Rovers bow out after cup drama
Roe Rovers hosted Liverpool Supporters Club on Saturday without the in form Paddy Logue and Barry OKane from the side who won so well the week before. With Tweedy Nichol pulling out due to sickness at the final hour Rovers knew they would have to up their game to try and get past the Coleraine side who are the holders of this competition.Rovers started brightly and should have taken the lead after a great flowing move. Barney Butcher broke on the left and crossed to Douglas who pulled back for McGonigle to roll the ball into the path of Harbinson who failed to make a good connection and the keeper saved. This gave the home side great hope and belief and they took a deserved lead when Butcher was fouled and skipper Paul Irwin who was immense on the day sent a great delivery to the back post were Danny Quinn headed home with a good finish.
The Coleraine side arent the holders for nothing and were level five minutes later. A long throw onto the head of the giant Lee Elliott was flicked on and met well at the back post by John Paul Quinn to level things. The game was fiercely competitive and Rovers felt perhaps lunges and late reckless challenges went unpunished. John Holmes took a nasty elbow to leave him with a shiner but he battled on and set up the second Rovers goal when he robbed the Liverpool midfielder to knock a great ball between the centre-halfs. Timmy Douglas burst between the two defenders to hit a cracking right foot finish. Rovers came under a lot of presure from the visitors as they fought to get back into the game but Gavern Hassan and Irwin were inspirational in the heart of defence. The clearer chances however fell to Rovers. McGonigle had a decent chance and Quinn poked a one on one wide before Liverpool got a deserved equaliser when the energetic Mervyn McKee worked himself a yard of space and fired a low drive from outside the box into the bottom corner. O'Brien was annoyed he didnt get to it but it was a good finish. Liverpool got stronger and pressed with Rovers getting scraps and hoping for a break away then came a big blow to Rovers. Timmy Douglas who had looked lively and just scored a cracker went for a challenge and came off second best getting a nasty knee injury that may see him on the sidelines for quite a while. Despite several very late and poor challenges this was a great tackle and Timmy was fortunate to come of second best. Rovers then suffered the long throw and flick on of big Elliott again. This time the flick on looped over everyone and into the back corner for a cruel goal. Rovers rallied again and almost took the tie to extra time. Gerry OKane's switch from fullback to forward almost paid dividends. Paul McLaughlin just on as a sub flicked a great ball to OKane whose shot and turn deserved to score. The ball rattled the upright and Rovers were out.Rovers missed the abscentees but Gavern Hassan and Paul Irwin were sensational at the back backed up brilliantly by Micky Logue and Gerry OKane. In the end Liverpool edged the result and the performance but Rovers know they came very very close to causing a shock and without a slice of luck you dont win cups. Lets hope they saved it all for the City Cup. Both teams enjoyed the hospitality put on by "Flos Bar, the Inn" courtesy of Flo and Marcelle Neeson and ended the tie with a bite to eat, drink and post match banter as it should be. Good luck to Andy and Liverpool Supporters Club in the next round.
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