I wouldn’t be surprised if Castlewellan’s training nights this week consisted mainly of shooting practice. The bugbear that haunted them last week against Carniny almost cost them again this week in a game where they should have been out of sight after 60 minutes. I suppose it would be worse if chances were not being created but this failing has to be eradicated if the Town hope to win silverware this season.
Conal Corrigan came in for Aidan Kelly at the back and had a good 90 minutes whilst Colm Flanagan was unavailable. Stevie Trainor made it to the subs bench after his recent injury but he wasn’t risked.
The game itself was slow to spark into life with the visitors working very hard to contain Castlewellan’s playmakers. The first action of note resulted in the home side taking the lead after 16 minutes and it came when McArdle’s long free kick was nodded down by Burns for Nial Toner to slot home from 12 yards.
Several good crosses notably from McKibben and Russell weren’t capitalised upon and Annalong almost equalised on 28 minutes when Burden was allowed to wriggle free in the area but his effort was partially blocked by Watson and cleared off the line. Three minutes before the break Anderson thought he had extended the Town’s lead but his header was disallowed. Right on the stroke of half time though the home team did get a second and what a goal it was, Russell’s run down the right got blocked and he laid the ball back for Donal McKibben to hit a screamer from 25 yards into the top corner for a goal worthy of winning any game.
The second period picked up where the first left off with Castlewellan very much in the ascendency, after 50 minutes Russell brought the very best out of Annalong’s keeper Wright with a stunning volley that was tipped over and from the resulting corner Anderson headed against the bar. The Town brought on Colm Kearney for Aidan Burns and with virtually his first touch he should have scored but turned a Travers cross against the post and wide.
To their credit Annalong continued to work hard and got their reward on 65 minutes when they were gifted a contentious penalty, the ref adjudged that Stratton had fouled an Annalong forward in the area. Buoyed up by this gift Annalong went in search of an equaliser but found the home defence still seething from the previous injustice and rarely troubled Watson. Castlewellan, who were best served by Toner, Russell and the McKibben brothers saw out the remainder of the game and now go forward to meet Killough in what should be a cracking encounter this Saturday.
