Sharpshooter Naughton is still delivering goals to order

Date Published: 17-Sep-2012

Mike Rafferty

Throughout a career spent mainly in the lower divisions with Bohemians, Aidan Naughton was a prolific goal scorer, but a recent move to Premier Division East United certainly hasn’t blunted his ability to find the net.

Over the weekend, he was on the mark for the fourth game in succession as Kevin Curran’s charges picked up their first win of the campaign, after two draws and a loss. The successes moved East United into joint third position in the table.

Elsewhere, with their fellow joint leaders Corrib Rangers not in action, Mervue United took full advantage as they moved clear at the top with a hard earned 2-1 success over St Bernard’s.

A rewarding opening half gave Athenry a first win of the campaign, with a home success over West United, while Hibernians picked up a first point of the season in a 1-1 draw with OLBC.

Salthill Devon 0

East United 1

Despite facing the elements in the opening half, East United snatched the winner as they made the maximum of the opportunities they created in this encounter in Drom on Saturday morning.

Just after the half hour mark, a Sean Lydon cross was weakly headed away as far as the lurking Naughton, who made it 1-0 with a side footed effort from about the penalty spot.

Devon certainly didn’t make the most of the wind advantage in that half and all their best chances fell to Ebeeniser, who failed to take a number of opportunities that came his way.

On three occasions he was denied in one-on-one situations. His closest call came after he rounded goalkeeper Anthony Ryan, but his goal-bound effort was taken off the line by Sean Lydon. Ebeeniser was later denied by a smart Ryan stop, before the striker fluffed his lines again, when firing over when through with just the custodian to beat.

At the other end, Devon goalkeeper Evan Duffy had to be equally athletic when denying Mark Griffin from close range, when not only keeping out his initial effort, but also the rebound.

Naughton went close with a further brace of headers, as the visitors got few opportunities to shine in the closing stages.

As the game developed, the home side enjoyed more than their fair share of possession, but chances created were few and far between.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.