Campbellians win makes it five in a row for South Antrim

Campbellians themselves had started the season brightly with 3 wins from 3 in the league prior to this meeting between the top two sides.

With Matthew Getty and Adam Marshall out injured and skipper Lee Marshall not fully fit, there were enough reasons to be concerned prior to push back for the Lisburn side. The injury problems granted Friends’ schoolboy James Brown his first inclusion within the South squad, who took his opportunity very well impressing in the 20 minutes of pitch time he received.

Ten minutes into the first half, South’s injury problems were heightened yet further as, the ever-dependable, Jonathon Patterson took a nasty blow to the head and was carted off to hospital.

In those early stages it was the hosts, Campbellians, who mounted the early pressure and looked more likely to score. South’s ‘keeper, Mark Hutchinson, was called into action twice, pulling off splendid saves on both occasions to keep the score at nil apiece. As the half wore on, South’s increasing dominance started to become more fruitful with the visitors winning 6 short corners in the closing moments. Paul Maguire came closest to breaking the deadlock when his deflection, from a short corner, whistled just over the cross bar from close range.

After the break, South eventually got their noses in front and then doubled their lead soon after. Goals from Simon Watt, via a well worked short corner, and Nathan Gamble - who bundled the ball into the net from a yard out - had seemingly killed the game off with little over 8 minutes to go. However, Campbellians were granted a lifeline when a fortuitous effort from mid-circle found its way into the back of the South goal.

Any concerns the South supporters had of the team throwing away their two goal lead were soon quashed as Chris Henry extended the visitors’ lead again via another slick short corner variation.

Campbellians’ second goal came too little too late in terms of mounting a more significant comeback and thus it was the visitors, South, who claimed the points and further extended their lead at the top of Senior 1.

South welcome North Down to Lisburn on Saturday (22nd) with the action starting at 3pm at Friends’ School.

Thanks again to Woodland Financial Planning - the Club’s Sponsor of the Month.