AMATEUR LEAGUE: Alan Hall's weekend review

It's just two points from the last six in Division 1B for Wellington Rec after Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Ballynahinch United.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Mar 2016, 14:13 BST
Updated 14th Mar 2016, 14:29 BST
Stewart Hilditch in action for Wellington Rec in their game with Ballynahinch Utd at Brookvale Park. INLT 10-035-PSBStewart Hilditch in action for Wellington Rec in their game with Ballynahinch Utd at Brookvale Park. INLT 10-035-PSB
Stewart Hilditch in action for Wellington Rec in their game with Ballynahinch Utd at Brookvale Park. INLT 10-035-PSB

Rec manager Stephen Donald lamented: “We really battered them in the second half, but we’re just not killing teams off. We had a poor first 25 minutes, although their first goal looked well offside. We came back into it and should have won, but we can’t keep coming back from two down and expect to win!”

Efforts from Dean Shaw either side of half time cancelled out United’s two-goal lead. Wellington had a man advantage in the final quarter after a ‘Hinch defender was shown a second yellow but it ended up 10 versus 9 when Christopher Morton was dismissed following a little altercation.

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One team who knew how to exploit the numbers game is Sirocco Works who came back from 4-1 to earn a point after UUJ winger Rhys Cleland was sent off 20 minutes from time. UUJ boss Billy Youle told the Times: “Rhys had been posing all sorts of problems, scoring two and setting one up. I’ve no complaints about the sending-off, only the referee didn’t see him being pushed in the face which sparked off the retaliation. After that we sat too deep, but fair play to Sirocco for not giving up. Their equaliser was in injury time!”

James Doyle runs to keep up for Barn United INNT 10-519-SOJames Doyle runs to keep up for Barn United INNT 10-519-SO
James Doyle runs to keep up for Barn United INNT 10-519-SO

UUJ’s goals came from Cleland (two), Ciaran McMullan and Dom Melly.

Nortel recorded a 4-1 win at Derriaghy CC. All the goals arrive inside a 25-minute first-half spell with Phil McCann, Jordan Clarke, Willie McMurdie and Adam Irwin their marksmen.

Meanwhile, Newington Rangers were possibly relieved to lose just 4-0 at home to Holywood, although that makes it 60 goals against and just one for in their last six matches.

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In Division 1A, there was a first league victory on the road since August for Larne Tech. Johnny Hastings’ men were 2-1 winners at Dundonald, thanks to a Matt Devine header and a Neil Webb penalty.

James Doyle runs to keep up for Barn United INNT 10-519-SOJames Doyle runs to keep up for Barn United INNT 10-519-SO
James Doyle runs to keep up for Barn United INNT 10-519-SO

Elsewhere, goals from Ricky Moore and a Kyle Harper spot-kick gave Mossley a 2-0 success at Dromore Amateurs, while Rathfern have now lost seven of their last eight in 1B, going down 5-3 at home to Newcastle.

In the Premier Division, Stephen King’s Islandmagee had a day to forget with a 9-1 defeat at Ards Rangers.

Elsewhere, Grange Rangers’ Division 2C freefall continued when they were beaten 6-0 by Castlewellan Town.