Pherson happy with point at Dundonald

Barn United and Dundonald had to settle for a point each in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the Billy Neill Centre, with all the goals coming in the first-half.
Barn United manager Jim PhersonBarn United manager Jim Pherson
Barn United manager Jim Pherson

Indeed, it was a rare ‘half of two halves’ with Barn dominating the early stages of this Amateur League Division 1A encounter only for the Duns to come back into it.

As United boss Jim Pherson told the Times: “We took our chances when we had them, and so did they. It’s maybe a bit disappointing not winning when you’re two up early on away from home, but you’re never too unhappy with a point on your travels, - especially when you consider they missed a penalty in the second half.”

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Barn lit the fuse on seven minutes when the defence stood off as Andy Kane fastened onto a Gary McKee pass; the striker taking his time to pick his spot and thump the ball low and hard into the bottom right-hand corner.

Minutes later, Barn were two up; Nicky Sharples half-volleying the loose ball over the wall after McKee’s initial free-kick rebounded off the wall.

Perhaps it might have been ‘done and dusted’ had another Sharples effort not been superbly saved by the home shotstopper.

Instead, it was Dundonald who clawed one back on 29 minutes; Barn appealing in vain for offside - before restoring parity eight minutes later, courtesy of a shot that looped over Stephen Brennan into the top corner.

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The second session was mostly a case of both sides cancelling each other out, but while an acrobatic effort from Sharples was tipped over, it was the Duns who came closer when they were awarded a soft enough penalty given against Adam Boyce.

There was a sense of justice being done when Brennan, having conceded four out of four in the shootout at Annagh United the week before, reacted superbly to keep out the resultant spot-kick.

This Saturday Barn travel to Downpatrick.

Barn United; Brennan – Omar (G. Patterson), Alexander, P Mathers, Armstrong, Boyce – Bingham, McKee, Lammey (Armour) – Kane, Sharples. Sub not used: Wakeham.

Player out: Neil McKnight, D, Islandmagee.