Handy Andy scalps Iveagh with treble

5 October 2016

ANDREW Clarke swooped with deadly precision to turn this fast-paced encounter at Pigeon Hill on its head and elevate Saintfield into joint-second place in the league table.

Iveagh had raced into a 2-0 lead inside the first five minutes, but goals from Craig Bowman and Clarke had the sides level by the break. Iveagh pounded Saintfield in the second half, but Clarke taunted them on the break and he completed his hat-trick with a delightful double.

The visitors persisted with a short passing game in the opening exchanges and it paid dividends as early as the second minute when a shot from James Hetherington deflected off a Saintfield player and ended up in the net.

It was 2-0 three minutes later when Hetherington, who looked the real deal, turned on a sixpence inside the box and drilled the ball past a helpless Matt McClurg.

Saintfield, who played three men in as a central midfield unit, started disrupting Iveagh’s passing game and with 13 minutes gone Adam Childs was off target after a sweeping move.

Just minutes later at the other end Hetherington dovetailed perfetly with Paul Stafford, but his effort was cleared off the line by an alert Duncan Spence jnr.

The game continued to flow from end to end with Childs and James Reid going close at opposite ends before the towering David Morrow headed a monster throw from Adam Sofley over the top.

Saintfield were starting to turn the screw and got their reward when a Ryan Sofley free was bundled over the line by Bowman, although Childs insisted he got the final touch.

The Saints thought they had grabbed the equaliser in the 30th minute when Morrow netted after a nice interchange, but his effort was strangely ruled out.

The home side hadn’t long to wait and five minutes later Clarke displayed a nice touch in the box before beating Stevie Brennan all ends up with a precise angled drive after Ryan Sofley picked him out.

Iveagh went in search of an equaliser, but were rocked to the core when Ben Stoneman broke away and his delicate cross was headed home by Clarke who was now sucking on diesel.

Young Matt McClurg kept United’s lead intact when he saved brilliantly from Finty Cosgrove before Hetherington blazed wide from a good position.

Iveagh continued to create chances, but they could’t take any and almost paid a heavy price when both Clarke and Ryan Sofley hit the woodwork in quick succession.

Clarke put the icing on a committed Saintfield performance when he finished off a perfect pass from Ryan Sofley who had carved out the opening after dispossessing Conor Vaughan.

Saintfield United: M McClurg, A Weir, J Gallagher, A Sofley, D Spence jnr, C Bowman, R Sofley, D Morrow, A Childs, A Clarke, B Stoneman. Subs: S Spence, L Patton, A Kelly.

Iveagh United: S Brennan, J Reid, C Vaughan, K Monan, T Davis, F Quinn, M Masterson, J Curran, J Hetherington, F Cosgrove, P Stafford. Subs: J O’Connell, M Carberry, C Carberry.

Saintfield United 4

Iveagh United 2

AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 1C

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder