Joseph Anang at St Patrick's Athletic

Loan Watch: Anang features twice for St Pat's

Joseph Anang continued his loan spell with St Patrick's Athletic with two further appearances for the League of Ireland Premier Division side in the last few days. 

The Academy goalkeeper is spending the 2022 campaign on loan with the Saints as he continues his development, and played in fixtures against Finn Harps and Shamrock Rovers on Friday 24 June and Monday 27 June respectively.

The 22-year-old was named in the starting XI for Friday's trip to Ballybofey to face bottom-of-the-table Finn Harps, and St Pat's stormed into the lead early on. Billy King gave the visitors a sixth-minute advantage with a close-range finish, tapping home Mark Doyle's well-placed cross. 

Anang's side pushed to extend the advantage and would get their just rewards on 64 minutes, again through King. The winger's quick feet and skill on the edge of the area created space, allowing him to fire home a left-footed strike from distance.

Eoin Doyle should have wrapped up the win with a third goal, only to sky an effort from close range, before Harps got a goal back on 88 minutes as Jose Carrillo swept home past Anang. 

Frustration would turn into heartbreak for St Pat's when the home side were able to equalise in the seventh minute of added-time, as Ethan Boyle headed home from a corner over Anang's outstretched glove. 

Joseph Anang for St Pat's

The on-loan Hammers stopper and his teammates sought to return to winning ways at home to Shamrock Rovers on Monday evening in a Dublin derby. 

Despite outplaying their opponents for large portions of the first period, Athletic were unable to make their chances count, with Doyle and King both failing to capitalise on big opportunities in front of goal. 

League leaders Rovers made the home side pay for missing their chances in the second half as Andy Lyons struck just after the hour-mark, before Aaron Greene beat Anang at the near post following some individual brilliance in the build-up. 

St Pat's would pull a late goal back, courtesy of Doyle from the penalty spot in stoppage time, but were unable to complete a comeback of their own. 

Anang and his teammates sit fourth in the League of Ireland Premier Division, with 32 points from 22 matches played, ahead of Friday's home game with Drogheda United at Richmond Park on Friday 1 July.

 

Kit