McCann and Ervine score in win over Sporting

Sporting Lisburn Road 2

MONEYSLANE’S first team entertained Sporting Lisburn Road in a league clash at Rathfriland High School on Saturday.

The club were glad to field a team as they have not played for five weeks due to the bad weather. This was very much one sided affair with Slane now going top of the Division Three Mid-Ulster League table.

Slane came out of the traps at a quick pace and launched men forward from the first whistle. Jason Niblock hit the back of the net as soon as the third minute with a neat chip that floated over the top of the big keeper and into the back of the net for his fifth goal in five games.

Two minutes later Niblock almost doubled the score but his effort bounced back of the bar. Good movement off the ball by Niblock was picked out by Bingham who played a one two and then lobbed the ball over the top of the Sporting defence. It sat up nicely for Mark Ervine who hammered it home at the back post.

Slane were 3-0 ahead on the quarter hour when Sterritt played a great through ball to Mark Ervine and he lobbed it over the advancing keeper.

Bingham then scored himself with a 25 yard power driver that sailed straight into the top corner of the net.

Nigel Fry made a good save from a shot from distance to keep Slane in control and his defence of Willy McCahon, Neil Wilson, John Davenport and Rodney McCann. Davenport fired a great cross field pass to new signing Thomas McCann who hit an unstoppable shot that flew into the top corner of the net for Slane’s fifth of the game.

Neil Wilson played in McCann with a inch perfect ball that split the Sporting defence and he obliged with a half volley from well outside the box that almost took the nets of the posts much to the delight of the home support.

Davenport again swung over the ball across field to Ervine who raced in and rounded the keeper to slot home for Slane’s seventh goal to round of a good first half performance.

Two minutes in Slane were again on target when Sterritt turned sharply and hit low and hard with his left and the ball sailed into the net.

Ervine had an effort cleared of the line on the hour and the manager, Glen Moffett made two changes to the panel with the introduction of David Boyd and Kyle Scott. Scott scored Slane’s ninth of the game when he rounded the keeper and slipped the ball into the empty net.

Ervine was again on target when he raced through the middle of the park and rounded two players to fire home, but the visitors took advantage of Slane sitting back and hit two quick goals.

Christopher McConville came on as a sub for Slane and was working well of the ball. Scott had the ball in the back of the net for a well taken goal from the young player.

Thomas McCann hit his hat trick on the 80th minute with a cracking goal from outside the box.

Scott had a goal disallowed for off side and then a corner swung in by fry was nodded home by central defender, Willy McCahon for his first goal for the Club.

Best on the day was Thomas McCann and Mark Ervine who hit seven goals between them.