Garvey begin with a win

Playing without the injured Mark Raphael, Garvey gave Daniel Buser a start in midfield.

The opening 10 minutes was a very even affair until Instonians forced two penalty corners in quick succession in the sixth and seventh minutes.

The first was saved by John Tormey and the second brilliantly blocked by the runner out, Andy Williamson.

The 13th minute saw the first break through when after a good advantage was played by the umpire, Daniel Buser carried the ball down the right before Andy Williamson completed the move with a neat turn and finish.

Instonians struck back almost instantly with a rather soft goal, Alan Patterson took the ball into the Garvey circle and beat Tormey with a fluffed reverse stick shot which confused the usually safe keeper.

Peter MacDonnell went close with a good effort in the 15th minute and when Garvey earned their opening penalty corner in the 17th minute, Timmy Cockram saw his drag-flick well saved by Inst keeper Josh Irwin as the first quarter ended with the score at 1-1.

Garvey turned on the pressure in the second quarter and after a great run by Timmy Cockram down the right flank, he slipped the ball to Daniel Nelson who steadied himself and beat Irwin with a well struck reverse stick shot from 10 metres to take Garvey into a deserved lead.

Their advantage was, however, short lived as Instonians replied again in the 31st minute with another reverse stick goal from William Robinson and after a Cockram shot went wide of the target, and a wasted third penalty corner, the first half ended with little between the teams at 2-2.

Daniel Buser began the second half with a testing shot, which Irwin again saved and in the 40th minute, Garvey’s fourth set piece was parried by Irwin from the Steven Arbuthnot shot. In the Garvey circle, Instonian’s third penalty corner was very well blocked by Tormey.

Andy Williamson could have done better in the 46th minute while Jason Lynch won Garvey’s sixth penalty corner but on this occasion Timmy Cockram’s effort went past the upright.

Instonians had their best periode in the third quarter with James Lorimer scraping the ball off the goal-line and a series of four penalty corners, which Garvey survived without much difficulty.

The visitors had to wait until the 54th minute before the lead was regained. The goal came from an excellent move down the right by Andy Williamson and finished by youngster Aaron Martin who got a neat deflection to guide the ball past keeper Irwin.

The promising schoolboy could have sealed the game in the 60th minute but somehow failed to get a touch on the ball with the goal gaping. However, two minutes later the points were secured when, after a good Daniel Buser run, Sean Murray got on the score-sheet with a reverse stick shot which beat Irwin at his right hand post.

Although not totally convincing, Garvey did more than enough to take the points. Their defence must tighten up for tomorrow’s game against Pembroke (pass-back 2.45pm) remembering that they beat the Dublin side just two weeks ago in the Irish Cup.