Late goals send Town into Junior Cup quarters
Editorial Department • Published 9 Feb 2012 13:00
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Enniskillen Town's Malcolm Crawford celebrates after scoring their vital third goal during the clash with York Road YM on Saturday.<<
Enniskillen Town 4; York Road YM 2;
Enniskillen Town are through to the last eight of the Coca-Cola Junior Cup following Saturday's 4-2 victory over Belfast outfit York Road YM.
Played in difficult conditions following heavy rain, Town had to dig deep to secure the victory but in the end it was a deserved win for Rory Judge's side who played the better football throughout the contest.
The early exchanges saw Gary Beckett open the scoring, lobbing home from 35 yards with the visiting goalkeeper unable to keep the ball out despite getting a hand to it, but this was cancelled out by a well struck free kick that gave Nigel O'Connor in the Town goals no chance.
The home side regained the lead when Frank Wallace slipped the ball home before half time but the away side were to level proceedings once again on the hour mark.
It was Town though who looked the more dangerous as the tie progressed and with eight minutes left Malcolm Crawford edged them back in front before Mark Beckett made sure of the victory when he scrambled home with two minutes left on the clock.
Judge felt that conditions did not help the game but was pleased to have booked their place in the quarter-finals.
"The conditions ruined it to be honest but it is good to get through and I thought we were the better team," said Judge. "Hopefully now we can get a home draw in the quarters although there are going to be no easy games at this stage of the competition as there are a number of good teams left. There are a number of teams still in it who will fancy their chances."
There was to be an action-packed opening ten minute to the game as Beckett swooped to give Town the lead only for the away side to level. Beckett latched on to a poor clearance from the goalkeeper and he returned the ball with interest although the goalkeeper should maybe have done better when attempting to scoop the ball out, only managing to palm into his own net.
Back though came the visitors and minutes later they were back on level terms. Ryan Hanna conceded a free kick just outside the box and this was clinically dispatched to the back of O'Connor's net for 1-1.
Town went on to have the better of the exchanges for the remainder of the half with Beckett central to most things that the home side did, and it was the veteran striker who supplied the assist as Town took the lead for a second time.
He threaded through a fine ball for Frank Wallace to chase and Wallace beat the defender in the race to the ball before sliding it through the legs of the advancing goalkeeper to the back of the net to make it 2-1. And it was very nearly 3-1 moments later as Ciaran Beacom rose to meet a free kick but his header came back off the post as York Road survived on this occasion.
Town began the second half brightly with Gary Beckett having the chance to add to their lead but he pulled his shot wide of the post when well placed and it was the Belfast side who were to go on and register the next goal of the game.
A break saw them slice open the Town defence for the ball to be stroked home from close range to make 2-2.
This was followed by the away side's best spell of the game as they exerted a period of pressure on the Town goal although they failed to create anything clearcut with Town then regaining control of matters.
Beckett had another couple of chances, forcing the goalkeeper into a fine save after cutting in from the left and drilling in a low shot that was pushed away for a corner, while the same player flashed another effort narrowly wide.
With 82 minutes played and extra time looming though Town struck for their third. A free kick from the right bobbled about the box before falling at the feet of Malcolm Crawford who coolly clipped the ball around the goalkeeper from eight yards out to the corner of the net.
And there was to be no doubt about Town's progression to the last eight when they added on a fourth with two minutes to go. Again a ball into the box was not dealt with by the York Road YM defence and Mark Beckett managed to bundle the ball over the line to put his side 4-2 ahead. The visitors lost their cool in the closing minutes of the contest with their centre half sent off after being shown a second yellow card while they then had a midfielder receive a straight red card for a reckless high challenge on Town substitute Darren McQuade on the right hand side line.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 09 Feb 12
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