Armstrong double seals it for Kilroot

On Saturday they rattled up their seventh league win on the bounce, stretching their lead at the top of 2A to nine points, with victory over Iveagh.

United’s keeper keeper Damien Nugent was in excellent form and he set the tone with excellent early saves to defy Jonny McFetridge and Joel Lough. Instead, it was Iveagh who snatched the lead catching Rec on the break on 14 minutes.

On 31 minutes, United could have been further in front but for the goalkeeper’s brother David blazing the ball wide of the gaping net.

Right on half-time McFetridge, set up nicely by Andrew Dummigan, was again deprived by the Iveagh netminder.

Kilroot finally found a way through on 52 minutes; the keeper again springing to the rescue to foil Dummigan, but from the resultant corner Rob Armstrong was left all alone, just a few yards from goal and this time even Nugent could do nothing.

Armstrong turned supplier as Rec finally inched in front on 71 minutes, ushering the ball through for Dummigan hacked by a defender, could easily have gone down in the box, but managed to keep his balance, steering the ball past the keeper.

After Lough was once more denied by the Iveagh custodian, Kilroot finally made the game safe right at the death, with Lough cutting in to slip the ball over for the onrushing Armstrong to complete the formalities.

Kilroot’s winning sequence, however, will be severely tested next Saturday when Crumlin Star are the visitors to Beltoy; last year’s 2A champions still to drop their first league point this time round.

Kilroot Rec: Haggan – Armstrong, Stirling, McKee, Braiden – Gibb, Simon Hamilton, Benson (Stuart Hamilton), McFetridge (McCahon) – Dummigan (Cloakey), Lough.