Irvinestown Wanderers 2

Strule United 1

Irvinestown Wanderers secured their first points of the season after Eamon McCarney came off the bench to bag a late winner for Ryan Beacom’s Wanderers outfit against Strule United at the Bawnacre on Saturday.

The Wanderers went into the game having lost their opening three games with Beacom having been badly hit by player unavailability to date but while he still had players missing on Saturday, he did have a stronger squad than previous weeks and he was delighted to come away with the points on offer.

“It was nice to get the points on board,” he said.

“We are still not operating near full strength but we did have some players back on Saturday and that was a good help for us. I felt that in the first half we were rusty which was understandable given it was the first game for some of the lads but I thought we were the better side in the second half. It could have gone either way when it was 1-1 and we did get a bit of luck with our first goal but we got a great late winner through Eamon and as I say it was great to get the three points.”

Strule started the stronger of the two teams creating chances early on with corners into the box from both sides of the pitch but Wanderers centre backs Beacom and Mahon did well to defend the threat.

Wanderers did start to settle after this and with 18 minutes gone a through ball from Caolan Ward made its way to winger Joey Millar, who’s shot was saved by keeper Connor Taggart and the rebound was blocked well by centre back O’Kane.

Strule’s dominance continued and Kyle McCrory had a good chance to open the scoring when he intercepted a wayward pass from Beacom but his shot was hit straight at Nevin in the Irvinestown goal.

Strule threatened again when winger Kevin McAleer played a great cross to McCrory in the box but once again he couldn’t find the back of the net as his header went just wide.

McCrory was once more involved as the visitors pushed for an opener as he fed left back Ciaran Brown who in turn laid it off to midfielder Ryan Pritchard on the edge of the area but his effort was saved superbly by Nevin who got down quickly to his left side and pushed the ball wide.

Nevin was on hand again to deny Strule as he came out quickly and made a crucial block as McCrory latched on to a ball over the top as it remained goalless at the interval.

Wanderers started the second half on the front foot, and only five minutes in Joey Millar found himself free after a ball over the top from Ward. However, although he dinked the ball over Taggart, his effort went the wrong side of the post.

Four minutes later though the home side did take the lead although there was more than a touch of controversy over it. Wanderers were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and with Strule goalkeeper Taggart still arranging his wall, Gary Maguire clipped the ball into the top left-hand corner. Strule’s protests though fell on deaf ears as referee Christopher Morrow allowed the goal to stand as the home side took a 1-0 lead.

A fine save by Taggart denied Millar a second Wanderers goal but five minutes later Strule were back on level terms as a great through ball by Brown found McCrory who slotted coolly through the keeper’s legs.

There was though to be a final twist in the tale as with the game in the closing minutes Irvinestown swooped to secure the win.

Substitute Eamonn McCarney beautifully took down a long ball on his right foot, turned and showed great strength to shrug off the defender before taking a touch to set the shot up and place the ball brilliantly into the top right hand corner to seal Wanderers first win of the season.