Odd goal in three defeat for Rearcross ‘B’ against League leaders Killavilla

Rearcross welcomed high flying Killavilla to Rearcross FC Grounds for this Division 2 fixture on Wednesday night. The game opened at a frantic pace which saw both sides trying to gain the upper edge. Chances were few and far between in the opening half with both sides cancelling each other out. The best chance that Rearcross had fell to Paddy Dawson when he found himself one on one with the keeper but his lobbed effort just went the wrong side of the post. Killavilla had a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions but Brian Hammersley made a couple of routine saves.
The second half started the same as the first half ended with no let-up in the pace of the game. However, it was Villa who made the breakthrough from the penalty spot on the 65th minute. Following a low cross into the box Rob Harrington went to clear the ball but the Villa attacker nipped in ahead of him and there was enough contact to award the spot kick. Craig Phelan duly obliged and sent Brian Hammersley the wrong way put the away side 1 up. Villa took over from here and found themselves 2 nil up on the 70th minute. A low cross came in from the right-hand side and was deflected goalwards by the Rea defender, somehow Brian Hammersley managed to keep it out with a magnificent save, Bryan McCabe was quickest to react and finished the rebound to the net. Rearcross emptied the subs bench and they were making an impact as they pulled a goal back on the 85th minute to set up a grand stand finish. Darragh Carr received the ball and his mazy run saw him have a strike just outside the box which was blocked, the blocked shot found its way to Rob Harrington whose 1st time strike back across the keeper found the net. Rea came close on too separate occasions to finding the equaliser. The first was when they were awarded an indirect free kick inside the box. Paddy Dawson's strike couldn’t find its way through the melee of players. The second chance again fell to Paddy Dawson when Colm Carey's deflected cross was punched out by the keeper as the thunderous volley flew just over the crossbar. Credit must go to both teams for providing an entertaining game which went down to the wire.

Rearcross ‘B’: Brian Hammersley, Eamonn Devitt, Callum Wallace, Eamonn Wade, William Mackey (Capt), Robert Harrington, Kieran Devitt, Oisin Kelly, Gary Ryan, Patrick Dawson
Subs: Darragh Carr, Patrick Ryan, Colm Carey, Jayden Healy, Michael O’Connell, Phillip Ryan, Ger Nolan

Killavilla United ‘B’: J Brooks, S Byrne, A Loughnane (Capt), R McNicholas, R O’Gorman, B McCabe, J Tynan, F Ryan, C Phelan, O Tynan, J Boland
Subs: E Moloney, T O’Brien, P Quealy, S Murphy, J Devereux

Referee: Rory Kennedy

Report by Robert Harrington