Dromara Village break Rosemount Rec five year home win league record
As the NAFL Division 1A season draws to an exciting close, Dromara have broken free of the pack and already have achieved promotion.
On Saturday they beat league rivals Rosemount Rec in a tense thriller with Peter Turley delivering the killer blow to Rosemount in the 93rd minute in extra time as the teams were poised at 4:4.
Dromara just needs a points from their remaining three league games to be the league champions whereas Rosemount need to win all six games but they are very likely to fall on goal difference in that eventuality as Dromara leads on this.
The tussle for second place is between Rosemount and Dromara andit it did not help KIlmore’s position with a 0-2 defeat against Albert Foundry on Saturday.
The long-awaited clash of the league leaders eventually happened at the Islandpark pitch in Greyabbey and Rosemount’s formidable five year record hung in the balance in Dromara was to win the points.
After a quick Dromara attack Rosemount were not long in challenging the visitors’ goal area in move from Reece Ritchie.
But Dromara managed to contain the initial pressure from Rosemount and the foraged ahead with quick attacks on the small pitch they were masters of playing.
Dromara did manage to press forward and a free kick at 40 yards by Stephen Kennedy went a fraction wide of the post.
Then a long ball into front player Ritchie in the 13th minute saw Rosemount go a goal ahead with his side side despite appeals for being offside.
As Dromara managed to keep their cool, they mounted a solid attack and 5 minutes the referee blew when he spotted a handball and pointed to the spot. Marcus Murphy stepped up and drove the ball into the Rosemount net to equalise.
Then 2 minutes into the action Rhys Kelly cross from the right to Peter Turley who first timed the ball in past keeper Christopher Rice on 20 minutes putting Dromara into the lead.
Dromara again looked confident and were playing like champions. However, Rosemount were not going to give up their 5 year undefeated home match record that easily.
They fought back and one volley was inches wide of the right hand post. The match still hung in the balance.
Then Murphy ran into the Rosemount goal area past defenders but his shot went just wide.
Rosemount mounted a ferocious spell of attacks trying to claw back their reputation by Dromara were intent on collecting the points. The home side contested every decision by the referee and as the game progressed, this increased as Dromara turned the screws and pushed into the Rosemount half.
The temperature of the game rose considerable as Rosemount anxieties built up and hard tackles emerged from both sides.
A great move from Philip Kerr to Alex Burtney saw Nathan Hamilton volley but keeper Rice was fortunate to be in the right place to deflect the ball.
Eventually Dromara midfielder Nathan Hamilton received a yellow card and minutes later just before the half time whistle, Marcus Murphy received a red card putting Dromara down to 10 men.
The second half was an explosive affair. Dromara proceeded with an attack and defender Jonathan Gregg hit the ball just over the crossbar for an opener.
Then Kerr passed to Kelly and keeper Rice just managed to save the ensuing volley. Dromara were upping their game even with a man short.
Rhys Kelly battled well and managed to win a corner in an attack when captain Luke Russell almost nodded in with a header.
Another goal looked imminent and Kerr cross to sub Ben Martin but his shot was well blocked by Rice. Then Kelly minutes later just missed a going wide.
Then, out of the blue, Kelly got possession just outside the Rosemount box and unleashed a fierce volley beating keeper Rice giving Dromara a comfort zone of 2 goals with 28 minutes to go of normal time.
Again minutes later Martin lashed the ball over the Rosemount posts. The frustration and palpable fear was building up in the Rosemount team as defeat starred them in the face… but they were not going to lie down without a fight.
Jordan Dalzell make an excellent strike to the right hand post on 77 minutes to pull a goal back and Rosemount went up a gear.
He then struck again in the 84th minute in Rosemount’s fight back.
Rosemount fought with every ounce of their being, but Dromara held on.
Then in the 86th, Stephen Atcheson made the match 4-4 with an incredible snapshot.
Both teams were now digging deep in a match that was drawn with minutes to play. Rosemount made a huge effort and won a corner sub Scott Shannon almost netted with his header.
Then as the game was in the dying embers, Ben Martin took a free kick and sent the ball to Peter Turley who made no mistake in converting the goal three minutes into extra time.
It was a tremendous victory for Dromara securing the vital points against their only competition for the League Cup.
Full credit to Rosemount Rec for being unbeaten at home in league matches for 5 years, but it was Dromara who finally burst their bubble.
It looks as though Rosemount will gain promotion this season to Kilmore coming into third place but that will play itself out in the remaining few games left for the season.
This was an great end of season performance by Dromara Village who are relishing life in the fast lane next season in the Premier League.
Rosemount Rec: 1 Christopher Rice (GK), 2 Neil Melville, 3 Dillon Turnbull, 4 Stephen Atcheson, 5 Matthew McEvoy, 6 Ryan Stewart (C) 7 Luke McKee 8 Luke Adair 9 Jordan Dalzell 10 Reece Ritchie 11 Curtis Giltrap. Subs: 12 Nicholas Eccles 14 Scott Shannon 14 Scott Crawford.
Dromara Village: 1 John Connolly (GK) 2 Jonathan Gregg 3 Damien Turley 4 Luke Russell (C) 5 Peter Turley 6 Nathan Hamilton 7 Rhys Kelly 8 Philip Kerr 9 Marcus Murphy 10 Stephen Kennedy 11 Alex Burtney. Subs: 12 Jordan Clarke 14 Ruairi McArdle 15 Ben Martin.
