Early errors leave Slane too big a hill to climb

Matty Smyth was awarded Moneyslane Reserves' Player of the Month for September by the Moneyslane Supporters' Club.

As if that wasn’t enough, they finished the game with 10 men, Boyd given his marching orders just before the hour-mark, the scoring already complete.

Slane had everyone available with exceptions of long term injury victims, captain Gareth Bingham and Jason Fairley.

In each of the last four games, Slane have conceded sloppy goals in the opening 20 minutes of the game and this unwanted trend continued on Saturday afternoon.

The game was only 14 minutes old when Richill scored directly from a corner-kick. The ball eluded the static Blevins and dropped in at the far post. Then on 21 minutess from yet another corner, Ervine lost his man and the ball was headed home from seven yards to make it 2-0. The game was effectively over with just 24 minutes on the clock when Peden got caught on the ball at the edge of the box and the striker planted his shot past Blevins from 14 yards out.

Slane tried to hit back and Gregg Harrison was put through only for a poor first touch to allow the keeper to gather before he later saved well from Fairley.

Blevins made a fantastic stop of his own before the break, palming the ball away from a close range volley.

Three down at the break and with little hope of getting anything out of the game, Slane came out to have a go.

They switched to 4-3-3 and created two good chances in the opening five minutes.

However, disaster struck on 57 minutes when Boyd clipped an attacker near the half way line and as he was the last man he had to go leaving the hosts down to 10 men.

Slane players dug deep and and played some really good football but there was little cutting edge in the final third.

Anderson came on for Fairley, Adair for Ervine and Steen for Harrison. Blevins again produced a great save low to his right. Anderson had a great chance to score but headed wide from six yards.

Despite their possession and endeavour, there was not even a consolation goal for the home team.

MONEYSLANE: Blevins, Quinn, Boyd, Shilliday, Peden, Gibson, Quilty, Fairley, Whitten, Ervine, Harrison

Subs: Weir, Steen, Adair, Anderson