Central v. Papatoetoe, 23/7/95

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When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

by Jeremy Ruane

Orange Day was a bit late arriving at Kiwitea Street this year - July 23, to be precise - but, as far as Central's Irish connection was concerned, it was well worth the wait.

Irish striker, Crawford McRae, with a hat-trick, led the home side's celebrations of a 7-1 humbling of Freeman's Bar Papatoetoe, ably supported by two two-goal heroes, one of whom was Sean Fallon.

The other quickly earned a new nickname with his orange-coloured hair-do. Irish flank player, Stuart Mellon, who, like any other true footballing connoisseur, supports Liverpool FC, has no objection to his new tag of 'Stan Collymore', "The Reds" new striker. To celebrate it, he bagged a brace which wouldn't have disgraced the real Stan Collymore!

But it wasn't just the Irish connection that stood out for Central. This was a marvellous team performance, further underlining the tremendous potential of the young squad Kevin Fallon is carefully nurturing at Kiwitea Street.

They started brightly, with McRae, Noah Hickey and Fallon all going close in the first six minutes. 'Toe, with their first serious attack, quickly put the skids on Central's confidence, however, and it was that wily Scouse fox, Billy McClure, who engineered the opening goal of the game.

His ninth-minute left-wing cross was measured to perfection for Keith Bright, who headed goalwards. The ball eventually crept in, despite the despairing efforts of Daniel Dobrec.

The visitors proceeded to enjoy a fine spell, but were themselves rocked by Central's twentieth minute equaliser. Thomas White the creator, his deep cross from the right finding Collymore/Mellon raiding on the left. His header looped over Tim Lightbourne and bounced in.

The goalkeeper then kept Central at bay with some fine saves. Hickey, twice, Hoani Edwards and White found the young 'Toe custodian in top form, and he was at times supported by numerous defenders.

Half-time came with no change to the 1-1 scoreline. 'Toe quickly sought to alter it immediately after the break, with Simon Moore and McClure, with a rare headed effort - due to the streamlined hair-line, no doubt!! - narrowly astray inside a five-minute period.

Central's response was to score twice inside forty-five seconds. The first, in the fiftieth minute, saw a touch of class from McRae, who beat Lightbourne all ends up from close range. From the kick-off, Edwards, who had supplied the pass for McRae's strike, further cemented his claims for man-of-the-match honours with a fine internception. Via Matthew Vuksich and McRae, the ball fell invitingly for Mellon, who supplied an outstanding finish in true Stan Collymore fashion!!

3-1, but 'Toe weren't out of this yet. McClure - the pick of the visitors yet again - sent Bright away on the right. His cross to Moore was headed goalwards by the hard-running midfielder, but Scott Bishop pawed the ball to safety.

Central then enjoyed a good spell, with Mellon, Matthew Zoricich, Fallon and McRae all going close, before Heath Dickenson headed narrowly over for 'Toe.

Three Central goals in a six-minute spell looked to have finished 'Toe off. Fallon, in the 68th and 73rd minutes, finished off two superb attacking forays with the goals they fully deserved. In between times, McRae unleashed a seventieth minute grasscutter which the unfortunate Lightbourne somehow allowed to squeeze between his prostrate self and the impeccable Kiwitea Street playing surface.

At 6-1, you'd have thought 'Toe would have sought to keep the score down, as Central threatened to run riot. But not Keith Mackay's team. They continued to play the creative brand of football which took them to the top of the table in the early weeks of the season, and full credit to them for doing so. Their contribution to a fine exhibition of football should not go unheralded, regardless of what the final scoreline ended up reading.

Indeed, a 'Toe attack was the last act of note in this match, substitute Blair Irwin - a promising prospect - forcing Bishop to save well at his feet. But by then, the score had advanced to 7-1, and what a goal to conclude with.

Two minutes from time, Fallon played a marvellous ball across goal for McRae. The Irishman controlled the ball with one touch, before firing unerringly past Lightbourne into the far corner. What a way to claim your first-ever hat-trick for Central - brilliant! Just like the match itself.

Northern League