Ulster Gazette - Sports - Rovers topple leaders

Sports

Rovers topple leaders

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Camlough Rovers 1. Tandragee Rovers 4.

THE race for the Intermediate A title was blown right open at the weekend.
Tandragee Rovers produced a superb team performance in difficult conditions to take all three points against league leaders Camlough Rovers.
The Rovers went into the game knowing they really had to win to stay in the title race against the high flying south Armagh side who had a perfect nine wins from their opening nine games.
But they were made to work hard for their victory on a pitch that had been badly cut up after a youth match in the morning.
Tandragee came out of the blocks quickest and had the best of the early pressure. Mark Bicker had a close range shot from a Niall Fleming corner cleared off the line and Jordan Bell hit the post from the edge of the area.
Jamie Rooney also went close with a low long range drive that took a deflection and went out for a corner. Tandragee got a warning of Camlough's attacking threat with a few quick counter attacks.
Midway through the half Tandragee deservedly took the lead for all their early dominance when Paul Greenaway fired home from Scott Walker's cut back.
But their lead was short lived as Camlough capitalised on a misplaced pass in midfield to launch a counter attack and Declan Monaghan made no mistake at the back post.
This goal swung the momentum Camlough's way and Tandragee looked nervy as they seen out the half on the back foot.
Tandragee got a scare at the start of the second half when Monaghan fired over the cross bar for Camlough but they soon settled down and started to exert the dominance that seen them boss the early stages of the first half.
A 15-minute goal spree won the game for Tandragee.
Paul Greenaway reacted quickest to Mark Bicker's header from a corner to turn the ball into the net at the back post to give the Rovers the lead.
Not long after a dangerous free kick whipped into the box by Jordan Bell was deflected into the net by a Camlough defender.
The win was sealed when a quick counter attack by Tandragee found Bicker in space and as he entered the box he exchanged passes with Paul Greenaway to beat the isolated defender before Greenaway shot low into the bottom corner.
Camlough continued to look dangerous on the attack and Jamie McArdle saved well from a Declan Monaghan shot at his near post.
Tandragee had further chances to extend their lead.
Philip Pedlow's volley from the edge of the box just went over the bar from a cleared corner and Mark Bicker shot narrowly went the wrong side of the post as he slide in outstretched at the back post from Paul Greenaway's cross.
At the final whistle manager Stephen McBride was full of praise for his team as they outfought and outplayed their counter parts in all departments in difficult conditions.
Tandragee Rovers: Jamie McArdle, Philip Pedlow, Jamie Rooney, Colin Bingham, Gary Whiteside, Scott Walker, Chris Jeffers, Jordan Bell, Paul Greenaway, Mark Bicker, Niall Fleming. Subs: Aaron Gallagher, David Hamilton, Gary Magee.