McCann brothers score all four to take Clane top. 

As the games go on, division 3 has become very tight at the top with only two points separating Clane and the division 3 leaders Castle Villa. So this tie was a real six pointer in every sense of the word. Anything less than a victory would have given the visitors a commanding cushion going into the upcoming break and left Clane with an uphill struggle for the remainder of the season and a win for Clane would leapfrog them over Villa in top spot by a point.

After coming away from Castle Villa with a lesson in what not to do earlier in the season Clane were determined not to make the same mistakes that had lost them three points away from home. Clane tried to begin the game cautiously but in typical fashion Villa threw everything at them from the very start.

Clane had prepared well and took most of the early pressure in their stride the centre defence pairing of Jason Acton and Sean Darcey kept the visitors early attempts to long range efforts well outside the box. The first goal of the game came after fifteen minutes when Villa were awarded a free kick just outside the Clane box, the Clane wall did its job in blocking the free but a nasty deflection sent Warren Beale in the Clane goal the wrong way and the ball found the bottom corner. Clane came back almost immediately when a good passing movement down the right wing led to the Villa defence opening up and Alex McCann buried the ball into the bottom left corner for Clane’s first of the day. Not to be out done Alex’s brother Eric McCann put Clane into the lead ten minutes later after a rare mistake in the Castle Villa defence put Eric in one on one with the keeper with only chip in to put the home team on top.  

Clane appeared to be cruising at two one and were beginning to settle into the game, the midfield was dominated by Clane’s Alex McCann and Rob Darcey, the pair won everything  in the area and were making life very difficult for the visitors.  Ten minutes before half time Villa pulled a goal back when some very poor defending by Clane was capitalised on, a perfectly weighted cross split the defenders leaving Beale in the Clane goal with nothing to do but pull the ball out of the back of the gaol.

The second half started with Castle Villa pushing very hard and for the first twenty minutes Clane were very fortunate to have held the score at two all, once again both Acton and Darcey in central defence were solid denying Villa on multiple occasions.

Clane’s determination shone through as the game wore on and Castle Villa began to tire. Alex McCann got his second of the game midway though the second half when an excellent cross from Rod Sharpe found him standing in space on front of goal to head the ball home.

In their efforts to salvage a point Villa left themselves a little exposed at the back and once again Clane made the most of this. Alex McCann got Clane’s fourth and his hat-rick ten minutes from the end with a beautifully struck shot from well out side the box. 

Best for Clane Alex McCann, Rob Delaney and Sean Darcy.