League 22/03/09 @ 2:00PM -- Letterbarrow Celtic 1-2 Copany Rovers -- Darryl Duncan (17), Paul Clarke (19) -- Venue: Tymen
Two first half goals from Darryl Duncan and Paul Clarke gave Copany a vital win in the derby with Letterbarrow at Tymen, meaning that the Cobras will finish in at least the playoff spot should they defeat Glenree in Ballykillown in a weeks time.
Copany started with hunger and purpose, and led by Aaron Scott's relentless probing, they deservedly took the lead on 18 minutes when a neat flowing move cumulated with Padraig Rooney playing a delightful reverse through ball which Darryl Duncan took early and fired expertly into the far bottom corner of the net for the wingers first goal of the season.
Less than a minute later, good pressure from Paul Clarke and Padraig Rooney forced the defender into a mistake on the halfway line, and Paul Clarke ran free one-on-one with the 'keeper. His initial effort was well saved, but the rebound squirmed under the keeper and into the net to give the visitors a two goal advantage. It was also last seasons goal-machine Clarke's first goal of the season on his first appearance for the Cobras in the current campaign.
The rest of the first half was stalemate meaning that the Cobras were leading 2-0 at the interval. However, within 10 minutes of the second half, Letterbarrow were back in the hunt. Copany gave the ball away rather cheaply in a dangerous area in the center of midfield, and the right winger broke free and fired home from the edge of the area.
Letterbarrow tried hard to find the spaces to muster up chances for the equaliser, but found the Copany defense in stubborn form, and in particular Alan McGirr who had a fantastic game at the back. On the odd occasion that they found their way through the back four, they found Gary Ward alert to the danger on a couple of occasions.
Copany continued to look dangerous, and the pace and tenacity of Padraig Rooney caused the Letterbarrow defense no end of problems. With Letterbarrow playing a high line in defense, this suited Rooney and he had a number of half chances, but his best effort was a close range header that was well stopped by the Letterbarrow netminder following good wingplay from Paul Clarke.
Copany saw the game out surprisingly comfortably in the remaining 15 minutes, to record an impressive win.
In a good team performance by the Cobras, with a number of impresive displays, Alan McGirr was outstanding in defense, with Padraig Rooney always a danger in attack. Aaron Scott and Darryl Duncan had a fine games for a dominant Copany midfield, which laid the platform for the victory.
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