Drumaness Mills Beat Rosario For Place In Border Cup Final
The NAFL
Border Regiment Cup Tie Round 5.
Seaview, on Wednesday 16th November 2022.
Drumaness Mills 3 0 Rosario FC.
On Wednesday evening at the Seaview soccer stadium in Belfast, Drumaness Mills showed what they were made of in a three goal victory over Rosario FC in the Border Cup semi-final writes Jim Masson.
Following the lack-lustre 2-0 defeat at Parkway to Comber FC last Saturday, Drumaness came out to face Rosario with a strong squad and no injuries and were up for the challenge.
Manager Mark Kerr and his management team have done an excellent job in preparing the squad for the final stages of the Border Regiment Cup.
The match started off with Drumaness pressing forward then Rosario launched an offensive with Scollay winning a corner.
As Rosario tried to go up a gear in attacks, the Drumaness defence held well from the whistle.
Just minutes into the game, Jack Sharvin blasted at the Rosario goal albeit over the post but he was testing the ground for things to come later in the match.
McConville made an early volley for Rosario but Drumaness keeper McCann held it well. Then Drumaness pressed forward again and won two corners putting a bit of increasing pressure on Rosario.
Rosario did spring back but defender Domican made a great intervention to thwart the surging Rosario forwards. And Murdock too was on top form clearing balls and protecting the Drumaness goal area.
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Drumaness almost scored when Kearney took a free kick on the left wing and both Dougan and Murdock charged in almost forcing the ball into the Rosario net. This was followed by an excellent volley from 40 yards by Dougan which just sailed over the Rosario top bar.
This match settled down into a great contest of fast paced soccer with both teams getting close to the goal areas and firing off shots, mostly not on target. Dougan on 15 minutes got possession in the back of the Rosario box but before he could turn and shoot the defenders were onto him.
As the game progressed, Drumaness started to look like the more dominant side, with better passing skills and possession.
Sharvin again sent another volley just wide of the post. At this point Rosario were feeling the pressure and put on Max Millar and Dougal was back on the bench.
Rosario were despite the increasing Drumaness pressure capable of making a few useful quick breaks. Defender Mallon managed to get a snap shot at the Drumaness goal but keeper Conor McCann managed to smother the ball on the line.
Sharvin was sitting back just a few paces from his forward line and he fed some excellent balls into the danger zone. One deep pass to Kearney on the left almost worked but it was just a bit too pacey. But Sharvin was honing a feel for the Rosario goal. The fans were waiting, willing him on to show some of the flashes of magic he is capable off.
Murdock made an excellent deep pass to Sharvin who fired on target but keeper Hynes managed to palm the ball out.
Then just when the game needed a goal, Callum Dougan produced one for Drumaness. He got possession inside the Rosario half and carried the ball past the defence into the box and slammed it past McCann into the middle of the Rosario net. With just two minutes to go to half-time.
Seconds before the whistle for the break, Drumaness battled through the stunned Rosario back line and Kearney almost managed to toe the ball in from a cross right in front of goal.
In the second period, Drumaness went off to a flying start intent on increasing their one goal lead. Kearney made a brilliant cross to Rooney on the opposite wing who scythed his way towards the Rosario goal.
Overall Drumaness were showing solid teamwork and were working the wings well keeping the play open as much as possible.
At almost 55 minutes, Sharvin took a free kick within striking distance of the goal and it took a great save by Hynes to keep the ball out of the net.
Then one minute later Jack Sharvin coffin-nailed the Rosario goal with a tremendous volley that hit the post in the net and the roar of the Drumaness spectators said it all as Hynes was helpless to stop the powerful shot which shook the whole goal posts. Rosario’s fate was now sealed… almost.
Defender Lundy nearly caught Rosario keeper napping outside his box when he lobbed in a shot which was just over the top bar.
Try as they did, Rosario fought back with some good attacks, but the Drumaness defence were too resolute for them. Rosario then substituted Max Millar for Patrick Mallon who had had a very busy time in the defensive line.
The game ebbed and flowed then Rosario took Stephen Dougal off, another defender, replacing him with Adam McCamley. But just when they thought they could turn the tide, Oisin Savage struck a blow for Drumaness by tucking the ball into the Rosario net from a scramble in front of goal on 77 minutes putting Drumaness 2 goals ahead.
The game had up to this point been a gentlemanly affair, but a flare up between Drumaness midfielder Savage and Rosario sub McCamley ended with both receiving yellow cards with just 9 minutes to play out (which included 3 minutes extra time.)
In the dying embers of the match, Drumaness manager Kerr, delighted with his teams performance put on fresh subs Burns and Mason for Sharvin and Rooney respectively buying up precious seconds waiting for the final whistle.
The Drumaness Mills team outshone Rosario for most of the match and deserved their three goals. Both teams missed opportunities though, and certainly Rosario will regret this the morning after especially their failed goal attempts from the significant number of corners.
Drumaness now prepare for the final against either Derriaghy CC or Crumlin Star who play their Round 5 match on Wednesday 25th November at 8pm at Seaview. It will be a tough test for them whoever wins on the 27th, but based on their current cup form, I’d safely bet my 50p on the nose of Drumaness to win.
Drumaness Mills: Conor McCann, Keegan Domican, Eoin Lundy, Thomas McConville, Gary Murdock (C), Oisin Savage, Eoin Rooney, Kyle McCleary, Callum Dougan, Jack Sharvin, Adam Kearney. Subs: Cillian Burns, Joe Healy, Stefan Mason.
Rosario FC: Mark Hynes, Patrick Mallon (C), Paidraig Scollay, Stephen Dougal, Michael McBriarty, Dominic McConville, Conor Murray, Michael Ward, Thomas Burns, Jonny Gowdy, Pierce Arterton. Subs: Matthew Donnelly, Max Miller, Adam McCamley.
