Kilmacrennan Celtic had to do it the hard way as they twice came from behind to sneak a win at bottom of the table Cranford United in the Donegal League Premier Divison.
Cranford United 2-3 Kilmacrennan Celtic
The league leaders started the game the better and had a lot of the ball but the Cranford defence stood strong. Chris Dillon was very unlucky after 20 minutes when his lobbed effort rattled the bar.
Cranford were very dangerous on the break with James Lee McBride causing all sorts of bother and this paid off after 30 minutes when he held off the defender and a penalty was awarded for pulling in which the defender being the last man received a yellow card. Chris Carr stood up from the spot and finished well.
Kilmacrennan again had a lot of the ball in the second half but Cranford stood strong with Jason Hegarty plucking some great crosses from the air. It was level on 55 minutes when a diagonal ball was headed across goal and Ryan Shields applied the finishing touch.
They had a chance to go ahead five minutes later from the spot but Jason Hegarty saved the penalty with a great save from Enda McCormick and Cranford restored their lead 10 minutes later when a long ball was played through to McBride and he did brilliantly to put the ball over the keeper and being brave enough to finish while colliding with the post.
Kilmacrennan changed their game plan and took the big men on up front and it was rewarded straight away as another diagonal ball was headed across for Seamus Nani Friel to finish. It was nip and tuck in the final couple of minutes but with five to go Chris Dillon scored a beautiful volley straight to the top corner to put the visitors in front for the first time. Cranford didn’t die down and were very unlucky as a great volley by Danny McBride struck the post.
