Bushy maintain top spot in league

BUSHY Athletic maintained their joint top spot in the UCFL Division 3B section, along with Team Zimbabwe, when they came from three goals behind, on three occasions, to beat Benbulbin United 6-5 in Stannaway Park on Saturday morning, reports John Mooney. 

The home side can count themselves a trifle lucky to get maximum points as they had to wait until the final five minutes before securing the win, and that was against 10 men for almost an hour after Evan Byrne was sent off in the opening half for a clumsy foul that led to a penalty.

It was really tough on United who had led 3-0, 4-1, 5-2 but just ran out of steam as the game wore on, and with 11 on the field they most likely have won.

They had raced into a 3-0 lead inside 12 minutes with a Ben Moore header, an Aidan Hall strike, he netted a hat-trick, and a super free kick from Anka Canbola.

However, Alec Leddy pulled one back on 16 minutes but Hall restored their three goal lead on the half hour mark, after combining with Gary Delaney to create the opening.

Back came Bushy and, after a couple of efforts went the wrong side of the post, they were awarded a penalty after Byrne got his timing wrong and pulled down Ben Lenahan, who scored from the spot.

Benbulbin United lost out to Bushy Celtic after going down to ten men

But Hall completed his hat-trick three minutes from the break when he chased a hugh John Cash clearance and smashed home.

They knew they would face an onslaught in the second half and within fiver minutes of the restart the home side were back in the game, when Glen Patchell slotted home.

But, to be honest, the onslaught never materialised, even though Leddy on the mark with an hour gone, and it wasn’t until the dying minutes that Bushy finally got the better of a tiring United.

Ross Hand set up the equaliser for Patchell and before United, who were out on their feet at this stage, could regain their composure Mark Soper delivered the winner.

BUSHY ATHLETIC: A. Kiernan, T. Harbella, S. Corrigan, R. Hand, C. Horace, E. Ryan, B. Lenahan, M. Spoer, A. Leddy, S. McCabe, D. McClelland, G. Healy, G. Patchell, K. Powell, C. Ardiff.

BENBULBIN UNITED: J. Kenny, E. Rozgus, S. Kelly, J. Cash, E. Byrne, G. Kenny, B. Moore, A. Hall, G. Delany, A. Canbola,A. Lee, A. Casey, J. Sheridan.

REFEREE: W. Gahan.