Copany Rovers pick up first win of the season at home to Cranford

Copany Rovers picked up their first win of the season in the Old Orchard Inn Saturday Division 2 with a fine 3-1 victory over Cranford FC at Killowen Park. 

Copany Rovers 3 Cranford FC 1 

Copany Rovers had a superb opening period to thank for the three points with goals from Ethan Gallagher, Gerard Martin and Daniel Brogan leaving them three goals to the good at the break. 

The visitors came into the contest in the second half and pulled a goal back through winger Dom Potters but it wasn’t enough and the hosts saw out the game to seal a great win. 

Visitors Cranford, who lost away to Copany Rovers. 

The hosts opened the scoring after 22 minutes. Alex McNelis superbly took down a long ball from goalkeeper Stephen Doherty and laid it off to Calvin Kiely. Kiely then played through Ethan Gallagher and the midfielder accurately finessed the ball past Keelin Pritchard in the Cranford goal. 

Three minutes later, Copany Rovers doubled their advantage. Striker Gerard Martin received the ball and struck a well-hit effort from distance into the bottom corner of the net. 

The home side continued their opening stanza dominance and made it 3-0 on the 40-minute mark. Oisin Brogan was taken down when attacking the Cranford goal and referee Barry Tourish pointed to the spot. 

Brother of Oisin, Daniel Brogan stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly slotted it into the bottom left corner to leave the hosts three goals up at the break. 

The visitors came out after the half-time team talk and grew into the contest. They came close with efforts from Paidin Shields and Patrick McGeever that could have pulled them back into the encounter but were unable to find the back of the net. 

On the hour mark, Cranford were awarded a penalty of their own after Paidin Shields was taken down in the box. Patrick McGeever took the subsequent penalty, however, his effort was well-saved by Stephen Doherty in the Copany goal. 

On the 75-minute mark, the away side hit a goal back. A fine through ball found the run of Dom Potter and his strike hit the inside of the post before rolling in to get his side back into the game. 

With five minutes to go, Copany came close to adding a fourth goal that would all but seal the three points. A delivery from Daniel Brogan was met by the head of Calvin Kiely but his effort came back off the post only for the rebound from substitute Rory Price to hit the post. 

The home side saw out the remainder of the contest and referee Barry Tourish called an end to proceedings to seal an important first win of the season for Copany Rovers. 

Copany Rovers: Stephen Doherty; James Britton, Lachlan Dunlop, JP Hanna, Eoin McCauley (Shane Filpatrick, 82), Daniel Brogan, Ethan Gallagher (Kevin Gallagher, 90), Calvin Kiely, Alex McNelis (Callum Doherty-Kennedy, 64), Oisin Brogan (Sam Clarke, 75), Gerard Martin (Rory Price, 57). 

Cranford FC: Keelin Pritchard; Daithi McGroddy, Callum Cullen, Dean Fleming, Kyle Doherty, Paidin Shields, Andrew Cairns, Stephen Shevlin, Don Potter, Patrick McGeever, Conor Breslin.