Welcome to dc-fc.NET | Draperstown Celtic FC NI Intermediate League Champions 2008 Draperstown Celtic 3-2 Oxford Utd : Welcome to dc-fc.NET | Draperstown Celtic FC
Browse > Home / First Team, News / Draperstown Celtic 3-2 Oxford Utd

Draperstown Celtic 3-2 Oxford Utd

September 28, 2009

Pharmacy Supplies League Cup – Group Stage

Fans of Draperstown Celtic can’t say that they have seen a lack of good football and entertainment at Cahore Rd this season so far. Following on from the excellent win against Newbuildings last time out, Saturday’s game against Oxford had almost everything crammed into it. Excellent goals, great saves, a sending off and a late winner from Eamon Murray was the recipe to send the crowd home happy.

This was always going to be a crunch game for both sides as they battled to stake a good claim for a semi final spot in this year’s competition. Oxford, back in Intermediate football after tasting Irish league Championship football looked determined in the opening minutes but it was James Green in the visitors’ goal who pulled off the first save of note palming away Quinn’s speculative effort on 13 minutes. Seven minutes later it was the home side took the lead when Ally McLean scored from close range after Oxford failed to clear a corner. Oxford came back well with McBrearty heading past the near post and Whoriskey heading over when well placed. The equaliser came on 26 minutes when poor defending allowed Campbell to score from close range. But Celtic did not allow heads to drop and again took the game to their opponents with Sinclair very busy in midfield and Bradley on the left wing causing problems. Joe Crossett, who had his best game of the season so far, almost caught Green off his line on 30 minutes while Farniok in Celtic’s goal saved well from Whoriskey.

Draperstown took the lead right on half time and in spectacular fashion. Crossett challenged Green to a high ball with the keeper only able to punch the ball to John Higgins who, from 23 yards hit an inch perfect lob over the keeper and defender on the line to send Celtic in at half time a goal to the good.

The opening ten minutes of the second half saw Oxford go all out to find a second equaliser. Browne headed over from a corner and Farniok pulled off a great reaction save to deny Whoriskey from close range. However Brown scored with a firm header from a corner on 53 minutes and Celtic were dealt a further blow when Sinclair was dismissed for a needless challenge.

Draperstown manager McKee introduced Eamon Murray for Haskins at this stage and is often the case the team with the ten men rose to the challenge. With Crossett now playing on the right wing it was Celtic who upped their game and were applying pressure on the Oxford defence. To prove the point, Green pulled off a good save to deny Murray after Bradley’s incisive pass carved out the goal chance. Still, Oxford remained a threat and Gavin Bradley did very well to head Whoriskey’s corner off the line and away to safety.
Crossett was causing all sorts of problems on the wing for Oxford and a foul on him gave Higgins the chance from the edge of the box. A slight deflection saw Brown only parry the ball to Murray but from a tight angle he could only hit the ball across the face of the goal with no Celtic player to add the final touch. With the game now looking to end in a draw it was Murray who showed great strength and skill on 86 minutes to latch onto Higgin’s astute flick and lob Brown from 25 yards to put Celtic into the lead for the third time, a lead they were determined not relinquish.

Solid defending saw Draperstown see out the final minutes for a vital, hard fought win over a good Oxford side.
Celtic’s last group game is at home to NFC Kesh next Saturday

  • Share/Bookmark

Written by admin · Filed Under First Team, News