ST Mary’s kept their faint title hopes alive thanks to an impressive 4-2 victory over Peel at the Bowl in the Canada Life Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
However, the result could have been very different had the westerners been able to make the most of a bright start to the match at the Saints’ excellent new home.
The hosts struggled to get into their stride in the opening exchanges and should have been a goal down within the first minute when Peel playmaker Danny Bell crossed to Andrew Quirk but the midfielder could not guide his header on target. Bell then went close himself when he drove infield from the right wing, cutting across the edge of the area before firing goalwards but his shot was deflected wide and the danger subsequently passed.
With 15 minutes played Peel winger Lee Gale almost broke the deadlock in fine style when he rode a couple of challenges on his way into the hosts’ box before attempting to lob goalkeeper Max Thomas but the Saints No1 read the danger and was able to save. Quirk again went close a minute later but was denied by a combination of Richard Sharman and St Mary’s skipper Dom McGreevy at the last second.
Thomas had to be on his toes once more soon after when a fine run by Peel skipper Danny Lace ended with the left-back teeing up Bell but Thomas was quickly off his line and was able to snuff out his effort.
Peter Langridge’s hosts finally began to grow into the game near the half-hour mark, twice going close through efforts from Steven Priestnal and Connor Gorman, and the game was turned on its head in the space of just a few minutes when St Mary’s ruthlessly punished the visitors in emphatic fashion.
Gorman lifted the ball over the top of the Peel defence for Priestnal to latch on to and the golden boot contender unselfishly squared the ball across goal past keeper Stuart Morris for winger Brian Crellin to tap into the unguarded net from point-blank range.
And just two minutes later the hosts doubled their advantage when the goalscorer turned provider by skillfully working his way past two players before completely wrong-footing the Peel defence with a reverse pass through to Priestnal whose low shot somehow squirmed under Morris’s body before nestling into the back of the net.
However, any thoughts that the Saints would run away with the contest were soon put to bed as the westerners hit back immediately to reduce the deficit. The impressive Bell lifted a delightful pass over the Saints defence to the onrushing Gale who, despite being ushered away from goal, was brought down by Sharman, leaving referee Mark Thomas with no choice but to award a penalty. Up stepped Bell to send Thomas the wrong way and plant his effort right in the top corner to make it 2-1 at halftime.
The hosts almost restored their two-goal lead minutes after the restart when Crellin received a long ball and attempted to curl a shot into the top corner but his effort was matched by a superb fingertip save from Morris.
It wasn’t long before they did find the net, however, as Chris Anderson, Priestnal and Crellin all combined well in the Peel half to set up Gorman who fired a low effort which again somehow squirmed underneath Morris before trickling over the line for 3-1.
Anderson was then forced to leave the field injured on the hour-mark but his replacement, James Murphy, made an immediate impact when he was involved in the next goal for the hosts. He fed the ball through to Priestnal who in turn teed up Crellin inside the area and the wing wizard jinxed his way around Morris before firing into the net.
Another substitute, Peel’s Daniel Pickering, almost made an instant impression from the bench when he collected a loose ball before fizzing a shot goalwards but his effort flew over the bar as the westerners struggled for a way back into the contest.
However, with seven minutes remaining they managed to reduce the deficit again following another excellent run from Lace after he dispossesed Sharman. He surged into the box only to be denied a shot on goal by a superb last-ditch tackle from Adam Pate. However, the ball was fed straight back across goal where Lace reacted quickest to fire the ball home.
It proved too little, too late for the westerners though as St Mary’s were able to see out the game 4-2 to move to within a point of the top four.
St Mary’s: Max Thomas, Richard Sharman, Adam Pate, Dom McGreevy (c), Liam Doyle, Tom Weir, Connor Gorman, Chris Anderson (James Murphy 60m), Steven Priestnal, Martin Reilly, Brian Crellin (Marc Priestnal 67m). Sub not used: Peter Langridge
Peel: Stuart Morris, Andrew Crennell (Tony Duggan 75m), Danny Lace (c), Matthew Woods, Matthew McQuarrie, Rob Cottier, Lee Gale, Danny Bell, Liam Harrison (Daniel Pickering 75m), Kevin Megson (Johnny Kelly 65m), Andrew Quirk
Referee: Mark Thomas
Assistants: John Lovelady and David Murphy
Man of the Match: Crellin (St Mary’s) - a constant threat throughout and was instrumental in his side’s victory
Match rating: HHHHI