NW FOOTBALL: Game of two halves as Crockett's side battle back

Coming back from a two-goal deficit in the first half United will feel they should have walked away with all three points in the end, the Old Boys on the other hand, will feel disappointed they let such a commanding first half performance slip.

After 20 minutes of back and forth it was the Old Boys who broke the deadlock with two quick goals from Joe McCready, barely a minute apart.

The first came from a poorly cleared ball into the box which fell to McCready at the edge of the circle, he did well to skip away from the last defender and casually slot the ball into Miller’s net.

United seemed to completely switch off after the goal conceding a needless free-kick from the kick off and from that quickly taken free, it found its way to an unmarked McCready who walked the ball in for his second.

Things almost went from bad to worse for the home side five minutes later.

Another quick free-kick from the Old Boys caused more confusion in the Drummond backline but this time McCready was unable to capitalise at the back post.

The former Institute striker would of had the match ball in his hands by half-time if not for a last ditch tackle by Eoighan Rodgers, just about keeping the game in sight for United.

With the introduction of Drummond’s player manager Ian Crockett at half time, the game completely turned on its head.

The Limavady side found the urgency and began to create chances they were desperately lacking in the first half.

On 50 minutes they found themselves a way back when a free kick, launched into the box by Jamie McElwee, found the head of Crockett who headed it on for a tap in for Jason Holmes.

Panic almost immediately began to show on a nervous BBOB side who were comfortable winners in the first half. They did however still look sharp on the counter but United’s back four looked sharper.

By 75 minutes Don Olphert’s side could hold on no longer.

The equaliser came, from of all things, a quick free-kick. Again the combination of McElwee to Crockett and Crockett to Holmes found its way to the back of the BBOB net.

Old Boys gave themselves a tough task for the last ten minutes, conceding unnecessary free kicks and going down to ten men after Stuart Moore picked up his second yellow card of the game.

United should have clinched it with minutes remaining, again McElwee, Crockett and Holmes combining but the Waterside men did enough to hold on for a share of the spoils.