Rogers rifles in two great goals for Longstone

15 May 2013

BEFORE this game a shower of rain of biblical proportions left the field in Longstone spotted with pools of water all over.

Longstone were playing into a stiff breeze in the first half, but they were given a real lift within the first two minutes when Ambrose Rogers hit the net.

Rogers caught a high ball in from Gary Trainor and when his first effort at goal was blocked, the ball came back to the big man and given a second bite of the cherry he took full advantage.

Having received this blow, Bryansford played their best football of the game to get back into it. Conor Gribben scored two points within 30 seconds, the first after Chris Brannigan turned over possession from the kick out, worked it forward to Gribben who sailed a high shot between the posts.

Early on in this fixture the ‘Ford forwards were exceptionally clinical and the proof of this came when David McKenna ensured that Bryansford’s third shot registered their third point.

The away team continued the policy of using the wind to aid shots from distance regularly during this spell in the game, but towards the end of the half a combination of some wayward shooting and an increased reluctance to shoot resulted in frustration growing.

This meant Longstone would go in with just a single point deficit to overturn as opposed to what could and perhaps should have been a six or seven point differential between the sides, given the strength of the wind.

David McKibben shot Bryansford ahead, but the ‘Stone hit back with a point from Conor Doran. Another long range shot from David McKibben caused defensive confusion at the other end eventually bouncing off John Paul Haughian’s crossbar and falling to Danny Savage who shot to the net.

Philip Bonny and David McKibben each added a point to the Bryansford total before Mark Poland responded with one to keep the ‘Stone within throwing distance.

One of the key moments come the end of this game was to be Longstone’s second goal. Sloppy Bryansford defending allowed Mark Poland to take a short free kick to Ambrose Rogers.

He had incredibly found space just 14 metres from the Bryansford goal and he turned and slammed it to the top corner of the net.

Indeed, it would transpire that both halves were started and finished with goals from one side or another. The second half could have started with a Bryansford goal, but John Paul Haughian was on hand to deny Chris Brannigan.

At the other end a long range punt from John Magee deceived the unfortunate Sean James Brannigan who performed splendidly for Bryansford on the night.

Mark Poland had doubled his personal tally to two points, but a couple of Chris Brannigan efforts and a punched goal from Conor Gribben from a wayward Kalum King shot left Bryansford leading 2-8 to 3-3 with just seven minutes to go.

However they failed miserably to protect this advantage as Longstone scored six in a row. Three came from the excellent Mark Poland, two from Stephen Doran and a contribution from John Magee also.

A Danny Savage goal on the breakaway in the very last attack was never going to be any more of a consolation for Bryansford.

Longstone 3-9

Bryansford 3-8

ACFL DIVISION 1

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder