Drumahoe come out on top

Foyle Athletic..........................................2

Table toppers Drumahoe faced a stern test from Foyle Athletic at a heavy YMCA pitch, on Saturday.

The visitors were on top during the opening exchanges then Thompson hit the bar with a glancing header.

Drumahoe took the lead when the wiley King nipped in behind the Foyle defence to finish well after a great 30 yard pass from Ross. To Foyle Athletic’s credit they kept pressing causing Drumahoe central defenders Wilson and Devine all sorts of problems.

On the stroke of half time Foyle’s presure paid off with a long ball into the box clearing everyone except Curran at the back post who headed neatly past Wylie.

Drumahoe brought on Matty Smyth for the injured Miller at half time and he was to have major influence on the game. McLaughlin fed Smyth who danced past two defenders dummied the keeper before slotting home to give Drumahoe the lead.

The Waterside men had their lead threatened after the referee awarded a penalty against them following a challenge by netminder Wylie. The goalkeeper saved well as he dived full length to his left to turn Curran’s spot kick to safety.

This seemed to lift Drumahoe who then pushed to finish off the visitors, Smyth and Andrew Wilson were linking well and creating problems for the Foyle defence.

Eventually the impressive Smyth received a fortuitous rebound which he made no mistake with to give Drumahoe breathing space with a 3-1 lead.

Drumahoe seemed to take their foot off the pedal as the game approached the final stages, Curran was unlucky to see his attempt came back off the bar. With virtually the last play a long ball into the box found McClafferty who headed home past Wylie.

Terry Martin’s charges face all their nearest challengers for the league with second placed Newton Heath the visitors this Saturday and Red Star the week after, then a visit to Tamnaherin on Saturday, December 10.

The results of these games will go a long way to deciding whether Drumahoe are capable of maintaining a challenge for the Championship title. Drumahoe have not been playing well recently but still sit top of the table.