McMillen bags double as Eagles draw with Grange Rangers

Rangers started the brighter of the two sides in Saturday’s East Antrim derby at Foundry Lane, with skipper Matt Cooper putting the ball in the net from a corner, only to see it ruled it out by the referee.

The Eagles made the breakthrough in the 10th minute when a ball into the box wasn’t dealt with by the home defence and was neatly tucked away by Chris McMillen who needed no second invitation.

Rangers went in search of an equaliser and their pressure tactics paid off in first-half stoppage time when Chris Donnelly’s header eventually broke the Eagles’ defensive resolve.

Grange came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and were unlucky not to forge ahead.

However, a defensive slip cost them dearly in the 51st minute when Mark Deegan was adjudged to have fouled the winger in the box.

McMillen dispatched the penalty for his second of the afternoon which saw his side retake the lead.

Rangers continued to press but had to wait until the 82nd minute for the pressure to pay off

When the Eagles’ keeper spilled the ball at the feet of Chris Bell he made no mistake.

In the final minutes both sides had opportunities to win it, but a point each does nothing to ease either team’s relegation worries.

Grange Rangers: Brown; Deegan, McNair, Leitch, White; Gregg, Cooper(c), Thompson, Donnelly; M King, C Bell. Subs S King, Gault, Rea.