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Perhaps it was the chilly South London air, but the team, regarded by some as notoriously slow starters were quickly out of the blocks. An excellent shot from Mick Coffey, playing up front in the depleted team, gave the Irish an eight minute lead. The team, exuding confidence, stroked the ball around with aplomb and made superb use of the width provided by wingers Adrian Ward and Gary Stockwell.
The rejigged defence, featuring Martin Flannery, Jon Carey, Karl McGee and Mark O’Connor played with great solidity. The central midfield partnership of Emmett Mannion and Donnie Mullen provided fluid service to Coffey and his ageless partner, Paddy McGee, enabling constant pressure to be placed upon the Dundee United defence. Reward arrived on twenty minutes when a superbly delivered corner from Paddy McGee was met at the near post with a controlled volley by Gary Stockwell, to score his first goal for the club.
Dundee United reacted to this setback and rose to the challenge with some sustained pressure, which saw them equalise with a well taken header from a corner. The Irish response was swift and their two goal lead was quickly restored when Gary Stockwell received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and calmly curled a left footed shot over the stranded Dundee keeper.
As the first half drew to a close, the Irish struck again. Mark O’Connor, rampaging forward from his full back position struck from close range after un-selfish play by his defensive partner, Karl McGee. The 4-1 half time advantage enabled injured striker Liam Kelly, acting manager for the day, to offer comforting words of encouragement
to his colleagues.
Dundee United started the second half brightly, with a few attempts on goal, but the defence, marshalled by the ever-solid Darren Nolan in goal stood firm. Adrian Ward made the score 5-1 with a clinical finish at the far post after a fine run down the left wing by Emmett Mannion.
Dundee did manage to get a goal back, but they were clearly tiring and the Irish increased their lead when Mannion powered home a header from a Coffey corner. Coffey himself added another goal near the end to make the final score 7-2 and complete a very satisfying day for the Irish.