Milford United’s Premier Division title charge stays on course after a win over Glenea United on an emotional afternoon at Moyle View Park.
Milford United 3 Glenea United 1
By Charlie Collins at Moyle View Park
The two teams paid a touching tribute before the game, which Milford won 3-1 with Terence Sheilds and Joey Cullen scoring either side of a screamer by Gary Merritt.
The home side started well and Merritt tested keeper Oisin Cannon with a stinging shot in the 7th minute as sign of things to come later.
Two minutes later Milford were ahead, Merritt’s beautiful chipped pass found the overlapping Shields and he slid the ball into the net off the inside of the far post.
It was all Milford in those early stages but the visitors hit back in the 16th minute when keeper Cannon’s long clearance found winger Michael McHugh who after racing forward then later the ball back for Barry McGinley and with the aid of a slight deflection his shot beat Caolan McGettigan to level the game at 1-1.
Two minutes later Cannon made a super save to deny Cullen’s goal-bound header.
The home team were having most of the play but Glenea remained dangerous on the break and McGettigan had to be alert to deny Michael Mulhern at the far post. In the 34th minute another Glenea attack saw Ciarán McFadden go down inside the box.
Referee Liam McLaughlin decided too easily for his liking and issued a yellow card , the striker looks a little unlucky as there certainly appeared to be contact from the defender.
Two minutes later those present got their money’s worth as Milford regained the lead.
Merritt lined up a free-kick almost 40 yards out. While a chip into the crowded box looked the best option Merritt was having none of it and blasted an incredible blockbuster into the far top corner of the net giving keeper Cannon absolutely no chance, a brilliant bit of both skill and power from Merritt.
Both Merritt and Adam Serrinha tested the young Glenea keeper before half-time but it remained 2-1 at the break.
The home team continued to dominate after the break but found it hard to break down a resolute visitors defence.
However they got that vital third goal and a slice of good luck with it.
Shields cross didn’t appear as if it would create a goal chance but when it was dealt with Cullen had the simple task of tapping it into the empty net.
Despite plenty of effort from both teams that ended the scoring as Milford Utd took three welcomed home points and kept in step with Kilmacrennan Celtic and Castlefin Celtic who both also won their games.
Milford United: Caolan McGettigan, Rory O’Donnell, Dan O’Donnell, Mark Flood, Johnny Logue, Adam Serrinha, Terence Shields, Joey Cullen, Kyle Black, Gary Merritt, Brendan Murray. Subs: Paddy Peoples for Murray (86), Damian Casey for Black (90).
Glenea United: Oisin Cannon, Conor McGee , Eamonn McHugh, Sean Coll, Patrick Cannon, Barry McGinley, Mark Harley, Michael Mulhearn, Ciaran McFadden, Ciaran McGeady , Michael McHugh. Subs: Shaun Curran for McGeady (60), Eugene Maguire for McFadden (73).
Referee: Liam McLaughlin.
