Gartferry AFC v Glasgow Irish FCHealth Rewards Cup
Sunday 20th November
The Irish were away from home against a team a division above them looking to put to an end a miserable run of form with 3 defeats leading up to this Health Rewards Cup match.
Irish started the game well and should have been ahead early on but for some great goalkeeping from the Gartferry number one.
A series of corners seen the home defence keep GIFC at bay. McManus, Rice and Biggins all going close with great efforts.
At the opposite end GIFC keeper David Griffin pulled off 3 outstanding saves when we were left exposed after pushing forward in the opening exchanges.
Griffin then provided the assist for the opener when his clearance ran through to striker Mark Paterson who showed great composure to finish in off the post. 0-1.
The Irish midfield of John Biggins, Mark Cleary and Shaun Munro were creating plenty of opportunities to further the lead but for the keeper to deny Rice and Paterson with some great saves.
Number two for GIFC came when from a deadly Ross Marshall corner, Cameron Mooney back heeled the ball across goal for Martin Rice to pounce and smash the ball home. The big striker with his 14th goal in 13 games. 0-2.
Pressing so high up the park came at a cost for the Irish and they conceded when a ball across goal allowed the Gartferry striker to finally beat Griffin. 1-2.
HT 1-2.
GIFC started the second half well with Marshall and McManus tireless on the flanks. Goal number 3 came after Mark Cleary played Shaun Munro through and the youngster showed a cool head with a class finish. 1-3.
Stephen Cleary and Connor Jack replaced Marshall and Paterson and this payed off when Jack scored his 16th goal of the season after good awareness from John Biggins allowed the striker to sweep the ball home with his right foot. 1-4.
The game changed dramatically when striker Martin Rice was shown a straight red card after a petulant trip on a Gartferry defender. The referee deciding it was violent conduct. A truly laughable decision by the official to add to a collection in recent games.
Gartferry used the extra man to their advantage and scored a similar goal to their first as the Irish defence was stretched. 2-4.
Stephen Cairns, Gerry Hughes and Jack Gordon came on to shore up the game for GIFC and done well to see out the late pressure.
A joint man of the match this week goes to the outstanding Shaun Munro and John Biggins. Closely followed by Mark Cleary and David Griffin. 
Celtic Hammer 