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Wanderers Seniors march on with good win over nearest rivals

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wandererssmallResult: Cobh Wanderers 3-1 Ballinhassig

Wanderers made a number of changes for this game with the most significant probably the return of Ian Stapleton for his first game since the opening day of the season. Wing backs Peter and Eddie Nolan were replaced by Dave Stack and Adam Thompson. Owen Kinsella slotted into midfield with Gerry Dolan starting up front in place of Davin O’ Neill and Shane Geasley who both reverted to the bench. Stapleton replaced the absent Conor Meade.

The pattern of previous games was repeated in this one with the teams feeling their way slowly into the game in the first quarter hour. The first half-chance of the game came following a flick from Stapleton to find Owen Kinsella in the box but his pull back went behind Dolan and out of danger. A few minutes later and a corner from Dave Stack on the right was met by two Wanderers players jumping together in the box. The ball want narrowly wide. Brian Fitzgerald put the first of many long passes over the top to find Stapleton who swung in a ball for Kinsella who was unlucky to be’ flagged ‘offside. Next Fitzgerald went on one of his many runs up the pitch before slipping the ball to Stapleton who stabbed it toward goal with the outside of his right boot only to see it land in the keepers arms. A minute later Adam Thompson put in a super cross from the right which just skimmed Dolans head and onto Kinsella who wasn’t ready for it and made a mess of the header. Just after the half hour Timmy O’ Shea put a fine pass up the line to pick out Thompson. His cross looked to be perfect for Chubbs to head home but the defender just managed to beat the striker to it and clear for a corner. Stapleton had another great chance when he was put through by a long ball over the top. He lobbed the keeper but his effort shaved the far post and wide. Ballinhassig created very little in this first half and the game was scoreless at the break.

The second half started much the same as the first and few chances materialised until 16 minutes in when Dolans hard work forced a corner on the right. Mikey O’ Shea drove in the corner which was met by the head of Fitzgerald at the far post. The ball eventually fell to Kinsella who volleyed to the roof of the net. This was a big relief to the home side and it only took four minutes to increase the lead. Mikey lifted the ball over the defence to pick out Chubbs who drilled a cross with the outside of his left boot to pick out the in-rushing Stack who had the easy task of finishing from two yards. On 70 minutes some great interplay between O’ Neill and O’ Shea down the left ended with O’ Neill through on goal but his effort was easily saved. On the hour Wanderers shot themselves in the foot when the defence made a rare mistake. Fitzy tried to play the ball from the corner to Meade in the middle but the pass was ill-advised as the forward got there first and Timmy O’ Shea had to put in a solid block to give up a corner. The corner was driven right across the goal line and was drilled to the net at the far post. This goal seemed to boost the away side and they proceeded to create a few half chances in the game. With ten minutes remaining Thompson put in a cross from the right which was almost met with a flying header by Geasley in the box. Next Mikey ran the ball out of defence and picked out Stack on the overlap down the left. His cross found Davin free and his effort produced a great save from the ‘hassig keeper. Five minutes from time Wanderers finally put the game to bed when Mikey O’ Shea flicked the ball over the top to Chubbs who went through and lashed the ball to the net giving the keeper no chance. A final flurry of activity in the last minute ended with a rocket of an effort from Timmy O’ Shea which just sailed over the crossbar. This win puts a little daylight between Wanderers and the chasing pack in the league. Next up is an away game against Glasheen next Saturday at 2pm.

Scorers: Owen Kinsella 61, Dave Stack 64, Ian Stapleton 85

Team: Jason Greene, Adam Thompson, Dave Stack, Brian Fitzgerald, John Meade, Timmy O’ Shea, Kyle Downing(Davin O’ Neill 67), Mikey O’ Shea(Stephen Bruton 89), Gerry Dolan(Shane Geasley 67), Ian Stapleton, Owen Kinsella

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