Dollybirds earn point in tough scrap

The visitors opened like a house on fire from the very first minute when Glen Hand won the ball direct from the kick-off and set up his partner Richard Thompson but his shot was saved by the home keeper.

The next half hour was mainly contested around the mid field area but the lively Ryan Doherty making his return from injury on the left wing for Portstewart fired over after beating three Dollingstown defenders.

Then Thompson almost forced the home team full back into an error when the defender was very fortunate to see his clearance fall to the outside of his post.

Dollingstown did take the lead on 41 minutes when after a great run from the half way by Redpath seen him fouled in the area and Glen Hand converted although the home keeper got a hand to his effort.

Portstewart came out strongly in the second half and equalised on 51 minutes when a floated free kick from out on the left avoided everyone except the diminutive Lee Forcrave who tapped in at the back post.

Dollingstown responded immediately by retaking the lead through Thompson after good work from his strike partner Hand. Credit however to Portstewart who equalised on 75 minutes through Mathew Hynds after Marty Hughes lost possession outside the area and Hynds drove home from distance low into bottom corner. Manager Duke then made changes taking off Magee, Hughes and Redpath and replaced them with Gibson, Lavery and Walker.

Both teams then had a great chance each in the final minutes when Portstewart should have wrapped the game up after a quick break down the left but failed to capitalise.

In the final minute the normally lethal Thompson who lost his marker superbly and was through one-one with the keeper who stood tall and brought off a great save to leave the game all square.

Dollingstown: McParland, Coleman, McConnell, King, Moffett, Rodgers, Redpath, Thompson , Hand, Magee and Hughes. Subs were Gibson, Lavery, Walker, A King and Denver.