UlsterNet.co.uk

Raphoe clinch exciting home victory by odd goal in nine

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Matthew Lecky looks to pick out a team-mate to pass to as Portadown’s Neil Gilmour closes in during Raphoe Hockey Club men’s firsts 5-4 home win in Senior One on Saturday. GF0309CC

Raphoe 5. Portadown 4.

RAPHOE Hockey Club men's firsts played their second home game in as many weeks on Saturday and again kept the spectators entertained in a high-scoring game which ended with the home side winning by the odd goal in nine in Senior One against Portadown.
Raphoe scored the first goal of the game after 10 minutes when from their first short corner Matthew Lecky drag-flicked the ball low past the keeper.
Raphoe had several decent chances to increase their lead, but a poor choice of final pass and bad finishing left them with a slender advantage.
Keith Meehan sent a reverse stick shot over the bar midway through the half and on their next attack John Watt sent a reverse stick shot wide of the right hand upright. Trevor Patterson was the next Raphoe player to have a go and he brought an excellent save from the Portadown keeper with another reverse stick shot.
Raphoe were to rue those missed chances and 10 minutes from half-time, Portadown equalised when Johnny Hassan got on the end of a cross from the right to tuck past Johnny Rankin in the Raphoe goal.
This gave Portadown a lift and four minutes from half-time they nearly took the lead, but Rankin came out on top in a one-on-one duel and the ball was cleared to safety.
On the stroke of half-time, Raphoe regained the lead. After a good passing move down the right Alan Patterson received the ball in the circle from Trevor Patterson and with time and space he flicked the ball into the left hand side-netting to send Raphoe into the break 2-1 up.
Portadown equalised again shortly after the restart from a short corner when Rankin was beaten by a drag flick that flew into his top left hand corner.
Again Raphoe had chances to regain the lead and again poor finishing let them down.
Trevor Patterson eventually scored to put Raphoe back in the lead - John Watt threaded a pass past the advancing keeper for Patterson to tap home on the goal line.
But again Raphoe could not hold on to their lead and some slack defending allowed Portadown to equalise again.
With 15 minutes of the game left, Gavin Lecky put Raphoe into the lead for the fourth time when his cross was turned into the net by a Portadown defender.
Portadown pushed forward again looking for a fourth equaliser, but Raphoe's defence held firm. Alan Patterson scored his second and Raphoe's fifth goal four minutes from time when he went on a mazy run past three defenders into the circle and fired the ball into the bottom left hand corner giving the keeper no chance.
Portadown pushed forward again and pulled a goal back in the final minute when a forward nipped in front of Rankin and Rodney Bates to deflect the ball into the roof of the net to leave the final score 5-4 to Raphoe.
Man of the match for Raphoe was Alan Patterson. Sponsors of the match were Joe Magee, McBride Street, Raphoe, and Harron Commercials.
This coming Saturday, Raphoe travel to Armagh with a 2.30pm push-back (to be confirmed).
Raphoe: Johnny Rankin, William Kilpatrick, Rodney Bates, Matthew Lecky, Lee Stewart, Ian McGonigle (cpt), George Patterson, Keith Meehan, John Watt, Trevor Patterson, Alan Patterson, Gavin Lecky and Johnny Long.
Other results
Raphoe's seconds, despite a Nigel Woods goal, went down 3-1 at NICS seconds, the thirds lost 5-3 to North Down fourths with goals from Rodney Lindsay, John Mckean and Chris Fairman, while the fourths, despite an Andy McAuley goal, lost 2-1 at home to Mossley fifths.
Meanwhile, winners of Saturday's 300 club draw were: 1, Jonathon Anderson; 2, David and Vera Patterson; 3, Keith Magee.

Subscribe to read full newspaper »

Send this page to a friend »