Burtney scores 40-yard cracker to seal the deal for Dromara Village in Round 3 clash with Woodvale
NAFL Border Cup Round 3,
Bellsbridge on 7th October 2023,
Dromara Village 3 2 Woodvale FC.
Dromara started this knockout match out of kilter but came to life in the second half to finally enjoy a screamer of a 40-yard volley from Alex Burney on the left over the keeper’s head to clinch the win over Woodvale writes Jim Masson.
Dromara did make the initial moves to press visitors Woodvale but gradually the focus seamed to drain from the side that is so normally sharp throughout.
Stephen Kennedy was doing his best in the first half and made a pass through to John Mahoney who almost got there in front of Woodvale keeper Jordan McKay.
Woodvale then stepped up the pressure on Dromara launching a number of feisty attacks that seemed to through the Dromara defence with captain Graham Ashton getting a half chance with a header then winning two corers.
Alex Burtney had a great game and slide a ball through to Kennedy. On a good day it would have been in the back of the net but saw the keeper again come out sharply to thwart his attack.
Woodvale’s Scott Campbell made a solid cross to Daniel Ellis on the left wing but a timely interception from Peter Turley disrupted the goal opportunity.
But Woodvales best effort came so far when forward Callan McCredie volleyed and hit the top bar from the back of the box.
Then as Dromara replied as Marcus Murphy played the ball to winger Ben Martin but again keeper McKay was on fire and on top of it.
Dromara were living dangerously and Woodvale could sense their lack of coordination.
Check out 20 PHOTOS FROM THE MATCH BY Jim MASSON / DOWN NEWS ©
Gradually Dromara started to show signs of coming to life and launched a good attack with Sam Kirk passing through to Martin who passed to Murphy but the ball seemed to take a bad bounce and Murphy lost control.
On 27 minutes a low cross from Damien Turley was almost headed in by Murphy with Martin in close.
Dromara were generating to opportunities but had a few bad breaks and were not getting a rub of the green.
Woodvale were continually dangerous and a free kick by McCredie on 30 minutes was inches wide of the right hand post.
Despite the hiccups, Dromara were moving the ball well about the pitch keeping play open but the frustration of being goalless was palpable.
Then Woodvale struck a blow in the 33rd minute when winger Daniel Ellis popped the ball into the middle of the Dromara net catching the defenders off guard.
Immediately Dromara fought back with shots from Murphy and (John) Mahoney and they continued to exert pressure on the visitors.
Kennedy then hit over the bar to join the club, but the pressure of possible defeat was what helped galvanise the Dromara team effort. Team pride kicked in!
As the first half ended, Woodvale won a free and Luke McCausland headed past the left hand post.
The match was not without its tensions and the referee had to resort to his yellow card 7 times and a double yellow led to Kennedy going towards the end of the match as tempers started to flare.
Then in the 43 minute Martin made a break through the defence and was in the box with a clear shot at the goal for an equaliser but hit wide… a wasted opportunity.
But Dromara came out a stronger side in the second half having sorted out their Gremlins.
With both guns blazing Burtney got straight into attack mode.
Then it was Murphy’s chance to set a volley on target but it was just over the bar.
Burtney again lashed a ball at the Woodvale goal and it hit the top spar but they kept the pressure up relentlessly.
Burtney was well fired up but was taken down by the goalkeeper and the referee awarded a penalty for Dromara.
Check out 20 PHOTOS FROM THE MATCH BY Jim MASSON / DOWN NEWS ©
In 56th minute Murphy equalised from the penalty spot with a screamer into the top of the Woodvale net and the relief in the Dromara team was visible.
But there many’s a slip twixt cup and lip, and 7 minutes later, on a break the visitors went back into the lead as McCausland hit the ball into the net past the defenders in apparent turmoil.
Dromara quickly replied with a goal minutes later when sub James Mahoney worked the hball down the left wing into the back of the box and facing the keeper slotted it past him for a 2-2 equaliser keeping Dromara still in the frame.
Murphy was playing a key role in the attacks on Woodvale and had one shot saved that was on target and another just saved by a great reflex save by keeper McKay. Dromara needed just one more break!
Captain Philip Kerr made an excellent contact with a 40-yard volley but it just rose over the top bar.
Dromara were at last pushing to kill the game off but play was getting physical and intense.
Sub James Mahoney showed his fresh legs on the left and made a good run passing to Martin who passed back and Mahoney missed a chance of a goal when he failed to connect properly.
Woodvale made a break at this point and McCredie took a shot at the Dromara sticks at an angle under pressure on the line and almost got it in to the back top left hand corner.
Then, in a moment that will be remembered at Bellsbridge fore some time to come, James Mahoney ran with the ball at pace in the 43rd minute.
When he was within striking distance at 40 yards, hit a peach of a volley over keeper McKay’s head dipping into the top of the net.
A hearty celebration followed by the Dromara players after Mahoney showed them all how to do it!
The game had been hard on both teams and eventually an off-the-ball incident caused Stephen Kennedy to get a red card as he said he had been stamped on while on the ground.
Never-the-less, Dromara kept up the pressure and the game ended with a run by Murphy looking for a late goal to seal the game but keeper McKay came out and forced him to hit wide and into the side net.
This was a match of two halves. Dromara came back into it in the second half with Burtney having a hand in two goals but Woodvale were there to win and showed they had the will and the way to do it.
But it was Dromara won who in the end through to the quarter finals of the NAFL Border Cup on Saturday 4th November against Rosemount Rec.
Comber Rec also won through on a 2-3 win against Derriaghy CC.
But the bogey team that no-one will want to face until the final is Crumlin Star who play St Matthews, while Willowbank play off with Larne Tech OB.
The semi-finals take place on 15th and 22nd November and the final is on 27th December.
Dromara Village: 1 John Connolly (GK) 2 Alex Burtney 3 Conor Murray 4 Damien Turley 5 Peter Turley 6 Sam Kirk 7 John Mahoney 8 Philip Kerr (C) 9 Marcus Murphy 10 Stephen Kennedy 11 Ben Martin. Subs: 12 Jonathan Gregg 14 James Mahoney 15 Jordan Clarke.
Woodvale FC: 1 Jordan McKay (GK) 2 Samuel Parkinson 3 Conlaed Parkinson 4 Graham Ashton (C) 5 Alfie Gilmore 6 Scott Campbell 7 Luke McCausland 8 Rhys Grainger 9 Callan McCredie 10 Jonathan McKee 11 Daniel Ellis. Subs: 12 Ryan Bingham 13 Blake Watters 14 Jonathan Ward.
