Cobh Ramblers 1 - 0 Salthill Devon
Credit:
A single goal from Robert Waters was enough to seal three points for Cobh Ramblers against Salthill Devon at a sparsely populated St. Colman’s Park on Sunday afternoon.
The win moves Cobh Ramblers above Finn Harps into sixth place while Salthill remain marooned at the bottom of the league.
Ramblers started on the front foot against a Salthill side playing 4-5-1 but chances were few and far between in the opening 15 minutes.
Salthill were content to play on the break and had the game’s first chance on 17 minutes when Willie Enubele broke free down the right and squared the ball for Timmy Molloy but he scooped his shot over under pressure from the Cobh defence.
Cobh, having not created a single chance in the opening twenty minutes, then had three in quick succession.
First, Waters’ cross from the right was missed by Keane in the Salthill goal but neither of Ramblers‘ strikers could get on the end of the delivery.
When the ball was retrieved by Deady he laid the ball back for James Carson to cross in for Waters but the Salthill defence managed to clear.
Next it was Deady’s turn to come close but his low free-kick from the edge of the box zipped just wide.
Cobh took the lead on the half hour mark when Deady whipped in a superb cross from the left that went right across goal to Waters and the winger easily side-footed home past Keane.
Cobh remained on top for the rest of the half but they were unable to double their lead, in fact the visitors nearly drew level just before the break.
The chance came after Shane Hallahan made a hash of clearing the ball and fluffed a clearance straight to Ronan Conlon but the keeper did well to recover and block the midfielder’s shot.
Both sides found chances hard to come by in the second half. Cobh Ramblers substitute Kynan Rocks was played in over the top shortly after the hour but Daniel Santry was unable to reach his cross.
Salthill moved centre-half Brian Geraghty up front to bolster their attack for the final half hour but they were unable to create any clear openings.
Cobh should have extended their lead before the end as Salthill pushed men forward with Anthony O’Donnell coming closest but his powerful effort went just wide but Dave Hill’s side had to settle for a 1-0 win in their penultimate home game of the season.
Cobh Ramblers: Shane Hallahan; Brendan Frahill, Brian Fitzgerald, John Meade (c), Anthony O’Donnell; Robert Waters ( Bobbi Donoghue 64), Andrew Bhandarkar, James Carson; Alan O’Flynn (Kynan Rocks 56), Daniel Santry (Ronan Stanton 83).
Subs not used: Robert Birdsall, Adam Thompson, Davin O’Neill, Jonathon Spillane.
Bookings: Santry (82).
Salthill Devon: James Keane; Colm Horgan, Brian Geraghty, Robbie Gaul (c), Ryan Ludden; Timmy Molloy, Ronan Conlon (Jason Murphy 59), Willie Enubele, Michael Harty, Brian Gaffney (Dan Cunningham 75); Oscar Simbanda (Cian Fadden 59).
Subs not used: Shane O’Rourke.
Bookings: Ludden (23), Enubele (79).
Referee: Peter Connolly
Attendance: 300
Extratime Man of the Match: Rob Waters (Cobh Ramblers).
