RAPHOE ARE rapidly making Ulster hockey’s establishment raise their eyelids and turn their gazes towards that lofted perch behind the Royal and Prior school.
Raphoe 3 Belfast Harlequins 1
Ben Wallace’s second half double, after Luke Witherow’s goal in the first half, gave Raphoe a thoroughly deserved win over Belfast Harlequins that sends the Donegal team into the festive period resting in fourth place in the Premier League.
Rodney Bates’ team are a point behind the third-placed side, Portadown, and have two games in hand.
Picture caption: Luke Witherow in action for Raphoe against Belfast Harlequins. Picture courtesy of Sabrina Barnett.
It is neither by chance nor fluke, either, that they are mixing themselves in such company for this display was one of a side that belongs at the business end of the standings.
Raphoe battled when they had to and yet there were moments, too, when they swept the ball around with the confidence of a student strolling into an exam centre fully briefed on whatever tricks the paper will throw up.
They came from behind after Luke McClelland blasted Harlequins in front in the 23rd minute.
That breakthrough goal had been against the run of play, but once Witherow levelled the game, Raphoe always appeared the more likely winners.
In those instants where Harlequins threatened, Johnny Rankin once more was in thou-shalt-not-pass mode with the goalkeeper’s consistency one of the features of the season so far.
In front of him, the likes of William Kilpatrick, Simon Goudie and Alan Meehan defended stoutly.
The nerves whistled with every tick of the clock, but Wallace’s second goal, in the final minute, was just what the doctor ordered.
Kilpatrick’s short corner was touched deftly by Alexander Tinney and Wallace’s finish was exquisite, completing one of their best afternoons of the campaign.
Raphoe began on the front foot with Witherow driving over the top from one early attack before Rakin was called into action by James Hutchinson with Stephen McGrath powering a shot into a wall of Raphoe defenders.
Rankin turned over from Hutchinson and the home side soon settled into their stride.
Goudie shot at Andrew Cameron, the Harlequins goalkeeper, before the Belfast side averted the danger when Alan Lyttle’s side-step threatened to leave Cameron stranded.
Raphoe fell behind when, after being denied seconds earlier by Rankin, McClelland picked his spot high in the Raphoe net.
Raphoe were rattled, but they were soon back on a level footing again. Kilpatrick and Steven Cleverley combined to set up Witherow, who made no mistake with a cracking finish.
Raphoe were just a touch away from getting their noses in front late in the first half when Wallace’s low drive evaded a crowded goalmouth when the faintest of touches could have diverted it across the line.
Fourteen minutes into the second half, they got ahead. Tinney teed up Wallace, but the chance looked gone when the youngster seemed to have taken a touch too many. However, he regained control in the nick of time and slipped beyond Cameron to the bottom corner.
Raphoe were now in their groove and a magnificent through ball by Kit Regan to Witherow deserved a goal but Cameron was out to make the save.
Harlequins turned the screw, but Raphoe weren’t going to let it slip and, just for good measure, Wallace added that late, nerve-lifting third.
Raphoe: Johnny Rankin, Simon Goudie, Alexander Tinney, Ben Wallace, Alan Meehan, Ian McGonigle, Kit Regan, William Kilpatrick, Vincent Devenney, Alan Lyttle, Luke Witherow, Keith Meehan, Steven Cleverley, Paul Stewart.
Belfast Harlequins: Andrew Cameron, John Metcalfe, Graham Larmour, Chris Lemon, Nathan McAvery, Adam tweet, Neil Anderson, Tom Bran, Stephen McGrath, James Hutchinson, Luke McClelland, Adam McClelland, Mathew Gray, Chris Gardener.
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