Swilly Rovers 2 Derry City Reserves 0
SWILLY ROVERS’ recent revival in the 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League continued with a deserved win over Derry City.
Goals from the experienced duo of Marty McDaid and Laurence Toland fired Swilly to the win and gets them back on track following a narrow loss to Swilly Rovers on Thursday night.
Swilly were full value for their win here and landed two fine goals to mark a first win at Swilly Park this season.
The lead goal arrived on ten minutes as McDaid, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Thursday, deceived goalkeeper Mark McElhinney with a deft lobbed effort that left the netminder reaching for air.
Swilly have shown real improvement of late and grabbed a first win of the season when beating Cockhill, in the process handing the Inishowen side a first League loss in a 72-game sequence stretching back to July 2012.
And they won again here with a determined display.
Four minutes into the second half, Toland cracked home a wonderful second, firing into the top corner with a splendid effort that gave McElhinney no chance.
Swilly fashioned an early chance, but Jordan Toland headed just past the post, while Derry defender Lee McColgan had to be on guard to prod away at McDaid’s feet after McElhinney beat away a free-kick by Tony McNamee.
The heavy Swilly Park surface wasn’t conducive to playing the free-flowing football USL followers have come to expect from Derry’s young guns.
But the visitors did threaten when Adrian Delap, born and bred just a stone’s throw away at Ray.
Delap, who is well on the rise with Derry, opened up the possibilities again on the half-hour and is cross was inviting for Ronan Wilson, who just couldn’t apply the finish touch from a glorious position.
McNamee, back in the colours of his hometown club again after a couple of seasons at Finn Harps in the League of Ireland, attempted to chip McElhinney, but his attempt was into the hands of the ‘keeper.
Derry broke clear again when Matt Duffy burst through, but his advances were halted at the vital moment when Paul Bradley – just on for the injured Shaun Crossan – intervened.
Swilly were defending stoutly and it took another timely interception, this one from Daniel O’Donnell, to halt the tracks of Matt Duffy, who initially brushed off the challenge of Dylan Hegarty.
They’d led from the early strike by McDaid and Toland was soon adding a second and away on his knees in celebration.
Swilly Rovers: Caolan Bolton, Dylan Hegarty, Shaun Crossan, Marty McDaid, Damien Friel, Ryan Toland, Brandon Toye, Jordan Toland, Tony McNamee, laurence Toland, Daniel O’Donnell. Subs: Paul Bradley for Crossan (35).
Derry City Reserves: Mark McElhinney, Paul Doherty, Matt Doherty, Kieran Farren, Lee McColgan, Dean Power, Evan Tweet, Shane McNamee, Ronan Wilson, Adrian Delap, Matt Duffy. Subs: Cathal Farren for McNamee (half-time), Denver Kelly for Wilson (67), Rhys McDermott for Tweed (67).
Referee: Marty McGarrigle.
Bonagee United 1 Fanad United 1
Fourth played third at a very cold Dry Arch Park, and it was honours even in a game in which defences were on top.
The first half hour was very even with both sides cancelling each other out, but Fanad almost took the lead in the 31st minute.
Keelin McElwaine crossed from the right wing and Davitt Walsh managed to head over from six yards out.
Bonagee had a chance of their own two minutes later when Aidan McCauleys long ball into the area was headed just wide of Shane Grahams post by Dean Larkin.
The game came to life in the second period and Bonagee broke the deadlock in the 56th minute.
Larkin’s ball into the area fell to Chris Moran who skipped past Oisin Langan’s tackle to hammer the ball into the bottom corner of the Fanad goal.
Fanad thought they restored parity in the 73rd minute, but referee Michael Connolly adjudged that Shaun McElwaines header had not crossed the line, much to the relief of the home support.
That joy was short lived, when Fanad equalised in the 74th minute. Keelin McElwaine fed Oisin Langan on the right side and his ball to the back post was headed home by Seimi Coshia Friel. There was still time for Bonagee to almost score a second in the 91st minute, but Matthew de Kooks effort came off the post and was cleared for a corner by the Fanad defender.
Bonagee United: Gareth Wade, Gareth Breslin, Taylor Russell, Ryan McGarvey, Darren Hunter, Chris Moran, Jamie Lynagh, Darek Frankowski, Aidan McLaughlin, Dean Larkin, Aidan McCauley. Subs Used: Daniel Stolarcysk, Matthew De Kook.
Fanad United: Shane Graham, Oisin Langan, Seamus Friel, Shaun McElwaine, Seamus Friel, Declan McGarvey, Keelin McElwaine, Matthew Crossan, Eunan Kelly, Davitt Walsh, Eoghan Rafferty. Subs Used: Ryan Carlin, Killian Gallagher, Daire McDaid
RESULTS
Thursday
Fanad United 2-1 Swilly Rovers
Saturday
Letterkenny Rovers 2-0 Finn Harps Reserves
Sunday
Bonagee United 1-1 Fanad United
Swilly Rovers 2-0 Derry City Reserves
FIXTURES
Saturday, February 4, 7.15pm
Bonagee United v Derry City Reserves
Sunday, February 5, 2pm
Cockhill Celtic v Finn Harps Reserves
Swilly Rovers v Letterkenny Rovers
| USL | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| Cockhill Celtic | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 10 | 22 | 25 | * |
| Letterkenny Rovers | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 19 | |
| Fanad United | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 18 | |
| Bonagee United | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 18 | -8 | 14 | |
| Derry City Reserves | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 10 | * |
| Swilly Rovers | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 24 | -11 | 9 | |
| Finn Harps Reserves | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 24 | -14 | 5 | |
| * Cockhill Celtic awarded a 3-0 win after Derry City Reserves team deemed ineligible on Jan 22 | |||||||||
RESULTS
Thursday
Fanad United 2-1 Swilly Rovers
Saturday
Letterkenny Rovers 2-0 Finn Harps Reserves
Sunday
Bonagee United 1-1 Fanad United
Swilly Rovers 2-0 Derry City Reserves
GOALSCORERS (League goals only)
Cathal Farren (Derry City Reserves) 8
Darren McElwaine (Letterkenny Rovers) 7
Mark Moran (Cockhill Celtic) 6
Laurence Toland (Swilly Rovers) 5
Aaron McCready (Finn Harps Reserves) 4
Gerard McLaughlin (Cockhill Celtic) 4
