Finn Harps delivered their first home victory in three months tonight following a thrilling error strewn victory over third placed Cobh Ramblers.
Finn Harps 4
Cobh Ramblers 3
By Charlie Collins
The Cork men arrived for this encounter on the back of an excellent run of recent results. Defensively they had been very solid, conceding only three goals in their last five games.
Harps welcomed back Tony McNamee to their squad, the Ramelton man beginning his third spell at Finn Park and named captain on the night. His inclusion was the only change from the team that started last week in the scoreless draw with Bray Wanderers, replacing Daniel Stokoe in midfield.
Harps started well with some good possession and passing moves but in the fifth minute and in their first attack of note Cobh almost took the lead as Liam Kervick’s curling shot was just wide. Four minutes later they did take the lead. Harps keeper, Tim Hiemer, seemed glued to the ground as Cian Browne’s cross found Wilson Wawera free at the far post and he headed home from close range.
Harps responded well to this early setback and went close a minute later. Cobh keeper Lee Steacy firstly denied Patrick Ferry and then blocked Tony McNamee’s close range follow-up.
Five minutes later another Harps chance. McNamee delivered a super cross from the right but Sean O Donnell couldn’t guide his header inside the post. To their credit, Harps kept the pressure on the visitors despite these setbacks and were finally rewarded in the 21st minute. Patrick Ferry was denied by some desperate defending after O’Donnell set him up, but from the resulting corner McNamee played it into the path of Ryan Flood (main pic) who blasted the ball low into the bottom corner to leave it 1-1.
However, that didn’t last long as Cobh quickly regained the lead. It was Wilson Wawera again with his second – the cheekiest of back-flicks past Tim Hiemer following a cross from the right wing.
Harps response to this setback was positive and back they came to get level again. Ryan Flood played through an inviting pass towards O’Donnell and as he got a touch inside the box, center-back Brendan Frahill made contact which floored him and Referee Alan Patchell didn’t hesitate as he pointed to the spot. Flood drilled the penalty low for his and Harps second and most entertaining first-half ended 2-2.
Both teams forced a couple of corners in the early minutes of the restart but they didn’t produce anything of note. However, it wasn’t long before we had another goal and this time it was Harps who took the lead. McNamee pounced on some slack defending by Cobh. He played in O’Donnell who’s shot was saved, but Patrick Ferry was alert and his shot found the net despite keeper Steacy’s best effort to deny him.
At 3-2, Harps were ahead for the first time and scored three times at home for the first time this season also. But, the lead only lasted ten minutes. After more sloppy Harps defending, Wawera turned provider, finding Michael Walsh Rowe inside the box and he beat Hiemer with an angled drive to make it 3-3 and anybody’s game.
And the goals kept coming. In the 70th minute, Max Hutchison did well on the right side and his cross was fumbled by Cobh keeper Steacy. O’Donnell was quickest to react, turning the ball in from close range to make it 4-3, their first four goal haul of the season. Cobh should have been level again in the 73rd minute but Liam Kervick pulled his shot wide from a great position in front of goal. There was no let-up in this cracking match as both sets of players gave it their all in the rain but on an excellent playing surface, a credit to the grounds staff at Finn Park. The pattern of all-out effort and play, swinging from end to end, continued right to the finish of this competitive encounter with Harps taking a badly needed three points and this new group of players showing they are up for the challenges ahead.
Finn Harps ; Tim Hiemer , Semi Scott Wara , Daithi McCallion , Matthew Makinson , Jamie Watson , Max Hutchison (Caoimhin Porter 76mins), , Tony McNamee ( Noe Baba 90mins), Ryan Flood, Stephen Doherty , Patrick Ferry ( BJ Banda 68mins) , Sean O Donnell ,
Cobh Ramblers: Lee Steacy; Michael McCarthy, Cian Browne, Brendan Frahill , Charlie Lyons ( Luke Desmond 85mins), , Wilson Waweru , Pierce Philips ( Matthew McKevitt 85mins), Michael Walsh Rowe , Dean Larkin ( Alex Byrne 75mins), Liam Kervick ( Luke Casey 75mins), Dale Holland .
Referee; Alan Patchell.
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