Mals Founder Despite Murphy's Best Efforts

English John Murphy , man of the match for Malachians

On Saturday Mals welcomed Albert Foundry to the Stadium of Sand hoping to build on the positive performances of recent weeks. There were two enforced changes to the starting line up from the previous week with
Corr and Devine unavailable and their places being taken by Mickey
Burns and Paddy Kavanagh.

With a strong swirling wind behind them Mals went on the attack from
the off and the best chance of the first half for the home team came
in the first minute when a long ball from Crossey over the top of the
Foundry defence found Mickey Burns who timed his run to perfection to
beat the offside trap. However having steadied himself the normally
reliable hit man placed his shot wide of the advancing keeper but
unfortunately also just past the post.

Most of the rest of the half was instantly forgettable being spoilt by
the strong wind and numerous offside decisions against both sides. The
Mals defence of John Burns, Connolly, Crossey and McKee dealt with
most attacks without any great difficulty until 35 minutes in when a
misunderstanding in central defence saw Connolly caught on the ball
and loose possession about 25 yards out. Despite the best efforts of
Murphy in goal the Foundry striker kept his composure to round the
keeper and give the visitors the lead.

Mals attempted to get back on level terms before half time with both
wingers, McGowan and Feighan looking dangerous but all too often some
neat approach play was spoilt by a player straying offside. When
Reilly was fouled just outside the penalty area Kavanagh shot over the
top from the resulting free kick while Marty Reilly flashed a shot
wide as did Johnston when he tried his luck from thirty yards out.

HT: Malachians II 0 Albert Foundry II 1

With the wind behind them in the second half Foundry dominated most of
the possession as Mals started to drop deeper and deeper. Big John
Murphy made at least five good saves pushing a header over from a
corner and diving to both right and left on occasions to push shots
away and to keep the home team in the game. With only a one goal lead
Foundry were never totally safe and Mals had two good chances to level
the game up.

First Mickey Burns, who ran his socks off all day, linked with Marty
Reilly to find Peter Johnston just outside the area. Johnston broke
through two challenges to get into the penalty area but then hammered
a rising shot over the bar when he had time to bring the ball in
closer. Then Mals danger man Feighan had the best chance of the second half for the home team. McKee won the ball in defence and found
McGowan on the left wing. McGowan raced passed two defenders and hit a great cross to the back post where the inrushing Feighan side footed
towards goal only for the ball to rebound off the keepers legs and
fall to a defender who cleared.

McStravick and McCurry then replaced Reilly and Kavanagh who had both picked up injuries, but with ten minutes left Murphy was finally
beaten again. With Burnsie pushing Mals on from the back, a long
clearance beat the offside trap and the Foundry winger mishit his shot
but the ball rolled into the net to wrap the scoring up.

Small then replaced Connolly but despite pushing their opponents back
in the last few minutes the strong visiting defence saw the game out
quite comfortably without any further scares to finish deserved
victors on a 2-0 scoreline.

The seconds have no game this week and as many players as possible are asked to attend the first team home game with Nortel to show their
support. The following week the seconds are at home to Derriaghy when
a much improved performance is hoped for.

FT: Malachians II 0 Albert Foundry II 2

MOM - John Murphy

Up the Mals !