Killymoon Rangers Football Club, Cookstown

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Killymoon Rangers	4
Hanover	1

Sat 22 August 2009, Bob Radcliffe Cup

2:30 pm Kick off - Venue : MUSA

Killymoon Rangers welcomed ‘old’ Mid-Ulster League rivals Hanover to Cookstown last Saturday in the 1st round of the Bob Radcliffe Cup. It was just over 2 years ago that Killymoon and Hanover played out a memorable 4 all draw at the Sports Arena, with the result clinching the Mid-Ulster League title for the Portadown side. Since then Killymoon have joined the IFA Championship and Hanover are now competing in the second tier of the Mid-Ulster League after suffering relegation last season.

The game itself began with Killymoon looking to keep possession and playing the ball around the park, but it was the visitors who took advantage of an error in the home defence on 5 minutes to take the lead. As the ball was played back to keeper Gary Stewart, his attempted clearance went to Hanover’s Adam Collbert who made no mistake to give his side an early lead (0-1). Despite the setback Killymoon didn’t panic and continued to play the ball to feet in order to make the most of the synthetic surface. Strikers Ali Young and Trevor Brownlee both had efforts that went wide of the target early on but it wasn’t until 15 minutes that Killymoon had their first effort on target after Warren Smith cut a cross back to A. Young, but his shot was well saved by Simon Ferguson in the Hanover goal. On 21 minutes the home side got back on level terms when David McMullan’s long throw was flicked on by Conall Kilpatrick and Smith came in at the back post to score (1-1). Killymoon finished the half stronger with James Ferguson and Smith both shooting narrowly wide, but Hanover held out until the half time whistle..

Killymoon continued to push Hanover back at the start of the second half with Ferguson saving at the feet of Brownlee, but the visitors weren’t going to lie down and tested Stewart’s goal with a long range effort and should have done better after a sweeping move released the right winger, but the delivery didn’t live up to the build up and the danger was averted. On the hour mark Ferguson picked up the ball in the Killymoon defence and went on a run that took him past a number of Hanover players to their by-line, but Patrick McElhatton was unable to get his shot away after Ferguson’s pull back found him with just the keeper to beat. The game was flowing from end to end, but on 71 minutes it turned in Killymoon’s favour. P. McElhatton played the ball in behind the Hanover defence, who appealed for off-side against A. Young, but the referee waved play on. Young looked to be second best, but continued to chase down the pass and got his reward when the Hanover keeper completely missed the ball, leaving Young with the simplest of tasks of rolling the ball into the empty net (2-1). This was Young’s first goal for Killymoon and well deserved after his tireless display. Hanover nearly drew level a minute later as Stewart could only watch as a shot from the edge of his area cracked off his crossbar and rebounded to safety. A few minutes later Killymoon extended their lead when Brownlee was fouled in the Hanover penalty area and Stephen McElhatton made no mistake from the spot (3-1). On 80 minutes Stewart had to be alert in the home goal to tip a dangerous cross over the bar and at the other end Brownlee nearly opened his Killymoon account after a cross from Willie Watson, but his header was well saved. With 6 minutes left Smith got his fifth goal in 3 games with a neat finish after playing a one-two with Lee Hunter (4-1).

Games against Hanover were traditionally hard fought affairs and this was no different, with Killymoon having to fight back from the early setback to progress to the 2nd round and a visit to Banbridge AFC

Killymoon

1. G Stewart

2. G Crooks

3. S McElhatton

4. C Kilpatrick

5. J Ferguson

6. D McMullan

7. J Young

8. W Smith

9. T Brownlee

10. L Hunter

11. A Young