Bay FC 6-2 Johnstown (division 2)
The final league game for Bay FC and it couldn’t have been a bigger game, a win would put them level on points with Redeemer Cetlic and force a playoff for promotion and the title but Johnstown had plenty to play for themselves. A game behind Bay they knew a win in Dundalk and a win on Wednesday at home to Bailieboro Celtic would put them into the playoff with Redeemer at Bay’s expense.
Bay started the game with immediate intent, breaking the deadlock after just 3 minutes as Quadri Olowu raced onto a ball over the top and hammered home passed the Johnstown keeper. Bay didn’t let up & 10 minutes later they doubled there lead, Olowu turning provider as he skipped past two defenders on the right and squared the ball for his strike partner Alan McCartney who made no mistake with the first time finish. Bay seemed to be cruising but Johnstown were thrown a lifeline when what looked like a foul on Pairic Browne at the back wasn’t given and the Johnstown striker raced clear to finish well, keeper Mullen unlucky not to keep it out after getting fingertips to it.
That goal gave Johnstown impetus to push on and it was a tight affair for the remainder of the half, with Johnstown clipping the crossbar and Mullen forced to make a great save at the feet of the striker. Just before half time bay regained the 2 goal advantage when a fierce delivery from a corner from McCartney was met by centre back Brownes head who powered it home from close range.it finished 3-1 at the break.
Ten minutes into the 2nd half and it was 4-1 to bay,good work down the right by Anto McLaughlin as he cut the ball back from the goalline ,Olowu letting the ball go through his legs and flicking it home from close range.moments later Johnstown grabbed there 2nd, Bay failed to clear a corner and with the ball pinging around the box Johnstown managed to squeeze it in. The goals didn’t stop there as Olowu completed his hattrick, a fine through ball from Joe Woods as Olowu out muscled the defender and finished into the bottom corner past the keeper to kill the game completely. Olowu capped an outstanding performance with a fourth as Kevin Scollon square a ball to him on the edge of the box and he smashed home an effort off the crossbar.
Bay now face redeemer in a promotion/title playoff on Friday November 23rd.
Team : Kevin Mullen, Brian McCloskey, Steven McGuinness, Angelo Atanley (Mark Larkin 45), Pairic Browne, Anto McLaughlin(Johnny Winters 70), Joe Woods(Robbie Murphy 70), Alfonso Crespo(Kevin Scollon 75), Shaun O’Connor, Alan McCartney,Quadri Olowu
