FANAD UNITED SECURED their first victory of the season when they defeated old rivals Swilly Rovers 1-0 at a wet Traigh-a-Loch this afternoon.
Fanad United 1-0 Swilly Rovers
Both teams went into the game off the back of heavy defeats away to Cockhill Celtic and despite the heavy conditions they served up an entertaining Ulster Senior League game.
Fanad had a chance to open the scoring as early as the second minute when Keelin McElwaine broke through only to see his shot expertly pushed onto the post by Gareth Wade in the Swilly nets. From the resulting corner James Gallagher seen his weak header easily saved.
Fanad had most the early pressure and in the 10th minute Marty McAteer played a brilliant ball into the feet of Conor McGonigle in the box but McGonigle seen his shot fly just wide of the post. Swilly started to come into the game more and had a good chance to open the scoring in the 22nd minute.
Kennedy Boachie received the ball out on the left and he showed some good skill to race past two Fanad defenders but his well hit shot went wide. In the 40th minute an excellent move involving several Fanad players found Davitt Walsh in the box but he seen his shot crash agonisingly off the angle of post and cross bar.
Two minutes before the break Ryan McDaid and Caolan Murray combined well for Swilly to send Marty McDaid through but his snap shot went wide of the post.
Ten minutes into the second half Fanad should really have opened the scoring. A Keelin McElwaine cross into the box caused panic in the Swilly defence and a least four Fanad players had a chance to score but Gareth Wade saved the final effort by Walsh.
A minute later Kennedy Boachie went on a driving run through the Fanad defence but his shot hit the side netting. On the hour Fanad introduced John McGarvey off the bench and his arrival certainly gave Fanad more attacking impetus.
Two minutes after coming on McGarvey set up Davitt Walsh but he couldn’t get his foot over the ball and his volley went well over the bar. Conor Blaney was also introduced in the 66th minute and he had a chance to score within a minute.
Blaney met a Keelin McElwaine cross at the back post but his first time shot forced Wade into an excellent save. Swilly’s best chance to score came in the 77th minute when Brandon Toye met and excellent free from Adam Sahli at the back post but Oisin Langan produced a last ditch tackle to deny him. Just when the game seemed to be heading for a draw Fanad struck the winner in the 88th minute.
Davitt Walsh swung in a corner from the right and when Wade pushed the ball onto the bar the ball came out to Shaun McGarvey. He then headed the ball down to John McGarvey who after receiving the ball with his back to goal swivelled to place the ball beyond Wade from close range.
Overall Fanad manager Arthur Lynch will be pleased to get a first victory of the season while Jason Gibson will be disappointed his side didn’t hold out for the draw. Best for Fanad were Seimi Friel, Marty McAteer and Davitt Walsh. Best for Swilly were Marty McDaid, Shaun Crossan and Daniel O’Donnell.
Fanad United: Paddy Kelly, Oisin Langan, Declan McGarvey, Seimi Friel, James Gallagher, Darren Lynch (John McGarvey 60), Davitt Walsh, Marty McAteer, Shaun McGarvey, Keelin McElwaine (Keelin Gallagher 75), Conor McGonigle (Conor Blaney 66)
Swilly Rovers: Gareth Wade, Dylan Hegarty, Shaun Crossan, Glenn McNulty (Ryan Deeney 45), Ryan McDaid, Caolan Murray, Brandon Toye, Daniel O’Donnell, Marty McDaid, Kennedy Boachie, Adam Sahli
Referee: Packie Coll
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