Callum Dougan goes on a goal scoring spree for Drumaness Mills
The NAFL,
Premier League,
Venue: Meadowvale, Sqaturday 5th April 2025,
Final Score: Drumaness Mills 6 2 Ards Rangers.
Drumaness Mills were definitely in top form against Ards Rangers in this league clash with Calum Dougan nailing 4 goals, one with a spectacular overhead kick to the top of the Rangers net writes Jim Masson.
The Mills got into the groove early against Ards Rangers and Callum Dougan and Josh McGivern almost pulled off a goal 6 minutes into the game on a fast run forward.
But Ards were not sitting back and broke forward with Creaney hitting just wide.
In the 12th minute Callum Dougan opened the scoring for Drumaness collecting the ball at the back of the Ards box and ran a few steps and fired it into the net to the left hand post.
Then 3 minutes later, left winger Adam Kearney crossed in and from the goal scramble that followed, Dougan got his toe to the ball and knocked it over the line.
Peter Brannigan was playing well in mid-field spreading balls around and Declan Looney almost scored from a pass but the quick acting Sloan in the Ards defence blocked his efforts.
But eventually a Brannigan pass to Looney worked wonders as he circumvented the defenders and knocked in number three for Drumaness on 25 minutes.
At this point, the fans were cheering on their team with gusto but there was a lot more action to come.
Looney struck again on the 28th minute when he received a pass from Dougan and ran at pace at the Ards goal side-stepping defenders Sloan and Spiers and netted the ball past keeper Lawson.
Ards did not seem to have an answer for the rampant Dougan who continued to harass their back lines. Dougan made an great pass to McGivern which almost created a goal.
Holland made a powerful volley at the Ards goal close in and on a good day it would have see the back of the net but keeper Lawson made a reflex saw and just managed to get his boot to the ball to deflect for a corner.
Then it was Adam Kearney’s turn to volley at the Ards goal but Lawson made a good save.
Then on 42 minutes, Ards made a fight back and pulled a goal back.
Ards came out fighting into the second period and Pierpont almost scored from a solid volley but Domican got the ball under control.
However, after some determined pressing into the Drumaness half, Ards midfielder Creaney closed the deficit with a goal in the 57th minute setting the score at 4-2.
Drumaness then rallied fearing the worst and Dougan again started challenging up front. A pass from Kearney hard on the Ards line to Dougan saw the home side go another goal ahead securing Dougan’s hat-trick.
At this stage Dougan was a strong presence in the centre forward position threatening constantly. Then in the 60th minute Dougan smashed a tremendous overhead kick in from a corner to the top of the Ards net to the raptures of the spectators.
Ards kept on playing and a credit to them as there was only one yellow card dished out in this competitive match.
There were other opportunities for Drumaness as the game unfolded, but they had done enough to secure a league win and substitutions were made in the later stages of the game.
This was an impressive show from Drumaness who are intent on finishing their league campaign in style.
Despite a goal from Ashton King on 42 minutes and another from Joshua Creaney on 57 minutes, the Ards did well to keep out Ards who showed spells of determination.
In the NAFL Premier League, East Belfast is topping the League on 47 points on 23 games byt Derriaghy CC are also on their heels wo=ith 47 points having played just 20 matches.
Drumaness is currently in third spot on 39 points on 20 matches. But Crumlin Star and Comber Rec and possibly Rosario are hovering behind the leaders. It looks as though this league championship is going to be a close cut business and technically, Drumaness Mills are still in there.
Drumnaness Mills: 1 Keeegan Domican 2 Aaron Mooney 3 Sean Holland 4 Conor McGourty 5 Gary Murdock (C) 6 Peter Brannigan 7 Declan Looney 8 Andrew Watson 9 Callum Dougan 10 James McGivern 11 Adam Kearney. Subs: 14 Lewie Soar 15 Shea Curran 17 Ben McNarlin.
Ards Rangers: 1 Rhys Lawson 2 Harry McIlwrath 3 AdamSloan 4 Taylor Shaw 5 Scott Spiers 6 Joshua Creaney 7 Michael Hunter (C) 8 Mark Armstrong 9 Philip Simpson 10 Chrisopher Pierpont 11 Ashton King. Subs: 12 Philip Simpson 14 Jame Sloan 15 Noah Crenshaw.
