League 17/02/08 @ 2:00PM -- Raphoe Town 1-2 Copany Rovers -- Darryl Duncan (29), Raymond Forde (86) -- Venue: Drumfad, Raphoe
Copany maintained their hopes for promotion but not without a fright at Deele College against Raphoe Town, where a good performance by the Rovers ensured the three points.
Copany started the first 10 minutes well, but for some wastefulness in front of goal, could have taken an early lead. Both sides were playing with pacy wingers which left the game open and franatic, with both sides hitting on the counter-attack whenever one side appeared to be pushing for the lead.
The Rovers were playing with the experienced Francie Johnston as the frontman, and he was involved with a tough battle with the Raphoe center back all afternoon, with no man found wanting with aggression.
Copany took a deserved lead on 29 minutes. Francie Johnston worked space well in the box but his effort cannoned off the post and the Raphoe defender cleared towards the corner area. David Graham put the defender under pressure out wide, and won the ball due to sheer tenacity. Graham squared the ball towards Francie Johnston at the edge of the six yard area, and he turned and spotted the inrushing Darryl Duncan who was left with a simple tap-in at the back post.
The game swung again from end to end in the perfect playing conditions and left for a good game of football. Copany appear to have the grit between the teeth at the minute, but some good build up play wasn't matched by the end product.
Just before half time Aaron Scott broke down the right hand flank. His crossed was acrobatically met by Darryl Duncan, but the keeper made a great save from the scissor-kicked effort. Immediately after Raphoe equalised with a flowing counter-attack move. A ball was played into the strikers path in the right hand flank. He turned, before playing a neat through ball to an advancing Raphoe midfielder, who finished calmly and gave Joe Gallagher no chance in the Copany nets, to leave the sides all square at half time.
Raphoe started the second half well, and were playing neat football but were finding the Copany defense, well marshalled by William Given and Clint Walsh, a tough nut to crack.
On 55 minutes a counter-attack break by Copany left Francie Johnston flicking the ball down the left to the incoming David Graham. Graham was unlucky as he fired a first time half-volley from the edge of the box that cannoned off the post and away to safety.
Both sides were involved in a midfield battle, and it appeared the game was going to end at a stalemate. However, with just four minutes of normal time remaining, Paul Clarke gained possession down the right hand flank. His cross to the back post was met by Eoghan Gorman who appeared to be about to finish until he was well tackled by a Raphoe defender. The ball broke to subsitute, Raymond Forde, and Forde rounded the keeper before firing home with his left foot from an acute angle to give Copany the lead.
The game wasn't quite over yet, as Raphoe pushed hard for an equaliser, and came within a few inches of equalising when a Raphoe striker broke free but his well placed effort hit the inside of the post and rolled accross the line. Frankie McGirr was first to react and he cleared the ball away to safety.
The Copany management, team and supporters breathed a big sigh of relief when the referee blew for full time. With an important three points picked up in this game, the Rovers will be looking to build on their fine recent form when they travel to Dunlewey next Sunday.
An impressive team performance by Copany, with the center backs, William Given and Clint Walsh very commanding. Youngster David Graham was very effective down the left hand flank.
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