Bweeng Celtic’s title aspirations derailed after losing 0-3 to a spirited Imogeela FC in their League 2 AUL encounter

Imogeela FC 3

Bweeng Celtic 0

Bweeng Celtic’s title aspirations were derailed after going down 0-3 to a spirited Imogeela FC in their League 2 encounter at Railway Park.

It was a cracking contest between two sides that just concentrated on open attacking and expansive football over the 90 minutes.

And after just two minutes, Ewan Wimpenny was forced into action when he was tested by Alex Maas with a stinging effort.

Then, at the other end, Luke Deane fired over with a first-time effort following Ethan Hayes’ free kick.

And what a close call it was for Bweeng when they were relieved to see Charles Daly’s low effort come back off the butt of the upright before being cleared to safety.

Imogeela’s Adam McAuliffe made progress down the right and when his low cross came back to him from a clearance, he made Jamie Butler work to block his forceful effort from a narrow angle.

Play shifted to the other end and when Leon Wong found space by jinking inside his marker, he lifted his effort narrowly over.

Minutes later; Charles Daly saw an opportunity to lift his effort over the out-of-position Butler, but he was denied by a clearance off the line by Eric Fitzgerald.

Daly was in action soon afterwards when he controlled before rifling straight at Butler from the edge of the box.

A strong run then from Daniel Casey saw him feed Justin McCarthy on the inside, but he failed to get his effort away with the necessary conviction as Wimpenny was allowed pick with ease.

An Imogeela corner followed and from Ethan Hayes’ delivery, Luke Deane scooped over while unattended inside the box.

But, a chance did fall for Bweeng after that when a stray header came into the path of Justin McCarthy who was in a favourable position, but he dragged his effort across goal.

On 34 minutes, the deadlock was broken when Charles Daly played it short to Ryan Sexton who swung a cross in which was met at the far post by Kelvin Cody Byrne to head home while unattended.

Bweeng responded positively when Conor McCarthy did well to get inside two markers before cracking a decent effort, inches wide.

But, with just seconds to the break, a long kick-out from Wimpenny bounced for the available Kelvin Cody Byrne who headed narrowly wide.

For the first ten minutes of the second period, both sides were toiling hard to break each other down until Kevlin Cody Byrne found a way through from the left flank to drill low into the corner from an acute angle to double the home side’s advantage.

The hosts engineered another chance soon after when a magnificent ball into space found Ryan Sexton, but a timely interception from Jamie Butler in the nick of time, aborted the threat.

Bweeng turned defence into attack and after embarking on a run down the right, Jack Kenneally whipped a cross in that looked destined for the available Leon Wong, but Ewan Wimpenny proved sharp enough to come off his line and smother the danger in the nick of time.

At the other end, a terrific chance fell for Charles Daly, but he scooped his effort over from a good position.

Then, Bweeng’s Gavin Lehane shifted an accurate pass on for Justin McCarthy, but he dragged his effort wide of the target before a turn and strike from Daniel Casey flew over the bar.

Bweeng refused to be bowed and continued to show resilience when Eric Fitzgerald helped on for Gavin Lehane who picked out Justin McCarthy to force Wimpenny into making a save and when the loose ball came back into the path of McCarthy, he guided goalwards – only to be denied by Jonathon Clifford who was in the right place to scoop off the line.

Bweeng generated another half chance for themselves when Colin Kelly moved it on for Leon Wong who fired wide of the target from outside the box.

But as Bweeng showed resilience, they were dealt another blow when Jonathon Clifford was on hand to steer his effort home in the dying minutes to wrap a huge three points up for the hosts.

Imogeela FC: Ewan Wimpenny, Adam McAuliffe, Liam O’Connor, Olan Jones, Luke Deane, Jonathon Clifford, Ryan sexton, Kaelan Hennessy, Charles Daly, Ethan Hayes and Kelvin Cody Byrne.

Subs: Bryan O’Donovan for Charles Daly (69), Cian Haines for Kelvin Cody Byrne (85), James McConnell and Colm Beausang for Charles Daly and Ethan Hayes (89).

Bweeng Celtic: Jamie Butler, Cathal O’Brien, Eric Fitzgerald, Eddie O’Riordan, Daniel Casey, Alex Maas, Gavin Lehane, Colin Kelly, Conor McCarthy, Justin McCarthy and Leon Wong.

Subs: Ben O’Connor and Jack Kearney for Cathal O’Brien and Conor McCarthy (55), Ben O’Connor and Diarmuid O’Sullivan for Alex Maas and Daniel Casey (72), Chris Hallihan for Eddie O’Riordan (83).

Ref: Tony Thompson.