New signing Carroll bags thrilling winner

Editorial Department • Published 18 Feb 2010 10:43 0 Comments

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Keith McGowan attempts to control the ball under a strong challenge during Lisbellaw's thrilling 4-3 win over Irvinestown at Drumad on Saturday.<<

Lisbellaw United 4; Irvinestown Wanderers 3;

Lisbellaw United needed a goal from new signing Raymond Carroll ten minutes from time to see off the challenge of a rejuvenated Irvinestown Wanderers outfit at Drumad on Saturday.

An entertaining game looked to be heading for a draw with the sides level at 3-3 but there was to be a controversial winner for the home side which enraged Irvinestown manager Greg Copeland who blasted referee Raymond Black.

"They were awarded a corner which was never a corner and then from that Raymond Carroll headed over the bar but the referee said it came off one of our boys and gave them another corner from which they scored the winner. We also had a perfectly good goal disallowed and in the end of the day Lisbellaw didn't beat us, the referee beat us. I was very disappointed with his performance as he cost us at least a point," fumed Copeland.

At the final whistle though it was another three points in the bag for Jimmy McGrath's side as they moved a step closer to the title, although McGrath insists that they will just take it one game at a time.

"We've a sticky game next week away to Strathroy but after that we have only three away games left with five at home. We're not going to look that far ahead though. We'll take it one game at a time and see how we get on. We were happy to have won this game and if we keep winning it means those behind us have to as well," he said.

The home side were to take the lead with 15 minutes on the clock as a flowing move involving Andy Reilly and Paul McGrath resulted in McGrath pushing the ball across goal for Keith McGowan to force home from close range.

However, the visitors were back on level terms within ten minutes as Greg O'Donnell bagged his first of the day. Niall Donnelly and Jason Hoey combined with Hoey drilling in a cross from the right which was slotted past James McGrath by O'Donnell for 1-1.

Lisbellaw had a couple of chances prior to half time with set pieces in particular causing difficulties for the Irvinestown defence but with Raymond Carroll having a header cleared off the line the sides went in all square at the break.

It was Irvinestown though who were to strike first in the second half with O'Donnell snapping up his second. Warren Holden's free kick was pushed on to the bar by McGrath but O'Donnell was quickest to the rebound to make it 2-1 and put an upset on the cards.

However, Lisbellaw replied immediately to this when from the restart they won a free kick and Reilly quickly swung the ball into the box for Carroll to head in for 2-2.

The home side then took the lead as substitute Paul Baron crashed a shot to the back of the net after the ball bobbled around following a corner although Irvinestown felt they had levelled once again when Jason Hoey clipped home a free kick but this was ruled out with the referee deeming it as an indirect free kick.

An equaliser did arrive though in the final quarter with Lyndon Johnston back heeling home through a crowd of players to make it 3-3.

However, Lisbellaw were to go on to snatch the win. Irvinestown believed that a couple of decisions went against them in the lead up to the goal with first a corner being awarded which they thought should have been a goal kick and then another corner given when they argued that Carroll had headed over, but the big centre half made no mistake when the ball came in from the next corner as he headed home to make sure of the points for the league leaders.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 18 Feb 10

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