Moneyslane mauled by Dungannon Tigers

Moneyslane 1

MONEYSLANE travelled to Dungannon on Saturday to play Dungannon Tigers in the Gerard Kennedy Cup.

With only three players available that played in the cup final due to holidays and a stag weekend Slane called in some of their fringe players.

Slane started the game very well, putting Tigers on the back foot from the off.

In goals Brian Davidson was commanding his area with great ease on his debut for the Slane first team. The defence of David Boyd, Gareth M Dowell, David Cromie and Neil Hanna were not letting Tigers have any joy and were solid in the tackles.

The midfield of Matthew Mc Knight, Thomas McCann, Gareth Hamilton and captain John Davenport were causing Tigers all sorts of problems with some neat interactive play. Up front Kyle Scott and Jason Niblock were working tirelessly and could have had a couple of goals each but for some good saves from the home keeper.

The first of the really great chances came when Niblock lobbed the keeper only for his shot to hit the crossbar and the follow up fell to McKnight who struck the ball just over.

Niblock found himself on the left and he curled in a right footed shot only for it to go agonisingly wide.

Tigers then had a couple of chances only for keeper Davidson to make the saves. Davenport had a shot which went just over the top. Slane should have been three up by now.

Then McKnight had an effort saved by the keeper after some great play from Hamilton and Davenport. It was Hammy's turn to have a crack at goal but the Tigers central defender cleared their lines for a corner.

Tigers took the lead with a well worked from the right; it was crossed into the box where their centre forward slotted it home.

Slane kept plugging away and should have equalised when Scott had his effort saved by the keeper. Two minutes later Tigers doubled their lead. This was not what Slane deserved.

It was much the same in the second half with Slane starting the stronger. Niblock had a shot which went just past the post. McKnight was cutting out everything in midfield, allowing McCann some freedom. McDowell and Cromie were very strong in defence cutting out the threat of the Tigers forwards.

Davenport put a great cross field pass to Hanna who fed Hammy only for his shot to just over.

Slane were now putting lots of pressure on Tigers as they went in search on a goal. McKnight split the defence with a pass to Scott who teed it up for Niblock whose shot was saved by the keeper.

Hammy then had another saved by the keeper. Davenport hit a rocket only for it to go just wide.

McKnight was causing all sorts of problems for the Tigers, again he slipped in McCann who found Boyd only for this one to go off the bar as well.

Slane were caught with the perfect counter as they tried to get a goal themselves.

On came Neil Gamble for Hanna in defence. His first action was a great pass to McKnight who rounded three Tigers players only for the keeper to save again.

Then Tigers got a fourth as Slane were getting tired. Credit to the players, they didn't stop trying.

On came Stuart Magennis for Hamilton and made an instant impact. He found himself with loads of space on the right wing and played in a great ball for Kyle Scott to find the net.

Slane can go away from this game with their heads held high as, only for some better luck, they could have won this game.

Man of the match was Matthew McKnight who no doubt will be pushing some of the first team players for a place this season.