NEFL | Larkin scores one and makes two as Bay go five clear at top of the table
NEFL Division Three | Bay FC 3–1 Skryne Tara
Mark Larkin was instrumental as Bay FC opened up a five-point lead at the top of the NEFL Division Three table after coming from behind to beat third placed Skryne Tara in Muirhevnamor on Friday night.
The visitors, who condemned Damien Bellew’s side to their only league defeat this season, knew that a win would propel them to the summit and they opened in bullish mood.
Bay had yet to settle when Skryne pulled in front, Kevin Mullen left helpless when lively winger Johnny Fox cut in and curled a fine effort into the ‘keeper’s far corner with less than five minutes on the clock.
Their bright opening continued and Mullen had to get down at full stretch shortly after to turn another goalbound effort around his post.
A long range Kevin Scollon effort was all that Bay could muster in the early stages but with 10 minutes to go before the break they bagged an equaliser following a well-worked team move.
Larkin was the creator, splitting the Skryne defence with a fine through ball and Marcel Ekwueme, restored to the starting XI, held off two defenders to fire into the bottom corner and leave things all square at the break.
Bay began the second half in much better fashion, spreading the play well, and Ekwueme and Gavin Toner both tested the visiting goalkeeper in the early stages.
Their pressure eventually told in the 65th minute when Larkin bent what is fast becoming a trademark free kick around the wall and into the bottom corner to put the league leaders in front.
That goal only seemed to jolt Skryne into life and but for the heroics of Mullen, they would have drawn level, the Bay captain making a point blank reflex save from six yards to keep a header out.
Bay went in search of a killer goal and it looked like Larkin was going to tap home a second when he moved to anticipate Kevin Scollon’s low cross only for the Skryne goalkeeper to get a vital toe on the ball and divert its course.
The vital third did arrive with 11 minutes to play when Larkin’s cross took a touch off a defender and fell kindly for substitute Mikey Burke who sent the ‘keeper the wrong way with a fine header.
BAY FC: Kevin Mullen, Robbie Rafferty (Angelo Stanley 85), Gavin Toner, Mario Kolak, Johnny Winters (Brendan Nash 70), Kevin Scollon (Mikey Burke 65), Alfonso Crespo (Ryan Dillon 65), Jimmy Byrne, Paddy Connor, Mark Larkin (David McCartney 85), Marcel Ekwueme.
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