THE CONTINENTAL touches of Darek Frankowski and Francesco Crisci helped fire Bonagee United to victory over Swilly Rovers at Dry Arch Park.
Bonagee United 3 Swilly Rovers 0
Second-half strikes by Pole Frankowski and Italian Crisci sent Peter Moran’s team on their way to a win that elevates them to third in the Ulster Senior League table, until Sunday at least.
Frankowski’s 55th minute goal opened the scoring and Crisci’s clinical second made the win safe for the home side, with a 78th minute header by Dean Larkin completing a good night at the office for the men in yellow and green.
Moran watched from the stand as he serves a suspension, but the Derry native will have been content to see his men get back to winning ways against a youthful Swilly, who end 2016 without a League win this season.
Bonagee, still reeling from their Intermediate Cup defeat at Edenderry Town last Saturday, took a little time to come into the game, but they managed to hit the front ten minutes into the second half.
Aidan McLaughlin’s honesty perhaps denied the hosts a penalty just after the break, the striker clearly pulled as he entered the box.
McLaughlin steadied himself, stayed on his feet and missed out on what looked a certain penalty as a result.
But Bonagee were soon in front as Frankowski fired home in the box after Aidan McCauley’s free kick wasn’t dealt with.
Swilly came into this game – a home fixture for Gerry Crossan’s team, but reversed to Dry Arch Park – looking for a first League win of the season.
They had their moments in a first half that lacked in quality.
Centre-back Dylan Hegarty had a go from almost half-way and forced the back-peddling Gareth Wade to tip over the crossbar, denying the Swilly man an audacious goal.
Swilly showed decent promise at times without, that Hegarty attempt aside, really troubling Wade.
Swilly had a series of chances in the one move and their failure to put away any of them – when any one of a number of players could have applied a finishing touch – proved costly as Bonagee broke to score.
Crisci, from the right-hand side, got clear and coolly picked his spot, neatly clipping past Bolton from outside the box.
Crisci could have added a third, but saw his shot from a tight angle blocked by Hegarty.
Larkin’s tidy header, after connecting to a cross by Aidan McLaughlin, gave Bonagee further cushion.
Bonagee United: Gareth Wade, Gareth Breslin, Taylor Russell, Ryan McGarvey, Darren Hunter, Darek Frankowski, Shane O’Doherty (Daniel Stolarczyk 6, (Ryan Moran 80)), Dean Larkin, Aidan McLaughlin (Jordan Rodgers 86), Aidan McCauley, Francesco Crisci.
Swilly Rovers: Caolan Bolton, Dylan Hegarty, Shaun Crossan, Ronan Boyce, Marty McDaid, Ricky Fisher, Mikey Sweeney (Daire Crossan 65), Ryan McDaid, Laurence Toland, Mark Wilson (Matthew Sweeney 72), Shay Durning.
Referee: Packie Coll.
| USL | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| Cockhill Celtic | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 13 |
| Fanad United | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 11 |
| Bonagee United | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 14 | -7 | 10 |
| Derry City Reserves | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 9 |
| Letterkenny Rovers | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| Finn Harps Reserves | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 14 | -6 | 4 |
| Swilly Rovers | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 20 | -13 | 3 |
FIXTURES
Sunday, December 4, 2pm
Derry City Reserves v Letterkenny Rovers Referee – Michael Connolly
Fanad United v Cockhill Celtic Referee – Marty Quinn; assistants – Vincent McLoughlin, Marty McGarrigle
Sunday, December 11, 2pm
Finn Harps Reserves v Cockhill Celtic
TOP GOALSCORERS (League only)
Cathal Farren (Derry City Reserves) 8
Mark Moran (Cockhill Celtic) 5
Darren McElwaine (Letterkenny Rovers) 5
Aaron McCready (Finn Harps Reserves) 4
Stephen Duffy (Derry City Reserves) 3
Aidan McLaughlin (Bonagee United) 3
Gerard McLaughlin (Cockhill Celtic) 3
Max Karner (Derry City Reserves) 3
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