Whyte on song for Stedfast
Oaks cut down by striker
February 22nd 2000. The Star.
Stedfast United 5 - Glen Oaks 2
Four goals from Garry Whyte propelled Stedfast United into the semi-finals of the Irish
Life Challenge Cup on Saturday. Whyte opened the scoring for Stedfast early in the first
half and hit three magnificicent goals in a ten minute spell soon after the break to
completely demoralise Glen Oaks in Marley Park. Darren Kavanagh netted Stedfast's fifth with
a powerful long range strike from outside the box to put the icing on the cake and ensure
the cup holders a place in the last four. John Spollen blasted a goal in each half that
kept the visitors in contention. The deadlock was broken a minute later after a long throw
out from Dunne picked out Kevin Norris who played the ball down the right wing into space
to Garry Whyte. He raced clear and fired home from inside the 18 yard box to make it 1-0 to
the home side. Stedfast almost increased their lead in the 20th minute. Darren Kavanagh
played the ball into the middle to Garry Whyte who flicked on to set up Thomas Kavanagh.
Overhead
But his delicate chip was safely caught by the visitor's keeper. Oaks were back on level
terms in the 34th minute when Liam Tuohy won the ball on the Stedfast 18 yard line and
picked out John Spollen who headed into the far corner of the net to tie the game 1-1.
Stedfast were back in front in the 48th minute after an overhead kick by Henry Fox set up
Whyte, whose curling shot into the top corner gave the keeper no chance. Whyte completed
his hat-trick a minute later after a lovely through ball by Norris sent him clear and Whyte
calmly rounded the keeper to fire home from outside the 18 yard line to make it 3-1. Norris
was again the provider in the 59th minute when he played the ball down the left wing for the
advancing Whyte. The striker cut inside and calmly netted from close range for his fourth.
Oaks managed to pull a goal back in the 63rd minute when Canning played a dangerous long
ball into the Stedfast box and before Dunne could gather, up popped John Spollen to head
over the keeper to make it 4-2. In the 65th minute a shot by Stedfast's Norris was only
partially cleared and the ball fell to sub Alex Fox - who teed-up Darren Kavanagh for
Stedfast's fifth of the game.
STEDFAST
: Derek Dunne, Ken O'Reilly, Eugene Long, Darren Kavanagh, Joe Reynolds,
Aidan Delaney, Thomas Kavanagh, Kevin Norris, Garry Whyte, Bob Doyle, Henry Fox.
Subs : Alex Fox for Eugene Long (61 mins), Karl Walsh for Thomas Kavanagh (67 mins), Robbie Gilltrap for Henry Fox (70 mins).
REFEREE: Chris O’Neill.