After 2 weeks with no game Annagh entertained bottom team Chimney Corner. With Dean Smith suspended, Andrew Wright injured and Raymond Wilkinson on Gaelic duties there were no less than 4 players making their debuts in an Annagh shirt.  Neil Smith started in nets, Mark Boyce started up front with Stephen Canning & Ciaran McKerr starting on the bench.

With many pitches off it was hats off to the groundsman but with a muddy soggy surface it was never going to be easy.  Annagh settled well at looked on top in the opening exchanges. First real chance on 11 mins when Boyce laid the ball off for Uprichard to fire just wide from outside the box. Some poor crossing prevented even more pressure from the home team.  From a Gardiner free kick the keeper fumbled but the Boyce headed follow up was headed just over.  A McCann in swinging corner was tipped on to the cross bar and cleared. With half time approaching Annagh finally made the breakthrough on 39 mins when Murdock closed down and won the ball just inside the Corner half and after taking a few strides fired in a low cross that was hammered into the net by Boyce from 10 yards. Boyce had a great chance to extend the lead when he cut inside his marker 18 yards out but fired wide. 

HT Annagh 1-0 C Corner

Annagh came out determined to build on their lead and on 47 mins they scored no 2 to take control of the game. Camlin fed Gardiner who from the half way line beat 3 men down the Annagh left and crossed for the incoming McCann to rifle a header home from 8 yards. 

C Corner tried to get back into the game and had a number of corners  but Murphy and Peden were superb at the heart of the defence and Smith confident in everything he was asked to do. From a free kick Boyce thought he had scored again but his shot bounced back off a post with the keeper beaten. McKerr came on for Camlin and soon after Coleman for Boyce as the pace of the game dropped. Annagh played some good controlled football knowing that they didn’t have to go bombing on for more goals. Canning came on for Uprichard. McKerr had a good shout for a penalty turned down as the game came to an end with 3 important points for the home team.

FT Annagh 2-0 Chimney Corner 

 

MANAGERS COMMENTS

Absolutely delighted with the players today. C Corner although bottom have made a number of signings in Jan and beat Armagh in the last game so it was never a game you can take for granted. It was ablow to be without 3 key players in  Smith, Wright and Wilkinson and team selection was not easy but the guys that got the nod started well.  Attitude was spot on with a clean sheet and 2 excellent goals although we probably should have scored more. I thought Alan Murphy was superb today both in his heading but also in his distribution.  Boyce capped a fine debut with a great strike. MoM though was Chris Murdock whose pressure on the ball gained possession for our first goal and all day he won his tackles and passed the ball so efficiently. 

Hopefully we can gain in confidence from that performance and take it into next week v Lurgan Celtic.