Killymoon Rangers recorded their biggest victory since their promotion season when they hit 9 against Portadown BBOB, but at half-time the main concern for the Cookstown outfit was preventing a shock result against the lower league opposition.
The home side were quick out off the blocks when they took the lead after only 4 minutes. With Patrick McElhatton unavailable, Marc Stewart made his first start of the season and showed his predatory instinct following up after Warren Smith’s shot rebounded into his path and Stewart hooked the ball into the net. This gave Killymoon the perfect start and they began to play some of their best football of the season with their passing and movement cutting through the visitor’s defence with ease. W. Smith went close on a number of occasions and William Montgomery crashed a powerful header of the post as Killymoon looked to extend their lead. With Gareth Maguire in the Killymoon goal having little to do it came as a surprise when Portadown drew level after 25 minutes. With the wind blowing towards the home goal a long throw into the penalty area wasn’t dealt with and a Portadown player was able to get the slightest of touches to flick the ball into net. Despite this Killymoon continued to play some attractive football but they were unable to find the finishing touch in front of goal and were made to pay 8 minutes from half-time. A throw-in from a similar position to the first goal had the same effect when the delivery caused confusion in the Killymoon penalty area and an attacking Portadown defender found himself unmarked 4 yards from goal and he bundled the ball into the net. Unable to make the most of possession Killymoon went into the break trailing despite playing some excellent football.
The home side came out in the second half determined to turn their dominance into goals, but even the most optimistic supporter did not expect the start Killymoon made scoring 4 goals in the opening 8 minutes of the re-start. It started when Montgomery made his way down the right wing and his shot was well saved by the Portadown keeper but W. Smith was lurking and knocked the rebound into an empty net. Before the visitors could get their breath they found themselves behind when Montgomery again found space down the right and his ball into the front post was missed by an inrushing defender and the keeper was only able to push the ball into his own net, with Montgomery doing what all strikers do and claim the goal for himself. The pressure was unrelentless and the Portadown defence was torn apart with some clinical finishing that had been missing from Killymoon’s game this season. M. Stewart struck an excellent goal from outside the penalty area for his second of the game and not to be outdone Montgomery hit his second and Killymoon’s fifth when he took the ball from a short corner and drilled the ball across the goal and past all the players in the box into the bottom of the net. With Portadown shell shocked and the game virtually over Killymoon were able to give Kyle Smith and Cameron Stewart a run from the bench, but they never took their foot off the accelerator and W. Smith hit number 6 before Portadown pulled a goal back but substitute C. Stewart then side footed his first goal of the season and Killymoon’s seventh. Killymoon’s other striker Martin Bogan got in on the scoring act when he had the easy task of scoring into an empty net as the home side continued to tear the visitors’ defence apart. Recent signing Wayne Reid came on for the final 20 minutes for his debut and fitted well into the defence and Montgomery rounded off a perfect afternoon for himself and the team with his hat-trick. Despite having 15 minutes still remaining Killymoon couldn’t hit double figures as the beleaguered were thankful to hear the final whistle.
During the season Killymoon have played some good football without the end product and it was no surprise when they started to click last Saturday when you look at the attacking options available at the club. With a number of players pushing for selection from the reserves and players like Marc Stewart proving they are more than capable of playing in the first team there is going to be a lot of competition for places over the coming months. Killymoon’s next fixture isn’t to 1st December when they travel to Downshire YM in the Intermediate Cup.
Team: Gareth Maguire, Conall Kilpatrick, Gareth McFarland, Steven McElhatton, Stephen Purvis, Marc Stewart, David McMullan, Conor Marlin, Warren Smith, Martin Bogan, William Montgomery Subs 12. Kyle Smith 13. Cameron Stewart 14. Wayne Reid |
