MALACHIANS SQUEEZE THROUGH IN CLARENCE CUP

Anto Crawford scored a screamer !

Malachians came out best in a five-goal see-saw encounter at the Shore Road against Steele and Sons Cup runners-up, Downpatrick FC. But it was the character of the team that will have pleased the managers most as they came from behind twice before pushing on for victory in what was a great sporting and footballing spectacle.

These two teams have a lot of respect for each other and the game was played at a furious pace throughout. The goals tally could have been a lot higher but for impressive goalkeeping displays from Simon Steele making his debut for the Mals and his opposite number Paul Stranney. The Mals’ squad was re-shuffled with Devlin returning at sweeper and producing an eye-catching man-of-the-match display, although he had to share the honour with Paul Prigent in midfield who really looked back to his sparkling best form.

Malachians started best and attacked from the off with Doherty and Lowe foraging down the right flank and Micky Smyth performing in the space behind the front men Bell and Crawford. The Mals’ midfield had been given something of a roasting by the Downpatrick men for a half-hour spell in their league encounter before Christmas, but McHugh and Prigent ensured there was no recurrence in this game.

In the opening quarter Bell was well wide and high with 2 attempts and the Mals had most of the possession without really testing keeper Stranney   Bell did get one on target after a series of corner kicks but his snap shot clipped the top of the bar. Downpatrick as ever played some neat first time football and broke with speed from defence, with Casey and Galbraith in particular looking sharp and giving the Mals’ defence some anxious moments. On 20 minutes Prigent found space just outside the Downpatrick box but his shot was wildly high.

Somewhat against the run of play Downpatrick took the lead in the 25th minute when Kevin Truman clipped a superb free-kick over the defensive wall from 20 yards and off the inside of Steele’s right-hand post. For the remainder of the first period Malachians stormed forward in search of an equaliser and Crawford, Bell, Lowe and Smyth all had good efforts on target but Stranney showed all his skill and agility to maintain his side’s lead. Indeed on the stroke of half-time the Mals were lucky not to have gone 2-0 down after McHugh failed to clear a cross into his box. Casey pounced but Devlin got back to make a superb goal-line clearance.

Half-time: Malachians 0 Downpatrick FC 1

In the second period both teams started as they had finished the first, but it was Downpatrick who dominated possession in the opening minutes. But the game exploded into life in the 52nd minute after the Mals had forced 2 corners. The second corner was headed clear but the ball fell to Crawford just outside the box and he got his body over the ball and rifled an unstoppable shot into Stranney’s right hand corner for 1-1. The end-to-end attacking football continued and it looked like Malachians would get their noses in front when Crawford layed a great first time ball into the box for Bell but the big man thumped his effort high over the bar. Steele in the Mals’ goal had to receive treatment on a couple fo occasions when he bravely dived at the feet of oncoming forwards and he marshalled his defence of Kavanagh, Devlin, Liam Prigent and Doherty well with his calls. He could do nothing however about Peter Turley’s super strike from 22 yards which was low into his left corner to give the visitors the lead once again. Back again came Malachians and it was the live-wire Mark McCourt once again who was the thorn in the Downpatrick side. On in place of Bell, the forward’s link play was impressive and on 67 minutes he took the ball across the 18-yard line before threading a weighted pass through to Smyth who took the ball in his stride and side-footed into the far corner from 14 yards to level the game.

Ten minutes later it was that man McCourt again who found space down the right side behind the Downpatrick defence. His cross into the 6-yard box was tipped away by Stranney but it deflected off his centre-half and into the goal to give Malachians the lead for the first time. Downpatrick to their credit never gave up and now it was Malachians holding on and playing on the break as the visitors pushed for a goal to take the game into extra time. But keeper Steele made a couple of good saves to keep his team in front and through to the next round of the Cup.

Devils and Pigie shared the man of the match award

Full-time: Malachians 3 Downpatrick FC 2