Dromara Just Pipped By Islandmagee

Dromara’s good run came to an end on Saturday when they lost a game they really should had wrapped up. Islandmagee were the visitors and the game started at breathtaking pace with both sides attacking at pace. The visitors were always going to be dangerous at set plays with a big centreforward and centrebacks. They went close when one header went over the bar when they should have hit the target. Dromara started to string some nice moves together and one saw a ball across the box put over the bar by Thompson. Islandmagee defended well but they were increasingly frustrating the home side and the referee with a string of niggly fouls to break up Dromaras forays forward.The half ended scoreless with Preece in goals having to tip one shot over but struggled with an injury for the rest of the game. The second half saw Dromara taking more control of proceedings and the away teams names started to mount up in the referees book as he lost patience with the fouls and verbal abuse he was getting. Dromara took the lead when from a freekick out on the right Aaron Thompson struck an unstoppable shot from twenty five yards into the top left hand corner.This was the lift they needed and looked the likely side to win the game, McStravick then saw a header from a corner hit the crossbar and bounce down on the line before being hacked to safety.Dromara after this then got envolved after a number of bad tackles and lost their way  a bit and their concentration. This resulted in a freekick crossed to the back post, a forward was left unmarked to head in from close range with the keeper rooted to his line.The home side then pushed for the winner but could not get the breakthrough with the opposition centre-half having a storming game at the back. With minutes remaining their right back was sent of for kicking and punching out so was another opportunity to take the points. With O’Connor out up front, they lacked the killer instinct in front of goal, and with minutes remaining a freekick again launched into the box saw a flick on and a player unmarked at the back stick to prod home. A blow to lose a match when even a point would have been the least they deserved. Next week sees an away game to Downpatrick and the following Thursday away to Killyleagh. ]]>