Victory for Garvey but title race looks like it has been run

LISNAGARVEY chalked up their 12th league win of the season but still remain the crucial four points behind leaders Banbridge with just three games remaining. The team is still unbeaten in 15 matches but three draws against Cookstown, Banbridge and Kilkeel caused the deficit and while defeating Annadale by a goal to nil on Saturday, Garvey have hardly got the form to snatch the title.

Once again they struggled to beat a very young Annadale side which ran for the whole of the 70 minutes and few could have begrudged them a point even if Garvey did have the chances to claim the spoils in a more emphatic fashion.

The first Garvey raid of any note led to their opening penalty corner in the 6th minute and it provided the only goal of the game. The drag flick was well executed by Greg Thompson with the ball beating Annadale keeper Johnny Moore with some pace.

Garvey were on top of the mid field encounter for a period of time but in the 9th minute, Annadale missed the chance of the game with their attacker in miles of space at the left hand post but sending the ball wide of the open target.

The standard of passing was again at fault with many passes being rushed and little use of the width of the pitch being employed but Mark Raphael did create a good chance for Thompson but the big striker screwed the ball past the post from 8 yards. Following a useful Annadale raid, Garvey forced their second penalty corner in the 23rd minute. This time Greg Thompson’s effort was deflected off keeper Moore and the right hand post and away to safety while two minutes later Garvey keeper John Tormey brought off a brilliant full length save from Annadale’s first set piece.

Tormey had to make a timely interception in the 27th minute but as Garvey returned to the offensive Jonny Bell had a good shot well blocked by Moore and an excellent reverse stick pass from Thompson on the left went untouched across the Annadale goal in the 33rd minute.

The first half ended in controversy as Annadale scored a fine goal from Edgar just as the half time whistle was blown and after much debate the goal was disallowed leaving Garvey very fortunate to hold on to their slender 1-0 lead at the interval.

Andy Forrest got well into the act early in the second half; firstly he provided a great cross which was untouched and then in the 42nd minute, he hesitated to pass when the goal was open and a minute later Annadale were reduced to 10 men after a dubious tackle on Daniel Buser.

Greg Thompson was well placed to score in the 45th minute but contrived an ‘air shot’ and the chance was gone while Stuart McNiece also had a chance to add Garvey’s second goal but persisted to use just one hand on the stick when attempting to shoot.

A third Garvey penalty corner was gained in the 48th minute but again the Thompson drag flick was well saved by Moore and deflected for a long corner.

At the other end Annadale replied with two penalty corners in the 50th and 51st minutes but John Tormey was equal to both scoring attempts with good solid saves.

Annadale’s young side were still full of running into the last quarter of a somewhat featureless game but it was the home side which finished the stronger with half chances for Philip Stirling and a last ditch 4th penalty corner in the 67th minute but the score remained 1-0 to Garvey and with three valuable points in the coffer and the clash with Banbridge coming up next Saturday, all is far from lost for a Garvey side still struggling to find Premier League winning form.

The match against Bann is their last chance to influence the league title but Garvey will have to raise their game a number of notches if they are to defeat a confident Banbridge team which has conceded just one draw in their 15 matches, significantly, it was against Garvey way back in November.

Garvey hope to have Timmy Cockram back in the ranks for this vital encounter and his incisive running is just what his team have been lacking over the past few weeks; also his contribution at penalty corners could also prove crucial in what will probably be a low scoring match.