Match Report

Goals scored
Nathan Duck and Dave Allen

Half time score
Landsdowne Rangers 2 : 0 Ralee

Man of the match
Paul Bush

Revenge was on the mind of the Landsdowne players as they came up against Ralee for the second week running.

Tensions where running high between both teams after last weeks match and the home team where determined to wreck Ralee's championship challenge as a way of evening the score.

A more determined than normal midfield saw Allen, Bell and Rix set the tone for this encounter with some crunching tackles in the early minutes.

Landsdowne took the lead early on, Tony Bush raced clear to smash a low drive towards the Ralee keeper who could only palm the ball into the path of Nathan Duck who calmly slotted the ball into the empty net.

Dave Allen then increased the lead on the half-hour with a remarkable goal.

The defensive midfielder flighted a free-kick high into the box from forty yards out. The Ralee keeper, drawn out of his goal by the presence of Tony Bush, misjudged the flight of the ball as it sailed over his head and into the goal to give Landsdowne a deserved two goal advantage.

Ralee frustrations, already boiling, became further incensed when Dave Rix again clattered the Ralee full-back. Both benches then became embroiled in a bitter war of words as accusations started to fly. The Ralee manager was frustrated at the referees decision to not book Rix, this angered the Landsdowne bench who shouted that he had no right to comment after his disgraceful performance as referee in last week's cup game.

Ralee offered little in response to Landsdowne's lead, although Gavin Mayo did pull off a terrific save just before the break to deny the visitors a way back into the game.

Landsdowne came under pressure in the second half as expected, with Ralee taking advantage of the wind. Apart from scoring ten minutes after the break though they struggled to create opportunities to level the game. The Ralee side all too often overhit long balls into the waiting hands of Mayo in goal.

With twenty minutes to go Tony Bush let fly with a 30 yard free-kick which resembled that of Roberto Carlos. It flew past the post with such ferocity there was flames coming off the ball. It was fortunate it didn't hit anyway because if it had it would have been curtains!

With seconds left Ralee almost got an equaliser, Dean Weaving clearing the ball of the line to avert the danger. The whistle went with celebrations from the Landsdowne team as they enjoyed the sweet smell of revenge knowing they had ended Ralee's hopes of winning the league and given themselves a much needed two points in their battle to escape relegation.