League Report: Cobh Ramblers 1 - 0 Shelbourne

A 51^st minute goal from Swedish born striker Marcus Gustavsson was enough to give Cobh Ramblers their first home victory of the 2016 season against ten man Shelbourne in St. Colman’s Park tonight. The win now puts Cobh Ramblers up to second place in the league standings.

The opening half was a tight affair with not much going the way of either side with Ramblers slightly shading the possession stakes. Yet on 42 minutes Shelbourne had defender Alan Kehoe sent-off for a second bookable offence by referee Eoghan O’Shea.

The second half saw Gustavsson finish to the net from close range on 51 minutes and from there both sides had a few more chances to score but Ramblers shaded the exchanges and were full value for their three points.

Jamie Doyle had the game’s opening chances when following Cian Kavanagh’s corner the winger saw his shot from six yards blocked by Paul Hunt before it was scrambled clear for a corner.

Gustavsson was holding the ball up well for Ramblers but the resulting shots were failing to challenge Greg Murray in the Shelbourne goal, as the Reds keeper gave a very impressive goalkeeping display over the 90 minutes.

Recent signing Stephen Elliot nearly scored with his first touch of the ball but his shot from the edge of the box went narrowly wide.

Cory Galvin curled a few efforts wide of the goal and Eoin McGreevy fired a few volleys over but the key moment of the first half was on 42 minutes as Kehoe got his second yellow in six minutes to head for an early shower.

The second half saw both teams start off at a good pace with Ramblers trying their luck down the right wing. It was from here on 51 minutes that the goal arrived via Graham McCarthy’s cross to Gustavsson, the ball fell to the Swede who was off balance but he still found a way to hit the ball past Murray.

The home side had chances to double the lead but they found it impossible to breach Murray for a second time with Cory Galvin and Christopher McCarthy both seeing shots tipped over the bar.

On 84 minutes the game should have been put beyond doubt when Charlie Fleming’s cross was headed by Shane O’Connor from close range, but Murray made a point blank save and the follow up rebound from Cory Galvin hit the bottom of the post and rolled away.

Shelbourne threw the kitchen sink at the opposition goal late on but save for a Cian Kingston clearance on the line they didn’t look like equalising against Stephen Henderson’s men.

Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt; Graham McCarthy, Cian Kingston, Christopher McCarthy, Ian Mylod; Eoin McGreevy (Charlie Fleming 79), Evan Galvin, Shane O’Connor, Jason Abbott, Cory Galvin (Steven Christopher 88); Marcus Gustavsson.

Subs not used: Eoghan Daly, Andy O’Connell, Ben O’Riordan, David Curran

Yellow Cards: E Galvin (76)

Red Cards: None

Shelbourne: Greg Murray; Robert Duggan, Conor Keeley, Adam O’Connor, Aidan Kehoe; Carl Walshe (Gareth Coughlan 59), Daire Doyle, Gavin Boyne, Cian Kavanagh (Stephen Elliot 16, Aidan Collins 81), Jamie Doyle; James English.

Subs not used: Jack Brady, Robert O’Reilly, Lorcan Shannon, Dylan Kavanagh.

Yellow Cards: Kehoe (36), Coughlan (75)

Red Cards: Kehoe (42)

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea

Attendance: 400 (estimated)

Extratime.ie Man of the match: Marcus Gustavsson (Cobh Ramblers)

You can see Steve Alfred's pictures from the game here.