Ellis nets spectacular equaliser to land point for Ballynure

A spectacular equaliser by Dan Ellis secured a 1-1 draw, but manager Gary Burns was far from impressed with the overall performance.

“In the second half we did all the pressing, but if we had played an extra 45 minutes I think we still wouldn’t have scored,” he declared.

“However I can’t be too hard on the players; we have collected 16 points from a possible 18, and the goal scored against us on Saturday was only the second in the past six league fixtures and we are three points clear of challengers Newtowne and Chimney Corner at the top of the table,” he said.

During the opening quarter both keepers were in action, with Paul Hughes making two smart saves when the visitors threatened to take the lead.

That happened in the 20th minute when Andy Forsythe’s sliding tackle resulted in a disputed penalty from which Desertmartin forged ahead.

In the 35th minute Ellis scored that amazing equaliser, when with his back to goal, he played keepy-uppy before firing an overhead-kick past the unsuspecting keeper.

In a one-sided second-half Paul McIntyre, David Higgins and Robert Houston all came close, but Desertmartin held out for a division of the spoils.

Ballynure OB: Hughes; Penny, Robinson, Forsythe, M Curlett; D Higgins, Todd, D Leckey, McIntyre; R Higgins (c), Ellis. Subs: Houston, Duff, M Leckey.

This Saturday’s match will be in Cookstown against Killymoon Rangers.