Hard earned win pleases Mathews

His side may have made a meal of defeating a dogged Finn Harps side on Friday night, but Shels manager Alan Mathews says that the most important thing was that his side won.“There was a lot of things we didn’t do as well as we have done in recent weeks,” said Mathews, “but the reality is we got three points.”

A lone David Cassidy goal was enough for Shels against a Harps side who were largely content to restrict their hosts. “They had a shot which Dean saved well in the first half and I think that was the only shot they had on target” Mathews said. “We probably needed a second goal to make it comfortable.”

On his own side’s performance, Mathews recognised that they didn’t have the best of nights. “We didn’t play particularly well throughout the game and Harps certainly came here wanting to impress whoever may be taking charge of the team. They played with a good attitude and a good spirit.”

Still, the win is all that matters according to Mathews. “I’m delighted with the three points, because that was the objective. We always have to try to play well, but sometimes you have to dig yourselves out. We dug out well tonight to get the three points which we badly needed.”

Shels struggled to create chances in the first half, despite having a lot of possession. Mathews says that “it’s difficult (to create chances) when your opponent plays everybody in their own half.” But it wasn’t all Harps parking the bus that was to blame. “We needed to move the ball quicker” Mathews admitted. “I’ve no qualms with anyone coming here and setting up to play behind the ball, it’s up to us to counter-act that.”

In the early stages of the second half, Shels looked a bit more incisive - with Lorcan Fitzgerald and Barry Clancy working well out wide. “We got the ball wide in the second half much better and affected their back four a little bit more” Mathews said.

“We needed a bit more urgency in wide areas and I felt Lorcan (Fitzgerald) would give us that” said Mathews of the half-time substitute. “He wasn’t 100 % fit and Sean Byrne did well last Monday against Bohemians, but Lorcan was fine to come in at half time.”

Mathews was quick to praise the depth in the Shels squad, which allowed him to change a number of players from the Monday night EA Sports Cup match against Bohs. “We’ve a good squad here, we’ve good players. That’s what you’re looking for- players to come in, step up to the mark and hold on to a jersey if they have it.”

Defender Ian Ryan went off injured midway through the second half, but Mathews says that “he jarred his knee” and should be fit for next week’s trip to Salthill Devon.