This article is from page 78 of the 2009-12-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 78 JPG
BRIDGE United A continue their march up the premier division table after this hard fought victory over Lifford. They now sit comfortably in third and will surely be delighted with their position after six games played. Of course for Lifford it’s very different. After seven games they have only seen one win and their total of three points was not altered after this close encounter.
The opening exchanges of this bat- tle was very competitive with but sides showing little hesitation in try- ing to convey who would control and boss this match. Neither goalkeeper had much to deal with in the opening quarter but the threat of a goal being scored on the counter was always an evident reality.
With 20 minutes this goal came. However it was not a direct result of some jaw dropping swift move up the park. Instead like in most games it was a direct result of a set play. Bridge stole the early advantage when defender Jonathan Downes headed home the game’s opening goal from a well judged corner placed danger- ously into the Lifford box.
Was it going to be another of these days for the Ennis club was the burn- ing question on most of the specta- tors’ minds and probably on a few of the Lifford players as well. Credit must be awarded to the team who are rooted to the bottom of the league ta- ble however as they offer a fight back even though ultimately it was to no ZENO
The equalizer again came about from a corner kick. Fabrice Baptista found the vital touch to send the ball past Derek Fahy in the Bridge goal. We certainly had a game on our hands now.
The rest of the first half slowly
passed with very little incident worth mentioning. Both sides seemed to ac- cept the faith of going in level at the break and this was what unfolded.
The second half started in a very similar fashion, very nip and tuck with neither outfit enforcing any great sense of dominance. This was how the game flowed up to the three quarter’s mark and then suddenly the floodgates appeared to be forced open when three goals struck the net in the final fifteen minutes of the game.
Michael Reddan commenced the spree when he restored his team’s early lead. His cross come shot float- ed into the net to the confusion of both the Lifford keeper and defense. His effort was certainly aided by the gale that was in his team’s possession
for the second half. The conditions were definitely another factor that influenced the final result.
Trevor Maxwell then appeared to have wrapped up the game when he made it three one. He finished expertly as he easily got around the centre halves at the rear guard of the Lifford defense.
It wasn’t all over just yet as Lif- ford pulled another one back with five minutes to go. Scot Hennessey blasted to the net after an excellent cross by Ryan Boyle.
Bridge now had a very nervy con- clusion on their hands. These nerves reached breaking point when with almost the last kick of the game Lif- ford had one final chance. However Fahy did not want to be beaten again and his amazing save ensured no
more goals would be added to the final score.
Bridge probably just deserved this outcome but for Lifford it’s the same unfortunate story. I guess they have to return to the drawing board, Neen Oe