Slane in seventh heaven as they secure title

Caledon 1

MONEYSLANE’S first team played Caledon at home in a crunch match in which Slane had to win to become league champions.

It was a beautiful sunny evening at the Hill with a massive crowd of well over 150 supporters up the line.

Slane started off at a quick pace and Sterritt slipped in Thomas McCann who hit hard and low but it bounced back of the post. The Slane team looked nervous in the first 10 minutes and the visitors hit wide of the upright from a corner.

The nerves were settled when Davenport found Sterritt up the wing, he crossed into the box and Andy Rowan was on hand to tap it over the line for the opening goal.

Five minutes later the ball was whipped into the danger zone from the right and the big central defender deflected the ball into his own net, giving the keeper no chance.

McCann fired in a fierce shot on the 25th minute, the keeper parried it to the feet of Sterritt who nipped in to convert with his head for Slane’s third goal and they looked comfortable in this game.

The visitors pulled a goal back when a high looping hopeful ball bounced over the Slane line.

Rowan squared to McCann who hit just wide. Slane had the midfield sewn up with Neil Bingham and Neville Gibbons pulling all the strings and wide on the flanks John Davenport and Christopher McConville were flying up the flanks.

Neil Wilson and Willy McCahon were solid in the defence and David Boyd was firing some hefty tackles to thwart the Caledon attacks. Andy Rowan was working hard in midfield and hit just over from a free kick.

Slane pushed the visitors deep into their own half and could have added a few more goals but for the shots to go wide or over the top.

The locals had a great belief in themselves and were playing with great confidence - the football was breathtaking at times. Sterritt hit wide and Rowan headed just over.

Slane added another to the tally when Sterritt broke through and slotted wide of the keeper for his second of the game.

McCann drove his shot in with venom and it was again deflected by the big centre half into his own goal - Slane were now in cruise control.

Davenport made the keeper save well and Rowan clipped over the top. Bingham hit well and again the keeper was equal to it.

Sterritt added his third of the game with a well worked move up the flank much to the delight of the crowd who could now see the club lifting the title.

The goal of the game and maybe of the season came with minutes to go when Jason Fairley fired an unstoppable shot from the right that sailed into the top corner of the net. Bickerstaff saved to fierce shots to keep Slane well in front.

This probably Slane best performance of the season in front of a massive crowd up the line. It was total jubilation at the final whistle with everyone totally delighted with the long hard slog all season and the trophy at the end of it all.

Best on the day went down to a team effort with every single player contributing to the win on the day. Well done to all the players, manager Glen Moffett and his assistant John Kernaghan who have done a magnificent job all season.

Thanks to the supporters up the line who have been faithful home and away throughout the campaign and the long hard winter.

Can the team now go on and win the double on Friday night?