[caption id="attachment_68056" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Sean McMullen was Shamrock Reserves hat-trick hero."]
Karl Hughes's wonder strike on the hour sank East leaders Barnstonworth Premier 1-0 on Randalls Island last Sunday, ending a run of poor results for the Shamrock Over-30s.
The pacey winger lobbed the Premier goalie from some 35 yards out to hand Shamrock their first league win since Oct. 10. They'd lost three of their last four matches and slipped to third place from the helm in the West.
Paddy McCarry's lads [4-3-1, 13] climbed one rung into joint second with New York Greek-American/Atlas after the latter succumbed 3-2 to Manhattan Kickers. New York Dinamo [5-1-1, 16] lead the West.
"Tough, tough game but we got the win," said McCarry. "It's the strongest [squad] I had out all season."
POINT MADE
After losing seven straight this season in the Second Division, Shamrock's senior team picked up its first point from a 1-1 tie with EMC under faulty lights on Randalls Island.
EMC's Nick McClefferty beat goalie Dan Greenberg from 30 yards 13 minutes from time to cancel out Sean Riley's early opener [15th] and deny the Rocks a much needed win.
"Despite the fact that the field lights were operating at 50% both teams played some good football but Shamrocks will rue a missed opportunity to take three points for the first time this season," said Glen Wrafter.
His side [0-7-1] remains bottom of the table, three points adrift of EMC.
THE McMULLEN SHOW
Sean McMullen, described by EMC boss Eddie Yee Woo Guo as a "210 pound bulldozer of a striker," was the hat trick hero in a 4-1 rout by the Shamrock reserves.
Shawn Duda also connected and assisted on McMullen's third goal. Joaquin netted EMC's face-saver.
"It could have been more but EMC made us work," said Robbie Walsh.
CELTIC EXPRESS
Atop the Division Two standings, Austin McCann kept Manhattan Celtic's hundred percent record going with the only goal of the match against Central Park Rangers at Icahn Stadium.
Celtic, beaten 2-0 in the curtain raiser, are now 7-0 [21], five points clear of second place Hoboken FC.
BHOYS SLIP
Lansdowne Bhoys slipped out of first place on the Cosmopolitan Soccer League First Division [West] standings after a 2-0 loss to Clarkstown SC at Tibbets Brook Park.
Mike Konicoff's brace dropped the Bhoys [4-2-2, 14] into second place. It was their first defeat since a 2-1 setback to New York Athletic Club [NYAC] in their season opener, September 11.
With Barnstonworth Rovers blanking NYAC 2-0 on the day, Bhoys now trail the sole leaders by three points
"We deserved to lose - no complaints. Bad day at the office for many reasons," shrugged coach Kevin Grogan, whose reserves drew 0-0.
KEVIN GOAL
Earlier at Tibbets Park, Kevin McGinney had tallied in the Lansdowne thirds' 2-1 Metro Div. II capitulation to Grenadier Zenith.
Harvey Bertrand Jr. and Kerby Mimmy were the Zenith marksmen.
