Willow close the gap on league leaders
WILLOW Park’s quest for a sixth successive Combined Counties League Senior Division title received a boost when they beat local rivals St Peter’s on Wednesday night.
Despite making a slow start to the game, Willow eventually triumphed 3-0 thanks to goals by Brian Frawley, Kevin Murray and Benny Magennis. The win leaves Willow within three points of the current leaders, Mullingar Athletic. Willow presently have a game in hand (away to Clara Town next Wednesday night), and must still host Mullingar Athletic before the season concludes. For a full match report on the Willow Park v St Peter’s game, see next week’s edition of the Westmeath Independent.
Meanwhile, the Combined Counties League is nearing its end and there are several crucial matters up for grabs.
On Sunday, Melville Celtic B go in search of silverware when they face Portlaoise in the Combined Counties Shield final at O’Connell Park, Birr (2pm).
The same day, Melville Utd will be desperate for a win when they host fellow Athlone side Monksland Utd in the Senior Division (Sarsfield Park, 2pm). Melville badly need the points to help in their bid to avoid the drop back into the Premier Division.
The race for promotion in Division 1 also reaches a conclusion, with Clonbonny and Temple Villa still in the mix.
After losing 4-1 to Shinrone Utd last weekend, Temple Villa must beat league leaders Tullamore Town on Sunday in Mount Temple (11am) to stand any chance of promotion, while also hoping that Ballinahown (who recently ensured their safety from relegation) do them a favour by beating Shinrone (Sunday, Ballinahown Sports Park, 11am).
Clonbonny are the only side in the top-five to have completed their fixtures and lie in second place ahead of the weekend fixtures. However, they are very much playing a waiting game and the best outcome for them on Sunday would be wins for Tullamore Town against Temple Villa and for Ballinahown over Shinrone.
Clonaslee Utd, who have one fixture remaining but don’t play this weekend, can also still be promoted.
For the record, the top-five as its stands is so: 1. Tullamore Town P17 Pts; 2. Clonbonny P18 Pts33; 3. Clonaslee Utd P17 Pts32; 4. Shinrone Utd P17 Pts31; 5. Temple Villa P17 Pts30.