Regan marshalling the defence.
As the half wore on, the visitors became more dominant and eventually they made the breakthrough in the 73rd minute as substitute Ryan O’Kane slotted home.
This goal rattled the Enniskillen outfit and Glebe were to go on and level up the tie in the 88th minute as McGrath’s free kick evaded everybody to end up in the back of the net.
And Glebe were to go on and secure the victory as McGrath stroked home a well placed free kick before completing his hat-trick in injury time to leave it 4-2 at the finish.
Galaxy’s sole focus now is on the league and Love has urged them to carry the form they displayed on Saturday into the rest of the campaign.
“We are still very much a work in progress but we have to take this performance into the remainder of the league and look to get as many points on the board as possible,” he commented.