Francis strikes on the double as Tullamore overcome Alpine challenge

Tullamore's Jekyll and Hyde season continued in Leah Victoria Park last Friday evening. Thankfully it was the good doctor who was in evidence as they bounced back from successive defeats to produce a superb attacking performance to edge out a tough tackling Alpine side. Within five minutes of the start they had taken the lead with a wonderful sweeping move involving no less than six players. David Gorman gathered the ball from a Martin Cunningham throw out and exchanged passes with Keith O'Connor, before playing it down the left wing to Jason Pohl who cut inside and picked out Gary Buckley. Buckley laid it back for Trevor Francis who rifled it into the top right hand corner for a wonderful goal. Building on this great start lovely play by Buckley nearly played in Pohl and then Terry Hilliard picked out Aaron Murtagh but Mataizu Bella parried his fine effort and as the ball broke free Murtagh delivered a fine ball into Pohl but his effort was too high. With the youthful partnership of Gary Buckley and Enda Carroll pulling the strings in midfield, Tullamore began to dictate the pace of the game but, with forty minutes on the clock, the visitors had good reason to feel aggrieved when Cunningham misjudged a spinning ball and as it bounced over him it appeared to cross the line before he managed to scoop it clear with the referee waving play on. As so often happens in these situations, Town went straight down the other end of the pitch and scored when Trevor Francis got on the end of a great cross from Jason Pohl and as the keeper advanced he guided a lovely shot around him and into the far corner of the net. With minutes remaining in the first half Martin Cunningham had to be smartly down to his right to tip a blistering free kick from Aaron Burdis around the post and when the corner was swung over Dan O'Reilly fired home from close range to leave the score 2-1 at the interval. There were no goals in the second half. Tullamore nearly increased their lead when a tremendous run by Keith O'Connor carried him past three tackles before being taken down on the edge of the area, and then Buckley sent Pohl clear only for Martin Gouldsbury to fling himself in the path of his goalbound effort to prevent a certain score, as the home side ran out narrow but deserving winners. With a back four that qualify for free travel and a midfield that have yet to be given the key to the front door, manager Kevin O'Connor has skilfully cobbled together a highly effective mix of youth and experience that should stand them in good stead over the coming months. For the home side there were outstanding performances from Trevor Francis, Gary Buckley, Jason Pohl and Aaron Murtagh with Patrick Gilsenan, Stephen Kavanagh and Aaron Burdis the pick of the visitors, but the man of the match award went to Tullamore's precocious midfielder Enda Carroll. Tullamore: Martin Cunningham, Stuart Kavanagh, Terry Hilliard, Shane Colsh, David Gorman, Aaron Murtagh, Gary Buckley, Enda Carroll, Keith O'Connor, Jason Pohl and Trevor Francis. Subs: Michael Galvin, Cian McMahon, Niall McKenna, Justin O'Brien and Leon Dunne. Fixture The Tullamore first team are away to Dundalk next Saturday in their penultimate game of the League of Ireland A Championship.