NEFL | Crespo’s double secures Bay a place in the NEFL top flight for the first time in the club’s history
Square United 0–2 Bay FC
NEFL Premier Division promotion/relegation play-off
Bay will play in the North East Football League Premier Division for the first time in the club’s history in 2020 after a 2–0 win over Square United in Sunday morning’s promotion/relegation play-off in Ardee.
After losing to OMP United and Carrick Rovers there were question marks hanging over Bay’s ability to seal the deal but they responded with a brilliant win in mid-Louth with Spaniard Alfonso Crespo’s first-half brace securing the Rock Road club their third promotion in as many seasons.
It took just five minutes for Crespo to put the visitors in front. Mikey Burke’s long throw was flicked on by Quadri Olowu and Crespo cooly finished past Square goalkeeper Eoin Muldoon from 10 yards.
It was one-way traffic after that with Olowu, Shaun O’Connor and Paddy Connor all forcing good saves from the home side’s netminder. The Ardee side came back into the game in the final 10 minutes of the first half and their set-pieces caused Bay problems.
It looked like the sides would go in with just one goal between them at the break but Bay took a huge step towards the top tier with the second goal in stoppage time. Burke was again involved, his fine ball into the Square penalty area getting the finish it deserved by Crespo.
Damien Bellew’s men were happy to sit back and consolidate their two-goal lead in the second half but they were almost caught flat-footed when Andrew Egan arrived at the back post only to direct his header over Kevin Mullen’s crossbar.
Alan McCartney went close to sealing the win when he chested the ball down and let fly only to see his effort clear Muldoon’s crossbar and substitute David Boyle then forced the goalkeeper into a fine save.
Square never looked like turning it around and the full-time whistle was met with scenes of joy and Bay will join fellow local sides Muirhevnamor, Rock Celtic and Bellurgan United in the Premier Division in 2020.
BAY FC: Kevin Mullen, Kevin Scollon, Mikey Burke, Angelo Stanley, Mario Kolak, Alfonso Crespo (David Boyle 75), Shaun O’Connor, Paddy Connor (Neven Novosel 80), Anto McLaughlin, Quadri Olowu (Gavin Donnelly 70), Alan McCartney.
