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Quilligans entertained newly promoted Hydronics in the Premier Cup at Collins Park today. Hydronics have had a good season so far reaching the Gledhill Cup semi-final and doing well in the league. Quilligans were once again short of a number of key players with Broadbent, Boal and Bracewell all abroad, Thompson suspended, Cook and West injured and Palmer at a christening, meaning they just had 12 men on duty.
The game was initially a worry after a sharp overnight frost but both teams and the referee were keen to play it so Quilligans kicked off attacking the Common Edge Road end and started very brightly with Catlow and Spedding giving the Hydronics defence plenty to think about.
Danny Rowe came closest first , his 30 yarder struck the inside of a post before being hacked to safety. However his superbly delivered free kick after 16 minutes was headed on to the bar by Spedding and Tony Swallow pounced on the rebound to give Quilligans a deserved lead. Quilligans were playing some good stuff in front of a decent crowd as a number of postponements meant the crowd was swelled by players without a game.
Hydronics equalised from a corner when Ayres headed the ball home despite protests from home keeper Clowes who appeared to be blocked as he came to catch. Their joy was short lived however as Rowe's through ball was pounced upon by Jordan Spedding who fired home to put Quilligans 2-1 up.
Half time, 2-1
Quilligans came out with a purpose from the first whistle of the second half and in the first 15 minutes blitzed Hydronics off the park and out of the cup. First Lee Catlow raced clear in the first few seconds of the half, slipped it past the keeper and was unlucky to see his effort come back off the post.
Not to be denied after some great inter play by Quilligans, Catlow picked his spot to put Quilligans 3-1 up. Scott Sugden was giving the full back a hard time on the right and his cross was converted by Spedding at the far post for a 4-1 lead.
This was then quickly followed by another cross from Sugden which Ioannou controlled and despatched past the despairing keeper, 5-1 to Quilligans and game over.
Referee Hughes then decided to add a bit of controversy by sending off Quilligans defender Docker Brooks for a second yellow card which appeared harsh. Quilligans did carry on the attacking vein and the lethal Catlow was on hand again to put Quilligans 6-1 up after good work from Rowe.
Hydronics claimed a late consolation when the referee added a bit more controversy by awarding a soft penalty after a challenge by Pearson. The forward went down in instalments, and I think the dissent to that decision would have been deafening had the game been close, but as it was it was irrelevant.
Full-time, 6-2.
In summary an excellent display by a weakened Quilligans side, Hydronics are a more than useful outfit, but on the day they were thoroughly outplayed by Quilligans who were up for the game from the off.
Pearson was outstanding at the back, assisted by the superb Sam Gorrie who has been ill in bed all weekend. The midfield ticked over very well and Jordan Spedding was a constant handful up front.
MOM though has to go to Lee Catlow who clearly was up for it from the off, "Frost? what frost, sod that, lets get it on" was his initial reaction when seeing a whitened Collins Park pitch at 10.15. He carried on it that vein for the whole game causing panic whenever he had the ball and grabbing two well taken goals.
Scorers
Swallow, Spedding (2), Catlow(2), Ioannou. |
