Late Power goal puts Willow Park on brink of title
St Peter's 1 Willow Park 1
By John Dingle
The pendulum has swung significantly in Willow Park's direction in the chase for the CCFL Senior Division title. A stoppage time equaliser from Rian Power saw Colin Fortune's men claim a share of the spoils at McCarthy Park last night (Wednesday), denying St Peter's the victory they needed.
St Peter's took the lead on 34 minutes when Jordan Carr beat Willow keeper Charlie Raper with a piece of quick thinking and a superb finish.
The home team led at the break and were still in front as the local derby headed into time added on. A dramatic finale saw Willow get back on level terms in the fourth additional minute to take a huge step towards lifting the title.
Willow are guaranteed to be champions should they beat Ballinahown at home in their final league outing next Wednesday night, May 8 (kick-off 7.15pm). Indeed, a win may not even be required if all of the chasing trio drop points (along with St Peter's, Mullingar Town and Clara Town are the other sides in contention).
Willow went into Wednesday night's game on top of the table, but the Saints knew that a win would give them a great chance of snatching the prize away from their Athlone rivals. There was not so much pressure on the visitors as avoiding defeat would have been a very satisfactory outcome, leaving their destiny in their own hands.
The game itself failed to live up to expectations due in no small measure to what was at stake. Most of the excitement came in the closing stages as Willow pushed hard for an equaliser and eventually Power delivered for the visitors.
It was a dramatic conclusion to the contest, with St Peter's realising that their title chances are now out of their own hands. The celebrations afterwards indicated that Fortune's men feel they have one hand on the league trophy.
St Peter's: Darcy Lawless, Niall Scullion, Adam Dowling, Stephen Barr, Scott Delaney, Luke Kelly, Johnny Kiernan, Ian Dempsey, Gary Kelly, Jordan Carr, Nenad Lazic. Subs: Clive Harris for Lazic (58 mins); Mark Sherlock for G Kelly (72); Dylan Stewart for Carr (86); Danny McManus for Kiernan (88).
Willow Park: Charlie Raper, Cian Hayden, Mark O’Connor, Declan Fallon, Kevin Dunne, Daragh Concannon, Rian Power, Bryan Hughes, James Fortune, Ryan Gaffey, James Flanagan. Subs: Mark Nicholson and Rafa Shakhnazaryan for Flanagan and Fortune (55 mins).
Referee: Dean Stenson (Mullingar).