Football: Coagh beaten by Dollingstown as McKenzie takes charge

Coagh’s better goal difference sees them just two goals ahead of their rivals with with a game in hand.

This match was the first match in charge of Coagh for Graham McKenzie, who will look after team affairs until the end of season, following the departure of Andy Smith and he made a few changes to tactics and the teamsheet to try and get something from this match.

Defender Sean Heneghan was placed in a more advanced role, just in behind, lone striker Matthew Kempton.

James Ferguson was also included and Simon Gates kept his place in the team after making his debut last week at Ballymoney United.

The first half was a quiet affair without any clear cut chances and it was Dollingstown who had the best chance in the ninth minute.

Coagh had to be quick to clear their lines from a Richard Thompson shot as William Hassan failed to deal with a right wing free kick.

The Coagh keeper however put this mistake behind him to comfortably deal with all the remaining aerial pressure from Dollingstown in the first half. Coagh’s only real chance of note was a long range shot from Kempton towards the end of the half.

In the second half, Coagh had a good chance to take the lead through Heneghan as he met Simon Gates’ right wing cross first time but it was well saved by Dollingstown’s Kris Fletcher.

However, on 58 minutes, Dollingstown broke the deadlock with a Glen Hand header. In the build up to the goal there could have been a shout for offside but Adam Walker’s cross was well met by Hand.

Walker and Hand combined again three minutes later with Walker this time having a shot on goal after being put through by Hand.

In this period Dollingstown pressure was rewarded with a second goal on 67 minutes as a Walker corner bobbled about the box and was hit into the roof of the net by Micheal Fegan.

The Coagh defence may have had a chance to clear it so they would have felt disappointed to concede in this manner.

Coagh brought on Ian Todd for Jason Ferry in an attempt to increase their fire power upfront, Stephen Glasgow for Aaron Thornton and late on Ryan Smith for Thai Blevins.

It was Smith however, who wasted a good chance over the bar from good Coagh pressure and Dollingstown came close to making it three in injury time as Hand skimmed the Coagh crossbar.

Coagh’s next games are home to Glebe Rangers on Tuesday 21st at 6.45pm and home to Newington YC on Saturday 25th at 3pm.

Coagh: Hassin, McGeown, Ferguson, Taylor, Thornton (Glasgow 78), Ferry (Todd 70), Blevins (Smith 87), Forrest, Kempton, Heneghan, Gates. Sub not used: Maguire.

Dollingstown: Fletcher, Redpath, Denver (Ringland 68), Gibson, King, Moffett, Fegan, Hughes (Donaghy 77), Hand, Walker (Cunningham 76), Thompson.