Moore's magic seals a win for Gilford

Gilford Crusaders got only their second win of the Division Two season on Saturday and got within a point of climbing off bottom spot.

Moore delivered a late winner over Keady Celtic in a thrilling five-goal game that finished 3-2.

Before the match, spirits were subdued after news the the Reserve team had to withdraw due to ever dwindling numbers. The manager told the boys to forget this, and previous results, and go out and start to rescue the season.

And that they did. They were forced to work for it though as they fell behind in the 14th minute.

Soon after, they got a deserved equaliser when a well worked move started by Scullion involving McGivern and McDowell ended with the ball being squared to Scullion, who then tapped past the keeper.

Four minutes after the restart Gilford’s pressure saw them take the lead. After a corner was half-cleared to the edge of the penalty area, McGivern hit a speculative shot, which was not hit with any great pace but it somehow sneaked its way through the defence before bouncing off of the keeper into the net.

After Gilford keeper Anderson pulled off a brilliant point blank save, the hosts did manage to draw level with a well struck penalty. Things went from bad to worse when Doran was sent off for a second yellow, the first picked up as he gave away the spot-kick.

The second also gave Keady a penalty but it was struck high, wide and handsome to earned Gilford a reprieve.

Moore, who had only replaced McInerney minutes earlier, grabbed what would prove to be the winner in the 88th minute when great link up play between Gillen and Magee saw the ball fall to him eight yards out. Showing great composure as the Keady back line bore down on him en masse he rifled the ball into the net.

Gilford’s next fixture, before a free Easter weekend, is away to Castlecaulfield.

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