Harrison on hand to deliver Slane winner

Bingham and Quilty remained injured while new signing Coulter was ineligible. Steen, Fairley and young Buchanan came into the starting line up.

Slane got off to the perfect start when on two minutes an excellent Anderson corner was headed home by Gibson from 10 yards.

However, it wasn’t to be a simple procession towards victory. On 11 minutes, the home team equalised when through a free-kick hammered into the top corner from 20 yards.

Fairley had a great chance to restore the lead after getting on the end of an Ervine flick but dragged his shot narrowly wide. At the other end, Ivor Blevins produced a stunning save tipping away a shot heading for the top corner.

The hosts took the lead when they broke behind the Slane back four and the striker finished well from 12y ards. Slane then gave their hosts a taste of their own medicine by equalising almost immediately. Fairley picked up a through ball, rounded the keeper and scored from a tight angle.

Blevins then produced an even better save this time to his left somehow palming away what seemed a certain goal to keep the scores level at the break.

Goal-scorer Gregg Harrison came on for Buchanan and with the wind at their backs, Slane looked to push forward.

The substitution paid off with what turned out to be the winner on the hour-mark. A driven shot by Ervine was too hot for the home keeper and Harrison chested the ball down before slotting home with his white boot.

Soon after, Blevins produced another smart save down to his left and Whitten was alert to clear the danger. For Slane, Harrison had a shot blocked and Fairley fired over when through one-on-one.

With Ben Steen pulling the stings in midfield, Slane started to get behind the home defence and Harrison had a super 25 yard shot parried away to safety and then the home keeper produced a stunning save from a brilliant Fairley header.

Anderson got on the end of another super pass from Steen and his cross saw Fairley hit the post as the visitors tried to seal it.

On 80 minutes, another chance to do just thata rrived when Harrison went through on the keeper , who it seemed he had rounded to slot in only for the stopper to recover and make a good save.

Laurelvale pushed for an equaliser and created some chances but the Slane defence with Whitten and Shilliday particularly strong saw the game out for a deserved win.

MONEYSLANE: Blevins, Whitten, Boyd, Shilliday, Peden, Steen, Buchanan, Gibson, Fairley, Ervine, Anderson.

Subs: Harrison, Quinn, Weir.