Late goal seals Irish comeback in tight tie

Mar 8 2008 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SUNDAY LEAGUE Heywood Irish Centre grabbed a late goal against Division II leaders Waterloo to complete a comeback victory in a closely-contested quarter-final clash in the Huddersfield FA Challenge Cup.

It was Waterloo who led with goals by Tom Mitchell and Pete Marsh as they dominated the first 45 minutes.

It was a different story in the second half, however, as the Sunday League side stepped up a couple of gears and started to boss proceedings.

They pulled a goal back and were piling on the pressure when Waterloo were handed a potentially match-clinching opportunity.

Mitchell was felled in a crowded box and got up to take the penalty himself with a chance to make it 3-1, but he was denied by a fine save from the Heywood keeper.

It was then that Ashley Flynn showed his quality with a superb 20-yard strike into the Waterloo net for the equaliser – and they then seemed destined to win.

At two goals apiece, though, the game became scrappy, but a late Irish Centre goal gave them the lead and a clear pathway into the semi-finals.

It was a different matter in the second round match between First Huddersfield and GMB Meltham, where an easy 6-0 victory gave First a quarter-final tie against GNG Sikh Temple.

Despite First having a player sent-off after 20 minutes, Meltham couldn’t stop a goal rout from the busmen.

“Duke” Ellington bagged a deserved hat trick and goals from Dean Holroyd, George Washington and Liam Fallas completed their tally.

In the Inter-division games, high-fliers Pak Rangers just held out to a strong White Swan team who are currently fighting for promotion in the league below.

The first two goals of the match came from errors in both defences.

Abdul Leftisi broke the deadlock after a fumble from the White Swan keeper but Rangers were only leading for a short period of time as the visitors scored to stay on level terms with the Division I side.

Chances came at both ends and a huge penalty appeal from White Swan was turned down.

After this Rangers knew that they would have to ‘up’ their game if they were to ensure victory and stay in the title race. Only minutes later their wishes were granted when Leftisi extinguished all the doubts in the heads of the home side by getting his and Rangers’ second of the match.

Throughout the rest of the 90 minutes Rangers showed their quality and hung on.

Meanwhile, in Salendine Nook, Real Dalton’s attempts to overcome Britannia Sports came to no avail with the Division I side smashing eight past the struggling Division II side.

Doran Jordan etched his name on the scoresheet twice with six other Britannia players finding the target – Roy Gilpin, Kierran Lenihan, Alex Pearson, Andy Walsh, John Bottomley and Mick Cooke.

For Dalton the battle against relegation continues.

In Division I, Royds Hall was the venue for Black Bull’s 4-1 victory over basement side Field Head.

Black Bull dominated the play and converted their chances, scoring all four of their goals in the first half. Brothers Scott and Damien Sykes were both on the scoresheet with Damien bulging the back of the net twice. Ali Lee also netted.