Points on the board at last

The Rathfriland lads came flying out of the blocks and pinned Dromore back. after ten minutes they took the lead when a fine through ball from Weir found bailie on the edge of the box and he turned neatly firing low past the Dromore keeper. The back four of Burns Patterson, Clydesdale, and Baird were working hard to thwart any counter attack that Dromore tried to muster. The midfield of Pollock, Weir, McConville and Byrne  were relentless in pressurising the Dromore midfield and gave them no time to settle into the game. Megaw and Bailie up front worked tirelessly closing down the Dromore defence and this in particular led to Rathfriland winning the ball back in key areas.

Dromore were handed an opportunity to equalise when Megaw pushed a player inside the box as a corner was swung in and the ref awarded a penalty. The young Dromore lad unfortunately fired over as Rathfriland breathed a sigh of relief. 
Rathfriland did squander a number of great chances in the first half and were running the risk of being made to pay.

The second half had a disastrous start for Rathfriland as somehow a long range effort managed to squeeze under Moffett in goal and Dromore were level.

Rathfriland though never let their heads drop and took the game to Dromore finding another goal when Pollock cooly converted a penalty after a Dromore defender handled from a corner. Rathfriland then made changes freshening up the midfield with Adams and Mallon coming in to good effect. McAvoy came on at left back and looked assured when under pressure also.

Dromore now piled on the pressure and Moffett in nets had a busy final fifteen minutes making two outstanding saves to preserve the Rathfriland lead.

The young lads held on though for their first points in this tough league and will hopefully receive a boost in confidence from this result.

Team: Moffett, Baird, Patterson, Clydesdale, Burns, Pollock (capt.), Weir, McConville, Byrne, Megaw, Bailie, subs; Adams, Mallon, McAvoy.