Johnston goal rescues a point for Rangers

Mossley YM 1

A DISPUTED injury-time equaliser from skipper Chris Johnston gave Newington Rangers a deserved point, just when it looked as though they were going to lose their unbeaten league record at the hands of Mossley Young Men.

Mossley keeper Dwayne Jenkins came to collect Jeff Withers’ left-wing corner but he could only paw the ball onto the bar, with Johnston bundling it over the line. Jenkins insisted he had been impeded but the goal stood.

Mossley boss Glen McIntyre, commented: “Over 90 minutes, a draw was fair result, even though it looked as if we had done enough to win it.”

Opposite number Sammy Smith added: “I thought we were the only side out there who were trying to play football. Even after we got the equaliser, we went in search of a winner.”

While Rangers left it so precariously late, they almost opened the scoring inside the opening seconds, when Withers was denied by a fine save from Jenkins.

Newington were fortunate to keep their full quota on 52 minutes when Josh McAllister, already on a yellow, conceded a free-kick when he chopped down substitute David Montgomery.

On 59 minutes Rangers keeper Aaron McGrath misjudged the trajectory of a Darren Cosby cross, and the ball found its way into the net.

Cosby came close to a second four minutes later when his right-foot drive hurtled just the wrong side of the bar.

At the other end Jenkins made the save of the match, two minutes from time when he hurled himself to his right to stop Withers’ goal-bound volley.

His magnificent stop seemed to have sealed three points for Mossley, until Johnston bundled home in time added on. And, with the last action of the match, Johnston glanced a Matt McDonald cross just wide of the right hand post.

Newington Rangers: A McGrath – Hall, McGarel, Smyth, Hunter – Bell (Morrow), McConnell, McCormick (McDonald) – J McAllister, Johnston, Withers. Sub (unused) Kernaghan.

Mossley YM: Jenkins – McCord, McAllister, Armstrong, Scott – Costello, Conlin, Harper, Ramsey (Montgomery) – Cosby, Singleton (Orr). Sub (unused) Murphy.

Referee: Mr John Leith, Ballymena.

Man of the Match; Dwayne Jenkins, Mossley YM.

Mossley YM – Player in: Craig Singleton, S, Kilbride Swifts.