CCFL Counties Cup
Temple Villa 4
Westend 1
Villa continued their run of good results, accounting for Westend from Tullamore in AIT on Sunday last. This victory sees them in the last 32 of this competition.
The visitors gave as good as they got early on, but it was Villa who took the lead after only 12 minutes when Gary Flanagan crossed well for Fergal Murray to head home his fourth goal of the season from eight yards. To their credit it was Westend who responded best following the goal and matched Villa in all departments, and on the half-hour they grabbed a deserved equaliser when their striker reacted quickest to a good save from Joe McMahon to fire home the rebound from close range. Both sides had chances in the remainder of the first period but with none converted, it was honours even at the interval.
Villa really improved in the second half and dominated from start to finish and it was no surprise when the lead goal came after 20 minutes, with the two wide players combining with Anthony Allen crossing to Beano Cassells who kept a cool head to find the net from six yards. Five minutes later the tie was all but decided when John Gaffey found the net from a great near post header following Noel Galvin's inch perfect cross. Villa's in-form striker Tomas Browne rounded off the victory with a typical strike finding the corner of the net with a low drive from 10 yards.
This was far from Villa's best display but a good second half performance sees them through to a meeting with senior division leaders Willow Park in the next round, which should prove a much tougher test.
Villa: Joe McMahon, Gary Flanagan, Michael Donohoe, Fergal Murray, Brian Mularney, Beano Cassells, Noel Galvin (capt ), John Gaffey, Anthony Allen, Gavin Byrne, Tomas Browne.
Reserves: James Duignan, Sean Kenny, Brian Hickey, Tony Kuss, Nicky Killane, Ernie Buckley.
