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RISSC were reinforced by the return of Dan Healey and Tim Nagle who replaced Emmett Mannion and Paddy MCGee in the starting eleven. The Irish attacked from the outset with Mick Coffey hitting a post and chipping narrowly wide from two early efforts. Coffey’s strike partner, Donnie Mullen and midfielder Jon Carey also went close in the early stages. With Nagle and Gary Stockwell controlling the centre of midfield, RISSC were in total command. The back four, marshalled by Karl McGee, was comfortable and full backs Martin Flannery and Mark O’Connor had time and space to augment the attack.
The Irish control and endeavour finally paid dividends ten minutes before the break, when Mullen collected a pass on the edge of the box and struck a fine shot into the bottom left hand corner of the Scottish net. Although the Irish continued to dominate matters, they were unable to make further inroads prior to the interval.
Manager Franklin, introduced Mannion for Flannery at the start of the second half and Carey reverted to his traditional full back position. RISSC picked up the tempo immediately and Coffey burst through a static Scottish defence to stroke home the second goal. Substitute Mannion made a swift impact, when minutes later he ghosted in to the near post to head home a Mullen cross. The Irish were now rampant and goal number four soon followed, when a speculative drive by Coffey from the half way line was misjudged by the Scottish goalkeeper and Mannion followed up to score.
RISSC were now very much in the comfort zone and proceeded to play with authority and drive. A superb twenty five yard lob from Nagle defeated the goalkeeper and resulted in the fifth goal. Full back O’Connor joined the attack, cutting in from the right to blast an unstoppable shot to the net. A number of half chances went begging with Adrian Ward unlucky not to score.
Mannion, completed his second half hat trick with another well executed lob before Mauricio Carrillo who replaced Ward in the latter stages, scored the eighth and final goal on the stroke of full time.
Everyone was up for this game, battling until the final whistle was blown, giving 101%, have to mention Donnie Mullen who received compliments from the opposition who couldn’t believe he was chasing every ball even until the end.
This emphatic success will instil further confidence in the team, which will have a break next week before they travel to Barn Elms on Sunday the 11th December 2005, to face league leaders Manchester United Supporters Club. The squad will be eager to obtain revenge against the leaders for their only league defeat of the season.
Team: Darren Nolan; Mark O’Connor, Karl McGee, Dan Healey, Martin Flannery; Adrian Ward, Tim Nagle, Gary Stockwell, Jon Carey; Mick Coffey, Donnie Mullen.
Substitutes: Mauricio Carillo, Emmett Mannion, Paddy McGee.