CRANFORD FC 1 v 0 WHITESTRAND UTD.
A goal midway through the first-half by Kevin ‘ Gooch ‘ Doherty was enough to secure another win and vital three points for promotion chasing Cranford FC.
By Charlie Collins
The game was somewhat overshadowed by an injury to a Whitestrand Utd defender early in the second-half which saw a fifty minute delay while the player was treated on the pitch and the arrival of an Ambulance to take him to hospital.
The player had an ankle injury and the situation was very well dealt with by officials from both clubs and the ambulance crew when they arrived to ensure the player was given the best possible care.
The home side started well with Keelan Mc Groddy, David O Donnell and Kevin Doherty all lively in attack but Whitestrand Utd also had dangerous players up front with Jonathan Sweeney, Kevin Loughrey and Kevin Mc Carry needing some attention from the home defence.
After McGroddy had almost got in a couple of times for Cranford, Sweeney’s excellent cross found the head of Loughrey at the other end but he couldn’t control his effort.
What proved to be the game’s only goal arrived in the 24th minute, Shane Mc Teague’s throw-in found the head of Padraig Mc Ginty and when he flicked it on Kevin Doherty struck it well and while keeper Paddy Kelly did well to block the shot he was unable to prevent the ball just about rolling into the bottom corner of his net.
A minute later it could have been 2-0, Mc Groddy’s flicked pass sent player-manager Danny Mc Bride bursting into the box and his cracking shot flew just wide of Kelly’s far post.
A couple of minutes later it should have been 1-1, Ken Dempsey’s excellent free-kick from out wide found it’s way all the way through to Ryan Mc Cleary but with the goal at his mercy the full-back shot over the bar.
The game was somewhat overshadowed by an injury to a Whitestrand Utd defender early in the second-half which saw a fifty minute delay while the player was treated on the pitch and the arrival of an Ambulance to take him to hospital. The player had an ankle injury and the situation was very well dealt with by officials from both clubs and the ambulance crew when they arrived to ensure the player was given the best possible care.
The home side started well with Keelan Mc Groddy, David O Donnell and Kevin Doherty all lively in attack but Whitestrand Utd also had dangerous players up front with Jonathan Sweeney, Kevin Loughrey and Kevin Mc Carry needing some attention from the home defence.
After McGroddy had almost got in a couple of times for Cranford, Sweeney’s excellent cross found the head of Loughrey at the other end but he couldn’t control his effort. What proved to be the game’s only goal arrived in the 24th minute, Shane Mc Teague’s throw-in found the head of Padraig Mc Ginty and when he flicked it on Kevin Doherty struck it well and while keeper Paddy Kelly did well to block the shot he was unable to prevent the ball just about rolling into the bottom corner of his net. A minute later it could have been 2-0, Mc Groddy’s flicked pass sent player-manager Danny Mc Bride bursting into the box and his cracking shot flew just wide of Kelly’s far post.
A couple of minutes later it should have been 1-1, Ken Dempsey’s excellent free-kick from out wide found it’s way all the way through to Ryan Mc Cleary but with the goal at his mercy the full-back shot over the bar.