Disappointment for City

CRAIGAVON City made the trip to Armagh on Saturday to play league leaders Red Star and can feel hard done by not to come away with anything to show for their hard work and effort.

City started the game brightly, dominating possession and creating some early chances with McAdam going close with a shot from outside the box and Harvey unlucky not to score with a looping header, which the Red Star goalkeeper did well to gather at the second attempt.

Both teams tried to stamp their authority on the game and it was the hosts who struck first when a cross into the box wasn’t dealt with and the ball broke to the Star centre forward who made no mistake with his driven shot.

City then pushed hard to equalise and the pivotal incident in the game came just before the half when Rikki Harvey drove at the defence and, after a sweet one two with Murtagh, skipped past another defender, his cross then seemed to be blocked by a defender’s arm and as the referee waved away City’s claim for a penalty Red Star broke up the field and a ball over the top of the City defence seemed to find a Red Star player in an obvious offside position but once again the referee waved away City’s claims and the centre forward did well to round Robinson in the City goal and put the hosts two up.

After the break City played a little more directly but seemed unable to find the breakthrough they needed and had another very strong appeal for a penalty denied after the defender seemed to trip McAdam in the penalty area as he ran in on goal.

However, they could have went further behind but for a wonderful save from Robinson low to his right after a swift Red Star counter attack.

The introduction of Ryan Kelly, Darren Martin and Sean Devlin seemed to invigorate the visitors and with ten minutes to go Conway swung an excellent cross into the far post and Sean McConville was on hand to head his fifth goal of the season and get City back into the game.

Red Star dropped deeper and deeper to soak up the now constant City pressure and with only seconds to go a defence splitting pass by Murtagh found Darren Martin who had made a great late run and his low shot nestled into the bottom corner, but ecstasy turned agony when the referee had decided another City player was in an offside position and ruled out the goal and with it City’s hopes of a draw.

This week sees City make the journey to Belfast to take on Queens Mavericks needing a win to keep in touch with the league leaders.