Westport trounced

Westport United crash back to earth

Ballina Town  4
Kelly 36, Lavelle 48, Quinn 63, Gilmartin 90

Westport United 0

Liam Henry
Ballina

A RESULT that is sure to raise eyebrows amongst the Mayo soccer fraternity, this Ballina success was anything but fortunate. Playing second fiddle for the opening half an hour, once the hosts hit the front in the 36th minute, there was never any real doubt as to where the crucial league points would rest on Sunday evening.
Ballina were confident, efficient, strong and energetic and the 4-0 scoreline just about reflects their overall dominance over a weakened Westport selection.
Showing four changes from the side that dismantled league leaders Snugboro seven days previously, a makeshift Westport 11 proved more than a match for their hosts for the opening 30 minutes. In fact, they looked by far the more menacing.
Vinny O’Malley was twice close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening 15 minutes, almost capitalising on a short Gary Grant back pass after six minutes, and testing Ballina custodian Emmet Peyton from a 20 yard free-kick on 15 minutes.
In between O’Malley’s efforts, Ballina defender Michael Knight had to be vigilant to clear over his own crossbar from a Phil Keegan cross with Jorge Ferrando lurking dangerously. It took the hosts 26 minutes to make inroads into fertile territory at the opposite end when captain Gary Grant exercised Danny Fadden from the edge of the area.
Swinford native and former Nottingham Forest trainee Emmet Peyton produced another stunning save on 32 minutes to deny Gerry McLoughlin from the left hand side of the area before Ballina took the lead. It came on 36 minutes, against the run of play, as Westport ’keeper Danny Fadden gifted Seán Kelly the opportunity when fumbling Gary Grant’s forward punt. Credit the former Sligo Rovers man, however – he didn’t give up on what seemed a lost cause and maintained a cool head to direct the leather into the bottom corner.
Ballina produced a masterclass second half performance with Grant and Kelly particularly prominent. They doubled their advantage three minutes after the restart when Grant again played provider, this time for Benny Lavelle. The excellent, hard-working front man split defensive pair Austin O’Malley and Joe Lawless with his blinding pace and finished sweetly into the bottom corner. Philip Devers hit the bar from a corner kick seven minutes later as Town began to exert almost complete control on affairs.
Living on limited rations, Westport could have edged their way back into contention on 59 minutes when Michael Knight misjudged an attempted back pass, but Phil Keegan dragged his shot wide of the mark. And when Ballina pounced for their third just four minutes later, it was game, set and match. A beautifully flighted pass from full-back Dwayne Helly located Fergus Quinn in an advanced position. The flag stayed down and Quinn punished Westport’s generosity with an accomplished strike.
Good work by Dave Horkan and Dave Cameron produced Westport’s next chance, but Cameron’s effort struck the outside of the post. Cameron also failed to convert from an 88th minute penalty, as Westport’s nightmare in North Mayo intensified. It was Vinny O’Malley who had gone down in the box, but Emmet Peyton used his big frame well to divert Cameron’s spot-kick away to safety.
Westport’s misery was compounded by Clive Gilmartin’s cheeky free-kick in injury time when the experienced assassin clipped a quickly taken shot into the unguarded net while Danny Fadden was busy lining up his wall.
 
BALLINA TOWN
E Peyton; T O’Connor, M Knight, D Tansey, D Helly, P Devers, G Grant, S Kelly, E Gorman, B Lavelle, F Quinn. Subs used: D O’Hara for Gorman (64 mins); P Duffy for Knight (80 mins); C Gilmartin for Quinn (85 mins)
 
WESTPORT UNITED
D Fadden; C Navin, R McLoughlin, A O’Malley, J Lawless, P Keegan, D Horkan, D Cameron, G McLoughlin, V O’Malley, J Ferrando.

Referee: M Walsh