Dollybirds soar into top four with emphatic victory

Jason Rodgers tries to win possession for Dollingstown. INLM03-620AM

Dollingstown were missing the suspended Aaron Moffett plus suspended Jordan Gibson but welcomed back Shane Mc Partland into goals after two months out with a hand injury.

Marty Hughes set the tempo of the game as early as the third minute but his long range effort from a corner was narrowly over the top.

Then on 15 minutes Dundela missed a great chance when from a superb cross from the right wing was turned wide of the near post by Aidan Neale.

On 24 minutes Dollingstown were awarded a penalty when from a right wing cross Ritchie Thompson was sandwiched in an aerial challenge and Neil Lavery stepped forward to fire the resultant penalty high into the top corner.

Dollingstown had two more excellent chances in the first half to further increase their lead but Walker, who beat the full back superbly, fired his cross high and wide and then Thompson fired over having been put through by Glen Hand.

The second half took a while to get going by both teams but exploded into life on 65 minutes with Lavery firing home from 25 yards out after Glen Hand had won the header from a Neil King pass.

Indeed the same player almost got his hat-trick a minute later from a similar angle but this time his shot hit the side netting.

Lavery then played in Walker down the left on 68 minutes and he crossed to Thompson who turned the defender superbly before firing in.

Manager Gary Duke then replaced Lavery and Hand with Donaghy and new signing Josh Norton coming on for his debut following his transfer from Portadown and on 80 minutes he set up Walker for goal number four.

Another new signing young Aaron Rodgers from Lurgan Celtic then came off the bench as well to make his debut at left back in what was a very solid overall team performance.

Indeed it could and should have been 5 -0 in the final minutes when young Norton was through one and one with the keeper who denied him a goal on his debut.

Dollingstown would like to thank Allen Plant Hire and Noel Eiken for their kind sponsorship.