| |
| Killymoon Rangers |
0 |
| Tobermore Utd |
3 |
|
Sat 24 October 2009, Championship 2
|
| Kick off. 3:00pm |
|
| |
 |
| Killymoon Rangers Chairman welcomes match sponsor, Mark Richardson of AMERLIMO to Saturdays match |
| Killymoon Rangers poor run of results continued last Saturday in terrible conditions against Tobermore United in the Championship 2 game sponsored by Amerlimo. There was no hiding place for the brave spectators at the Sports Arena as the wind and rain made playing conditions for the players very difficult. |
| Despite Christmas being nearly 2 months away Killlymoon have already got into the festive spirit, gifting their last 3 opponents the lead by giving away penalties in the first half of each match. In the previous 2 games the Cookstown side have conceded penalties in the final 5 minutes of the first half, this time it was the first 5 minutes that was their downfall. With a strong wind at their backs, full-back James Ferguson under hit a pass back to keeper Gareth McElhatton and the Killymoon stopper clattered into a Tobermore forward inside the penalty area. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty and G McElhatton was fortunate to only receive a yellow card. After a long delay due to an injury to the Killymoon keeper, the penalty was duly converted. Despite the early mistake the home side continued to play the ball from the back but the strong wind made it difficult to get any decent delivery to the frontmen, who were feeding on scraps. Neither side could have been accused of not trying as the challenges flew in, but there was little action in either goal mouth. The home sides best chances coming from 2 free-kicks late in the half, but on both occasions they never troubled the Tobermore keeper, who had more difficulty keeping the ball in one place, due to the wind, in order to take the goal kicks. |
|
The second half was a much better performance from Killymoon as they had more control playing into the wind as Tobermore struggled not to over hit the ball to their strikers, but took every opportunity to shoot when in sight of goal. Despite putting more pressure on the Tobermore back-line they found it difficult to break the experienced rearguard. On 65 minutes the visitors got a fortunate second when their right back attempted to cross the ball, but it was caught in the wind and changed direction, going straight into the net, completly deceiving the home keeper. This was a cruel blow for Killymoon, but as the half progressed they started to create a few openings with Johnny Young pulling the strings. Trevor Brownlee tested the keeper on a couple of occasions and Adam Macelec nearly got on the end of a dangerous Young cross. As the home side pushed forward looking to get back into the game the visitors looked dangerous on the break and with time running out they killed the game with a third goal. G McElhatton had to race out of his goal to head a dangerous through ball but the ball landed at the feet of the Tobermore sub, who lobbed it straight over the stranded keepers head into the goal off the underside of the crossbar. |
| Manager Don Smyth is aware that his side will have to stop giving themselves a mountain to climb each week by giving away soft goals as there are no easy games in this league. He can’t critise the effort put in by the players and will be hoping that the game this Saturday in the Intermediate Cup, against Queens at the Sports Arena, will give his players the opportunity to get back into winning ways. The game kicks off at the earlier time of 2pm. A big thanks must be given to all the spectators from both clubs who braved the terrible conditions to support their team and also to Amerlimo, who kindly sponsored the game. |
1. G McElhatton
2. S McElhatton
3. C Kilpatrick
4. J Ferguson
5. G Dardis
6. S Glasgow
7. J Young
8. W Smith
9. W Watson
10. T Brownlee
11. P McElhatton |
Subs
12. D McMullan
13. A Young
14. A Macelec |
| |
| |
| |
