Three more points for the Town as they move ever closer toward promotion.
Of course the points are the important thing but it will have been the manner of their victory that will have pleased the management team. In recent weeks Castlewellan have been slow to start but on Saturday they came out of the blocks flying.
Jason Croskery took centre stage early on and helped himself to two early goals. Firstly he volleyed home spectacularly in the 6th minute after a Barry Travers throw in was only partially cleared. Shortly after this he finished off expertly from the edge of the area following a solo run from midfield. Further efforts from Travers and Russell were well saved by the ‘Gross keeper before he was beaten again in the 31st minute. Jarosinski threaded a lovely ball through to Fitzsimmons and his effort took a wicked deflection and sailed into the net. Two minutes later Stevie Trainor put Fitzsimmons through again and this time Sean slotted home without any assistance.
Ballynagross certainly had a reasonable share of possession but couldn’t create many clear chances as Stratton and company held the defensive line well. They did pull a goal back in controversial circumstances after 38 minutes when Moag was adjudged to have fouled a home forward in the area, town players contested that it was a perfectly good tackle and was well outside the box anyway. The ref thought otherwise and the penalty was converted. With half time approaching Castlewellan almost increased their lead but Eoin Moag’s header was cleared off the line following a corner. Right on the whistle though they did get a fifth with probably the best goal of the day. Croskery drove forward from defence and played crossfield to Russell who, showing great awareness dummied, leaving Fitzsimmons in the clear and although Sean was driven wide he managed to find the top left hand corner with an excellent finish.
The second period was pretty much more of the same with Castlewellan dominating possession. After 10 minutes the Town made three changes, bringing on Burns, Steele and Corrigan. Several chances were wasted before a long Corrigan throw was nodded home by Trainor. With 10 minutes left Fitzsimmons made it seven when he slotted home after a Croskery effort had rebounded off the crossbar. The Town’s Polish wizard Karl Jarosinski who had shipped some hefty challenges throughout almost made it eight but his effort from 20 yards came back off a post and the follow up effort was miraculously saved by the very competent home keeper.
All in all a very satisfactory day at the office for the Town. In the first half they were irresistable at times with Russell and Gilmore controlling everything in midfield ensuring a ready supply to their forward line. Difficult to pick a man of the match as everybody played their part and with seven games left the Town’s destiny is in their own hands.
