Benny’s hattrick does the trick for Stradbally
Stradbally Town were made work hard for their CCFL Division 3 win over Cloneygowan Celtic on Sunday
STRADBALLY travelled just over the Offaly border Sunday morning and returned home with an important three points that was earned after a tough and physical game from the hosts played out on a difficult surface.
The game was only four minutes old when Jody Dillon played a one two with Colin Beale in the area and shot home low from a tight angle to the keepers right.
It was two on 25 minutes when Benny Lawlor broke down the right hand side of the home defence breaking into the area and finishing superbly to the opposite corner of the Cloneygowan net.
You never get an easy game in Fenter Park and the hosts were back in it on 31 minutes when a lapse in the away defence saw a Cloneygowan attacker strike home from 10 yards to halve the Stradbally lead.
It was very even for the next period until Benny Lawlor made another burst into the home area only for this time to be upended near the end line and the man in black had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Lawlor picked himself up to rifle home the spot kick low to the keepers left leaving it 1-3 at the half time break.
Stradbally came out pushing for a fourth to try and kill the game off in the second half but chance after chance were squandered. Conor Buggie was at the heart of creating most of them from the right with Cillian Maher through the middle and Lawlor the outlet on the left.
Usually you can be punished for not capitalising on these missed opportunities but Jack Larkin and his defence were coping with anything coming at them. The killer goal did come eventually. Jody Dillon was taken down right on the edge of the area on 80 minutes and up stepped Benny Lawlor to hit a sweet free kick to the top corner and take the match ball in the process. Stradbally emptied the bench for the remainder of the game and saw it out and head home with the points secured.
Stradbally worked tirelessly as a team with James Devoy, Jody Dillon, Benny Lawlor and man of the match Conor Buggie particularly impressive. This speaks volumes on Buggie’s performance given he was beating a hattrick scoring team-mate to it.
Another big one for Stradbally next Sunday when they host local neighbours Portlaoise AFC at home on Charter Road at 11am in the league.
Jack Larkin, Colin Beale, Jack Deegan, Eamon Delaney, Podge Fitzpatrick, Conor Buggie, James Devoy, Cillian Maher, John Clancy, Benny Lawlor and Jody Dillon.
Gary Comerford for Deegan, John Hayden for Beale, Noah Delaney for Fitzpatrick, Tadgh Mullen for Buggie, Cailium Kelly, Anto Skelly.
