TEMPLE VILLA 4 BBC UNITED 0
Temple Villa boosted their CCFL Division 2 title credential when they put four goals past fellow challengers BBC United at Moate Business College last Sunday morning.
An early goal handed Villa an advantage but was not added to before half time. A second home goal on the hour mark made the task easier while a third goal on 73 minutes ended the game as a contest. Sam Nolan sealed the victory late on as Villa now take over at the top from Walsh Island Shamrocks with a game more played.
Villa signaled their attacking intentions from the start and could have taken the lead inside the opening minute. Shane McCormack took aim but Chris McKeon did well to smother the shot on the goal line.
Daniel Seery then took a chance from a free kick on the halfway line and the wind assisted delivery went just wide of the BBC post. The scoring was opened after seven minutes from another set piece when a free kick from the left edge of the penalty area taken by David Cleary flew past the keeper’s left into the net.
It was a crucial breakthrough but the visitors came close to equalising from their first chance. The opening corner of the contest caused some problems but ended when Paul Bannon saved a shot from Connor Clarke. The Villa keeper was again called into action midway through the half and got down well at his near post to push behind a Daniel Rigney shot.
Villa recovered with Cleary firing wide while Anthony Allen was only denied by a last gasp tackle. Corner kicks were then exchanged while another set piece saw Ian McCormack of Villa have a free kick saved. Another home corner ended the action in the half.
BBC had hoped to stage a comeback but their dreams were shattered on the hour mark. The home team had the first chance on the resumption of play but Stephen Byrne headed over a free kick delivery from Seery.
United’s first chance saw Rigney off target but Allen was more accurate for Villa. Shane McCormack set up the striker who fired a low shot to the net from just inside the box. It was the crucial moment and the Kildare visitors could not respond.
Victory was sealed for Villa after 73 minutes. Allen grabbed his second goal of the game when he received a pass from Cleary and fired home from the edge of the penalty box.
BBC’s only response came from another corner but Villa kept it tight in defence. Allen was in pursuit of his hat trick and came close to achieving it with six minutes remaining when the number nine’s shot was put behind with another corner following.
Nolan then rose highest to head home the delivery from Ian McCormack, a goal which put the gloss on the result and a good team performance was topped with another clean sheet. Bannon ensured BBC would draw a blank when he got down well to save a shot from Dean Tyrrell in the penultimate minute.
