“I’M REALLY PROUD OF THE LADS”- Mersey Harps Seconds Defeat BRNESC to Get Through to the Final of the Alan Brown Trophy.

Joe Matthews reporting…

Mersey Harps Second team have made it two cup semi-final victories in as many weeks, as they defeated BRNESC Firsts 3-2 in an end-to-end Alan Brown Trophy encounter.
BRNESC struck first just six minutes in, as David Calvert lifted a dangerous ball into the Harps’ box. A mix-up between centre-back and goalkeeper left Kurtis Sankeh with the simple job of converting from just a few yards out.
Their lead did not last for long, as Tom Mooney found the head of Rhys McKeever to make it all even just another five minutes later. They then added a third on the 20-minute mark, with McKeever once again hammering home from close range as the ball found its way over to the far side of the box.

McKeever got involved once again, working the ball down the right-hand side for Shaun Bevan to whip into the box, where BRNESC right-back Ben Harper couldn’t avoid turning the ball into his own net, making it 3-1.
Just two minutes into the second period, and the visitors had clawed one back; Paul Dowd’s header was saved well by Josh Brattin, but fell luckily for Dan Hannah, who had a simple task to make it 3-2.

It wasn’t enough though, as the Harps repelled 45 minutes of pressure to survive the half, and make it to both cup finals, after they beat Sefton Park Rangers last weekend.
Harps Manager, Daniel McGonigle, was impressed by his side’s performance. He said: “It’s unbelievable. It really is. We talked about Irish soul making our two cup runs, and we said, look we want two finals now.

“Aaron Irvine on the left-wing was brilliant- he turned over so much ball, his runs were unbelievable. That’s one standout but everyone put in an absolute shift today and I’m really proud of the lads for doing that.”

On the two-time goal scorer Rhys McKeever, he said: “Rhys is always a bag of energy. He is always willing to create something. Two goals as well- a header from a ridiculous distance out.

“And then Doc McClosky just ran the show, picked up the ball and always kept us driving forward.”

Robbie White, BRNESC manager, agreed that the midfield might’ve been where the game was lost, saying: “They overran us a little bit, and that was down possibly to myself not getting lads in there quick enough to sort that problem out, but we did in the end, getting another forward out there and changed things up.

“I think in the second half we came out really well and were ultimately unlucky not to win it in the end. That’s the way football goes sometimes.”

Ultimately it is the Harps who saw out the game to take them through to yet another cup final, where they will face Championship winners, and Harps’ nemesis, Cheshire Lines in the final.

Check out the Highlights & Interviews here: https://youtu.be/U7mpFmV65pI?feature=shared