A badly depleted Killymoon Reserves travelled to Portadown last Saturday to face title chasing St Marys in a league encounter. With Killymoon in the midst of an injury crisis the Reserves were forced to make no fewer than six changes in personnel from the previous week. But the players who were brought in certainly rose to the occasion, recording a three-two victory in very difficult circumstances.
Even with all the changes Killymoon started the match well and could have been in front in the opening five minutes, Johnny Scott fluffing his lines when well placed. But it didn't take long for the same player to make amends. Cameron Stewart won the ball in midfield and spread the play to Mustafa Kaplan on the right wing. His pace and strength was too much for the opposing full-back and he crossed to the near post where Scott produced a superb "Zola" like flick leaving the keeper helpless. This really rocked the home side's confidence and Rangers dominated much of the rest of the half. Rangers' defence, marshalled by Alan Fluke, dealt relatively easily with anything St Mary's could throw at them while their attacking play through wingers Kaplan and Peter Sloan caused constant headaches for a defence that simply couldn't contain their pace and trickery.
The expected second half onslaught from the home side failed to materialise as Rangers went for the jugular. Kaplan, Scott and Marty McCormack all had chances to extend the lead before a controversial refereeing decision gave the home side a life-line. A speculative shot from the edge of the Killymoon area appeared to brush Fluke on the arm and go out for a corner, but to everyone's surprise the referee awarded a penalty which was duly dispatched past 'keeper Steadman. Any thoughts that Rangers might fall apart after this injustice were swiftly banished when they scored two goals in ten minutes to virtually seal the three points. Again the key was the wing play that tormented St Mary's all day. A superb break out of their own half involving Brian Smith, Sloan and Scott produced a cross that the full back could only slam into his own net under pressure from Kaplan. Moments later Kaplan capped a temendous individual display when he scored the decisive third goal after another meat build-up. Rangers were now well in control and able to give new signing, Stefan Papp, a chance to impress and he was involved in the build up that resulted in McCormack going close again. However, with the referee somehow finding an extra eight minutes of stoppage time St Mary's did eventually grab a consolation second goal.
This was a superb team effort under extremely difficult conditions and shows the strength of depth in the Club that they can cope with a lengthy injury list and still produce a performance like this at a notoriously difficult venue.
Team: M Steadman, K Smith, J Devlin, A Fluke, B Smith, M Kaplan, C Stewart, M McCormack, P Sloan, J Scott, K O'Neill. Subs- S Papp, B O'Donnell, C Burns.