- John Manning
- Fri, Aug 03 2018
John Manning reports from Tolka Park
On a warm night on the banks of the Tolka River, Shelbourne kept their promotion play-off hopes bang on track with a deserved, albeit sometimes nervy, 3-1 win over a battling Cobh Ramblers side.
Two goals from James English either side of Alan Byrne's goal gave the Reds all three points.
Shelbourne had dominated the first half and deservedly took a third minute lead.
The impressive Paddy Kavanagh on debut after his recent departure from Bohs made progress down the Shels right. His pinpoint cross was met first time by top scorer David O’Sullivan.
While O’Sullivan was denied by Cobh keeper Adam Mylod, the rebound fell kindly for James English who gleefully rammed the ball home.
Shels could and probably should have added to this tally soon after. There were really good chances for English, who blasted over, and for O’Sullivan who dragged a shot across goal.
The home side were rocked 25 minutes in though. There appeared to be little danger as Chris Hull took possession 30 yards from goal. His speculative shot took a wicked deflection and completely deceived home net minder Dean Delany.
Buoyed by the against the run of play equaliser, Cobh came close on two occasions in their quest for a second. Jaze Kabia could have supplied it with a powerful shot that flew just over while James McSweeney tried a header that Delany dealt with comfortably.
Normal service however was quickly resumed as Shels continued to dominate. The home side forced a succession of corners as half-time loomed.
The last of these fell to Alan Byrne whose header was saved by Adam Mylod. The rebound fell to Byrne again but this time the ‘keeper was equal to the experienced midfielder’s toe poke to keep the sides level at the break.
Five minutes into the second half David Hurley chipped a delightful pass through for Hull who found himself all alone in the Shels area. His lob beat Delany but agonisingly just cleared the crossbar. It was to be Cobh’s best chance of adding to their total in the second half.
Moments later, English was unlucky when he got on the end of a John Ross Wilson cross but his effort was deflected over the bar.
With the home faithful getting increasingly anxious, Shels got the goals that sent the three points their way with two strikes inside three minutes.
First, Cobh keeper fisted away a 74thminute left wing cross only for the ball to fall perfectly for Alan Byrne to volley sweetly into the bottom corner.
Then last week’s hat trick hero Karl Moore broke into the box only to be upended by the advancing Mylod as he came off his line. Up stepped English to strike the penalty low to the keeper’s left as the custodian dived the other way.
Shelbourne’s march continues as they now sit third in the table just two points behind second placed Finn Haprs while Stephen Henderson’s men will reflect on a fourth successive defeat.
Shelbourne: Dean Delaney, John Ross Wilson, Derek Prendergast, Dave Mulcahy, Lorcan Fitzgerald; James English; Patrick Kavanagh, Alan Byrne (James O’Brien, 85) Adam Evans (Greg Moorehouse, 60); Karl Moore; David O’Sullivan .
Subs not Used: Lee Steacy, Cian Kavanagh, Dayle Rooney, Reece McEntee.
Booked: James English, John Ross Wilson.
Cobh Ramblers: Adam Mylod; Kevin Taylor, Gordon Walker, James McSweeney, Charlie Fleming; Shane O’Connor, David Hurley, Stephen Kenny (Ian Mylod, 76), Denzil Fernandez; Jaze Kabia (Cian Leonard, 76), Chris Hull.
Subs not used: Paul Hunt, Stephen Christopher, Stephen O’Connor, Michael Sadys.
Booked: Shane O’Connor.
Referee: Andrew Mullally
Attendance: 561
Extratime.ie Man of The Match: James English (Shelbourne).
