25/02/2006

Inver Athletic 0 - 3 Lisnafillan Swifts

Lisnafillan came away from Larne with all three points and a rare "clean sheet" today. It was a game in which they were seldom troubled and their new look defence shone.

New signing and debutant, Adrian McGarry slipped into the back line as though he had never been away and his defensive partner, Richard Young was a rock ensuring that Damien O'Hagan had a relatively uneventful day in nets.

For all of their early pressure it was unclear where Lisnafillan's first goal was going to come from. There were numerous near misses with Young, Ryan Kenny, Simon Murray and Phil Alexander all guilty of missing good opportunities in front of goal.

George Lynn's experience proved to be pivotal in turning the work rate into rewards. His ability to work the ball from set pieces kept Inver on the back foot, creating numerous chances from his corners before taking things into his own hands. Raiding full-back, Jay Russell was fouled 20yards out from the Inver goal, just to the left hand side of the penalty box earning a free kick which Lynn teed up. He was always going to shoot and unleashed a ferocious strike over the 5 man wall and into the top right hand corner of the net leaving the 'keeper rooted to the spot to make it 1-0 to the Swifts and settle a few anxious nerves.

Lisnafillan continued to exert pressure on Athletic's defence, notably through the tireless running of Phil Alexander, Roy Calderwood and the excellent Simon Murray. Credit to Inver though who dealt admirably with everything that was thrown at them, holding out until the half-time whistle.

Half-time: 0-1

Inver refocused for the second half, having taken quite a long team talk, and came out with a solid defensive formation which required the Swifts to move the ball about considerably more in order to break them down. Athletic were only let down by their inability to hold up the ball in their attacking third so the direct ball they played out of defence was coming straight back at them.

As Lisnafillan got the ball down, playing into a stiff wind, Rodney Beggs and George Lynn began to take control of the midfield. Time and again they slipped one of the forward men through. It was only a matter of time before one paid off and it was Simon Murray who capitalised. He latched onto a through ball down the left channel and shrugged off his marker to calmly place the ball low and across the wrong footed 'keeper, into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

In a more defensive switch, Swifts introduced Greg Marrs for Phil Alexander, moving Rodney Beggs into a more advanced position. This worked to kill off the game as Beggs made it 3-0 with 15 minutes to go. He stole into Inver's box and converted a Roy Calderwood cross at the back post to round off a convincing victory for the visitors.

Full-time: 0-3

Given that Blackstone notched up another victory away to Shore Wanderers this was another very important three points earned keeping pressure on Glenarm and distance between the Swifts and the chasing pack.