Duke orders a double as Dollingstown sink St Mary's

It was a good result as they had six players missing through either injury, holiday or work.

Indeed the two new signings on transfer day - Jack Clark in midfield and Jake Keegan on the wing - had to make debuts.

Playing on a slippery 3G surface was never easy for either team and on 17 minutes Sam Marshall fired St Mary’s into the lead with a wonderful strike from distance that flew into the top corner of the net.

Then Dollingstown levelled on the half hour mark when a long clearance from Redpath caught out Hagan and the home keeper and Duke gladly headed home into an empty net.

St Mary’s lost captain Lawless to injury five minutes before the interval but almost regained the lead right in half time when an exquisite reverse pass opened up the Dollingstown defence but Croft in goals pulled off a wonder save to make it all square at the break.

The visitors went in front on 53 minutes with what proved the winner when new signing Keegan put in a delighted cross from the right wing that was superbly finished low down to the keepers side by Aaron Duke again It was a good finish.

St Mary’s then threw everything at DFC in search of an equaliser with Hagan hitting the bar on 86 minutes and young Ryan Creaney causing a lot of pressure on the left wing but skipper Moffett put his body on the line a few times to endure maximum points again.

On Saturday Dollingstown are away to Banbridge Rangers in the Bob Radcliffe Cup.

And Dollingstown Reserves were 3–1 winners against Banbridge Town AFC after a good display.