Mossley and Newington Rangers share the spoils

It was honours even as Saturday’s 1c derby between Mossley FC and Newington Rangers ended in a 3-3 draw at the Park.
East Antrim derby action between Mossley and Newington Rangers. Photo: Freddie ParkinsonEast Antrim derby action between Mossley and Newington Rangers. Photo: Freddie Parkinson
East Antrim derby action between Mossley and Newington Rangers. Photo: Freddie Parkinson

Newington, having surrendered a two-goal lead, ended up playing a Mossley team with 10 men and no recognised goalkeeper after the dismissal of Dwayne Jenkins. But manager Davy Rollo conceded: “We were happy enough to escape with a point. We dominated the first-half and went off 2-0 up. We totally switched off in the second-half. I’m just happy we came away with something.”

Mossley’s assistant-manager, Gordon Crawford, added: “It was a great team performance in the second-half when we started getting the ball down and playing more football.”

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Rollo’s Rangers forged ahead after 10 minutes when Paul Thompson, supplied by James Tennant, brush past a defender before lashing the ball Jenkins into the top corner.

Newington extended their lead on 37 minutes thanks to another stirring strike from Paul Thompson, arrowing a 22-yard free-kick into the top corner.

Four minutes later, it could have been three when John Brown smashed a Jim Thompson pass against the post.

The second half, however, was a different story, with Mossley signalling their intent with a McCune shot, superbly saved by Brian McClure. Yet it could have been beyond the Newtownabbey side as Thompson, on a hat-trick, had another free-kick tipped onto the bar.

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Mossley pegged one back on 67 minutes when Andrews steered the ball past McClure.

They were celebrating again a short time later with Jordi Fettis scrambling the ball in from close range.

The scales appeared to tilt Newington’s way again when Jenkins was red-carded for felling Tennant outside the box.

Yet Mossley were building up a head of steam Rangers seemed unable to extinguish, and they duly inched ahead for the first time on 82 minutes with substitute Nicky Agnew tucking away McCune’s cross.

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Two minutes later, however, Newington salvaged a point with Paul Thompson completing his hat-trick.

On Saturday, Mossley travel to second-bottom Groomsport, while Newington Rangers return to the Knowe for the visit of Bryansburn Rangers.

Mossley FC:  Jenkins – Kernaghan (Agnew), McAllister, Barton, McCune – J McKinney, McMullan, Proctor, Crowe – Fettis – Andrews. Sub (unused) B. McCrum.

Newington Rangers: McClure – Hall, Grant, McGarel, Spence – Brown (Hughes), Lusty (McWhirter), J Thompson, Hodge – Tennant (McDowell), P Thompson.