Duke’s men held in six goal encounter

Dollingstown were hoping to continue their recent winning run but were brought down to earth by a strong Newington team who kept going right to the end and shared the spoils in a six goal encounter at Planters Park.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Oct 2015, 13:00 BST
During half time in the Northern Ireland v Greece match Dollingstown players Richard Thompson and Jordan Gibson with the rest of the successful Eastern Region NI squad were presented which their caps.During half time in the Northern Ireland v Greece match Dollingstown players Richard Thompson and Jordan Gibson with the rest of the successful Eastern Region NI squad were presented which their caps.
During half time in the Northern Ireland v Greece match Dollingstown players Richard Thompson and Jordan Gibson with the rest of the successful Eastern Region NI squad were presented which their caps.

On seven minutes the first clear chance fell to striker Ritchie Thompson after a great through ball from Glen Hand,

but he fired over from a tight angle. Then a minute later at the other end Joe Todd pulled the ball back from the bye line but Neil King cleared the immediate danger for a corner.

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From the resulting corner full back Ryan McCloskey scored the opening goal with a delightful chip into the top corner for the visitors.

Neil Lavery was pulling the strings in midfield for Dollingstown at this stage of the game and put Hand through who rounded the keeper but his effort was cleared off the line at the very last minute.

Dollingstown then equalised on 18 minutes when a quick long ball from the keeper beat the last defender and Thompson ran in to lob the keeper to bring the game all square.

However, this didn’t last very long as two minutes later Newington went in front again after poor defensive play down the left allowed the ball to be squared for Todd to side foot home.

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Once again the Dollybirds drew level a minute later when Thompson was brought down in the box and Lavery duly did the rest from the resultant penalty.

Newington opened strongly in the second half controlling the midfield area and almost went in front on 52 minutes but home keeper McPartland pushed the shot over the bar. Manager Gary Duke then replaced Coleman and Andy King with Redpath and Jordan Gibson and this change had an immediate affect with Dollingstown taking the lead for the first time.

Redpath got the ball on the right fed it into the feet of Gibson who squared for Thompson to score a very good team goal.

It looked like Dollingstown might hang on for three crucial points but on 82 minutes Newington brought the game all square again after a long cross field ball was headed back across goal for Todd to score his second of the afternoon.

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Adam Walker then replaced Magee in final few minutes when Dollingstown had a couple of late chances down the right by Hand but on each occasion he over hit his cross and the game ended all square.

DFC thank match sponsor Haldane and Fischer plus Ian Irwin as ball sponsor for theirsupport to the club.

This week Dollingstown are away to Queens University.