Visitors Strangford Take Home The Points From Win Against Ballynagross
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League.
Premier Division.
Saturday 29th October at Moutain Quarter.
Ballynagross 1 3 Strangford FC.
This local derby was played at a damp and dreary Mountain Quarter at Saul and was a closely fought competitive encounter and the visitors who left with the spoils writes Cyril McKinney.
Both sides started brightly but a crowded midfield made it difficult for either side to get the ball down and play creative football.
It wasn’t until the 19th minute when Ballynagross’ keeper Arnold fumbled a long range shot but Strangford midfielder Shane Taggart blazed over the bar from the rebound.
Within a minute later Ballynagross took the lead with a piece of magic on the left flank.
Philip Doran received the ball on the left wing and cut in onto his right foot and unleashed a right foot curler from 18 yards out.
Despite the best efforts of Strangford keeper Holland at full stretch the ball ended up in the back of the net. A great goal from a player who was a constant threat on the left throughout the first half.
On 25 minutes Strangford number 10 Mahoney saw his diving header hit the keeper’s left post with the goal at his mercy after some great approach play by Lawson.
As the game unfolded, Ballynagross had a chance to stretch their lead but Holland saved well from McComiskey and from an acute angle Doran was wide of the mark from the rebound.
Strangford responded well and were rewarded on 40 minutes when Mahoney cleverly fired a low shot across Arnold in the home nets to make the half-time score 1-1.
Both sides started brightly in the second half and both sides fought for every ball in a congested midfield.
As tensions began to heat up, the referee was forced to bring out the yellow cards.
Clear cut chances were few in the early stages of the half. Strangford’s Lawson was high and wide from distance on 56 minutes while at the other end McComiskey blazed wide as he cut in from the right wing near the end line with better options open to him in the middle.
As time went on Strangford were having more of the ball and eventually they found a way through when, from a right wing corner, Taggart was in the right place to steer the ball home in a crowded goalmouth to put the visitors ahead on 64 minutes.
Ballynagross raised the tempo but were crowded out in midfield and seemed unable to break through a very resolute Strangford defence.
Both teams fought hard for every tackle and closed each other down at every opportunity and frustrations increased with every referee decision being challenged.
As Ballynagross pushed forward in search of an equaliser they were almost caught on the counter attack but Mahoney somehow put his tap-in chance wide with the net at his mercy on 75 minutes.
Then Cathail Arnold made a fantastic finger tip save on 86 minutes to keep his side in a with a chance.
In added time Ballynagross forward McComiskey was sent off for his second bookable offence following a melee involving players from both teams.
With what was the final kick of the game Strangford stretched their lead through Mahoney who nodded home from close range to leave the final score 1-3 to the visitors.
Ballynagross FC: Cathaill Arnold, Connor Marron, John Shields, John Polley, Conor Campbell, Jack Fitzsimmons, Shea McComiskey, Joseph Burns, Declan McComiskey, Thomas McNeill, Philip Doran. Subs: Ryan Tumelty Christopher Laverty, Ciaran Evans.
Strangford FC: Gregory Holland, Stefan McGrattan, Conall Magee, Thomas Fitzsimons, Fionn McFall, Shane Taggart, Michael Lawson, Rory Reilly, Callum Shields, James Mahoney, Shea Savage. Subs: Eoin Watterson, Shea Dorrian, Russell Swail.
