WILLOW PARK 2 ST PETERS 1
(match abandoned )
John Dingle
This local derby contest between Willow Park and St Peters at DPD Park on Sunday afternoon last was called to a premature halt with the second half moving into the thirty fourth minute.
Willow had taken a two goal lead into the break but the Saints had reduced the deficit as the game headed into the closing stages, but as the lingering fog grew thicker the officials made the decision to abandon proceedings due to reduced visibility.
It looked like Willow were about to inflict a first league defeat of the season on the Saints when they lead by two nil at the half time break. The hosts had the first chance following the kick off but, from Neil Kenny’s left-wing cross, James Fortune had a shot saved by Saints goalkeeper Darcy Lawless.
Willow’s first corner kick soon followed as Lawless again pulled off a save to deny Kevin Dunne this time. Another corner on 12 minutes saw Dunne again get his head to the ball but this time the attempt at scoring was off target.
St Peters were struggling to come to life, the visitors earning their first corner kick after 20 minutes to revive their fortunes a little. However, Mark McConnell’s men almost fell behind after 32 minutes. Kenny set up Ben Kilkenny who clipped the ball past Lawless but Adam Dowling got back to clear the ball behind.
The respite was brief though as Willow opened the scoring when the Saints failed to clear the danger from the corner, Bryan Hughes heading home from close range. The visitors replied with Jayden Tumulty having a shot saved and were then denied by a great save from Shane McEnery. Corey Jinks looked set to score but his low shot was finger tipped behind by the keeper at the expense of a corner. It proved to be a crucial save as Willow took advantage to double their lead just before the break when Tommy Hurley’s neat flick past the keeper to the net had Colin Fortune’s men in control at half time.
The Saints soon set about trying to turn the game around when play resumed. A free kick from Jordan Carr clipped off the post while Luke Kelly also had a shot saved. The Saints thought they had reduced the deficit but a free kick which flew into the net was disallowed.
Undeterred, McConnell’s men continued to press forward and were rewarded with a goal on 65 minutes. A free kick from the right fell to Scott Delaney and the centre half volleyed to the net off the post. The Saints were now off in pursuit of an equaliser. Another set piece almost worked out again in their favour but Stephen Barr fired narrowly wide from a corner.
An exciting last quarter of an hour was in prospect but the action was soon to come to a premature end. The decision was made by the match officials to abandon the game in the seventy ninth minute in the face of the thickening fog.
