Despite the heavy frost the previous night, the referee decided that the pitch last Saturday was ‘just playable’ and the match commenced with Killymoon hoping to get back into winning ways after the previous week’s draw.

The first half saw the visitors’ dominate possession, but Ballymacash created a number of good chances on the break. Francisco Gomes had the first chance when his speed got him in behind the home defence but the midfielder found it difficult to get the ball under control on the uneven pitch and the chance went begging. Warren Smith then tested the keeper with a dipping shot, but the Ballymacash number one was able to tip the ball over the crossbar. Killymoon looked to have taken the lead on 15 minutes when a scramble in the penalty area resulted in Brian Mulligan’s shot being cleared off the line and in the melee the visitors’ had a strong claim for a penalty, but the referee waved play on. Marc Stewart was the next Killymoon player to go close, but his long range effort went narrowly wide. It wasn’t all one way traffic as the home side had to excellent chances to go ahead within 5 minutes but on both occasions they failed to hit the target with the Killymoon defence stretched.

With the playing surface not suited to playing passing football there was a lot of long balls being played by both sides and in the second half most of the play by-passed the midfield as both teams looked for the opener. Killymoon still had most of the possession, but the better chances were created by Ballymacash and it took goal line clearances by Nigel Purvis, Steven McElhatton and Gareth McFarland to prevent Killymoon from going behind. At the other end Killymoon were finding it difficult to break down the home defence and Patrick McElhatton, Martin Bogan and William Montgomery were all introduced to try and get the important goal. Killymoon were getting frustrated and the number of times they were getting caught by the home sides off-side trap, but when Smith did get through his cross missed everyone in the middle to find Bogan coming in at the back post, but his effort went into the side netting. A series of corners and free-kicks also failed to find the break-through and as time was running out P. McElhatton thought he had won the match. The tricky winger went past a number of challenges before shooting low towards the corner of the Ballymacash net however, the home keeper pulled off the save of the match turning the ball around the post.

For the second week in a row Killymoon dropped vital points in matches they are expected to win, but expectations will have to be lowered as there are no easy matches in this league and any points will have to be earned the hard way. The positives coming from the match were the clean sheet and the effort all the players put in and with matches against 3 of the top teams in the league coming up over the next few weeks there will be no let up for the Cookstown lads. This Saturday Killymoon travel to Laurelvale.

The players and management would like to extend their sympathies to the former player Kenny Reid and his family on the recent death of his son Callum and also to Callum’s uncle, Killymoon Rangers Chairman, David Reid.

Team: Gareth Maguire, Nigel Purvis, Adrian Ferson, Gareth McFarland, David McMullan, Stephen Purvis, Marc Stewart, Steven McElhatton, Warren Smith, Brian Mulligan, Francisco Gomes, Subs: 12. Patrick McElhatton 13. Martin Bogan, 14. William Montgomery