Slick Slane smash Hanover in Alan Wilson Cup opener

Physio Lyndsay Henning had a busy week with numerous injury concerns. Darrah Peden, Mark Ervine, Johnny Gibson all started despite knocks but Ryan Shilliday failed a fitness test and dropped to the bench.

The game kicked off with Slane playing into a strong wind but they had the first chance of the game when Gregg Harrison’s clever pass put Quilty through on goal where he dragged his shot just wide.

Hanover then dominated for a spell which saw Ivon Blevins make two good saves and Quinn made an outstanding last ditch tackle to block a goal bound effort.

Moneyslane took the lead on 25 minutes when a corner saw Harrison head in front of the keeper and Gibson nodded the dropping ball to Ervine who finished four yards out. Hanover pushed hard but the home defence was solid and when chances did come, the opponents failed to hit the target.

Jordan Fairley came on for Anderson on the left but despite playing into the wind, Hanover started brightly with good passing in midfield.

Slane weathered the storm and then took control of the game. On 60 minutes, Hanover captain and ex Moneyslane player Chris Kerr’s poor header was controlled by Whitten 16 yards out and he expertly curled into the top corner.

Slane were now on top, with Peden and Coulter snuffing out danger and Harrison and Fairley causing havoc down both flanks. Boyd came on for the tiring Quinn and only some committed defending stopped Hanover getting a goal back.

The game was over as a contest on 75 minutes when Coulter swung a free kick, given away by Kerr, into the back post area and the ball beat everyone and bounced high into the net to make it 3-0 to the home team.

Jason Fairley came on for Ervine and soon it was 4-0 when a superb passing move saw Jordan Farley play a neat one-two around Kerr and slot into the bottom corner.