Harrison hat-trick fires Johnstone’s Slane to win

New signing Gregg Harrison completed a dream debut, bagging a hat-trick . Recent recruits Ivon Blevins and Kenny Gracey also started while Kerr was given a late red card.

Anderson went closest to opening the scoring for Slane by he fired inches wide. There was then a heart in the mouth moment for the hosts on 32 minutes when the ball was deflected goalward and only outstanding reflexes from Blevins’s left foot kept the game scoreless.

Harrison did go close to opening his account before the break but the Seagoe keeper did well to save.

Moneyslane started the second half fired up and on 46 minutes they took the lead. Blevins’ clearance fired upfield and Harrison outpaced the defence before coolly slotting the ball under the advancing keeper for his first goal in a Moneyslane shirt.

It was then scorer turned provider as the home team extended their lead immediately. The ball crossed from right by Harrison and Ervine thumped the ball home with a great finish from 14 yards out.

On 50 minutes, Seagoe were awarded a penalty when Kerr was caught in possession and pulled the shirt of the attacker then challenged from behind.

Blevins, however, made a brilliant save low to his left to keep the score the same.

On the hour Harrison was put through on goal one-on-one and he rounded keeper and tucked ball into net to make it 3-0.

Just when the game seemed over, Seagoe where given a lifeline when following a slip in the Slane defence, the striker’s shot squirmed through Blevins and the ball trickled over line.

However the game was surely put to bed on 68 minutes when a Slane corner into the six yard box was met by Irvine who rose high to head home.

On 85 minutes, Harrison’s hat-trick was complete. Great work through the Slane midfield resulted in the striker controlling the ball and lobbing over the keeper from inside the far right of the box to complete the scoring at 5-1 before Kerr was handed his second yellow.

Manager Johnstone said: “It was nice to get a win in the first competitive game. Blevins produced two excellent saves at crucial times and it was great to see the Harrison and Irvine partnership scoring so many goals.”