Success despite near disaster

Donacloney 5 Portadown Casuals 1

DONACLONEY hosted Portadown Casuals at The Holms on Saturday, looking to start improving their league position.

In the first half Cloney played with a strong wind on their backs and sought to use the advantage to keep the visitors pinned into their own half. This tactic seemed to work as Casuals struggled to cause any threat on home goal.

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Cloney, however, themselves struggled to cope with the advantage of a strong wind as they seemed to over hit the final delivery, and some wayward finishing seemed to negate any attacking threat. Strike duo of Steven Leckey and William Hilary both were culprits of poor finishing in an untidy first half.

Cloney did eventually take the lead with five minutes remaining in the first half. A Glenn Buchannan long ball, carried through to the keeper, only for him to drop the ball under no pressure and an alert Adam Beattie gleefully accepted a gifted opportunity.

Cloney were disappointed at only taking a one goal advantage in at the break but were confident they had the ability to cope with the Casuals threat and continue to press forward into the headwind.

Cloney continued to dominate the game but too often they saw chances go begging. Chris Shields failed to find the target when well positioned while Gareth McAdam could only shoot straight at the keeper when clean through.

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Cloney did double their lead 15 minutes in, when Leckey latched onto Shields' cross at the back post. In the next attack Cloney got their third, as a Hilary corner was only half cleared, and when it was returned into the area young centre half Andrew Woods converted from close range.

Cloney sat back on their advantage and Casuals enjoyed their best spell of position over the next ten minutes, with Robbie Archer called into action with a couple of routine saves.

The pressure culminated in a goal as Gary Knox could only deflect a Casuals corner into his own net. It was near disaster as two minutes later the ball hit the Cloney crossbar straight from another dangerous corner, but fortunately the home team were able scramble the rebound away.

Leckey soon dashed fears of a Casuals fight back as he raced through to score his second and restore the three goal advantage with 15 minutes remaining on the clock.

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This seemed to dishearten the Casuals and Cloney pressed to increase their lead. Leckey again raced through onto a Knox through ball only to somehow squander the easiest of chances for his first competitive hattrick. However, he was not to be denied and two minutes later he duly completed the feat scoring after some good work by Tim Carson.

The game petered out with a few half chances in the remainder of the time, with Cloney claiming a comfortable 5-1 victory.

Young Andrew Woods at the back showed good composure and scored in a strong game, but he was pipped to man of the match by hattrick hero Steven Leckey who's pace was a menace all day.

Cloney Reserves continue to search for their first victory, as they were downed 7-2 on Saturday by Craigavon City, Kyle McCreary notching up both goals for the locals.