CRANFORD HELD BY SPIRITED COBRA DISPLAY

COPANY TEAM

Promotion chasing Cranford were held to a 1-1 draw by Copany in Ballyshannon.

Copany took the lead on 21 minutes, when David Graham found his way behind the Cranford defense and fired a deflected effort past the Cranford stopper.

Cranford started to get into the game after this and the closest to an equaliser came five minutes before the break when a Cranford head got on the end of a deep set play delivery but could not find the target.

Cranford equalised right at the start of the second period when Danny McBride robbed a Copany defender and put the ball past Gary Ward on 46 minutes.

Cranford had a couple of penalty appeals turned down after this as they searched for the lead. For the Cobras, Glen Harron found his effort parried by the keeper after a through ball.

Cranfords superior fitness was beginning to be a telling factor in how the game progressed, and they had the better of the game always looking for the long ball to the pacy Shane Buchanan who was causing the home side problems.

Cranfords best effort came when a striker smashed the underside of the crossbar with five minutes remaining, but in the end a stalemate was the outcome.

A committed team effort by the Cobras, with Shane Buchanan best for Cranford.

Referee: Victor Rainey