Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | Sport | HUMDINGER IN SAINTS BATTLE

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 22nd January, 2008 10:30

HUMDINGER IN SAINTS BATTLE

By Sports Reporter

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St Laurence's 4 St Pat's FP 5

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ACTION: St Pat's won by five

TARVED of competitive football due to the Christmas break and weather conditions, St Pat’s welcomed the invitation to play a friendly.

St Pat’s started well and scoffed at several good chances before the home side took the lead in the 18th minute. From a corner kick, their tricky winger got the space to head home at the back post.

St Pat’s continued to be wayward in front of goal, but on the half hour mark, a moment of sheer magic levelled the match. Brian Deeley’s speculative effort from 40-yards, came off the keeper’s left hand post and into the back of the net.

The Port Glasgow side started the second half in fine form and their adventurous play was soon rewarded when Brian Deeley turned from Saint to sinner when he bundled the centre forward off the ball in the area. A penalty was awarded and despite Mark Mulvanna’s valiant effort, the ball bounced off his left hand post and into the net.

This was a major boost for the Port Glasgow side and they extended their lead following a disputed offside decision. As the St Pat’s players protested, the big centre forward took no notice and finished his run with a neat chip into the net.

D’annunzio played a superb pass to John Bissett moments later, who immediately found MacKinnon and he completed the move in style, to reduce arrears to just one, but sloppy defending once again let in the home side for their fourth goal.

With 15 minutes left, St Pat’s looked fragile and Mulvenna was once again in action, producing two good saves to prevent further embarrassment However, demand to improve from the management resulted in a reversal of fortune and a one-two with John Bissett saw Smith deliver a classic finish, taking the ball in his stride to fire home with venom from eight yards.

Then, a searching ball from D’annunzio put McGrogan in and his vicious shot bounced off the goalkeeper into the path of Smith who nonchalantly chipped the ball into the net to bring the teams level.

With time running out, McGrogan was impeded out on the right. Smith elected to take the free kick and as the ball broke through the defensive wall, McGrogan on hand to divert into the net for the winner.

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