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14th Newtownabbey 1

Cookstown RBL 4

Cookstown RBL travelled to Doagh to play 14th Newtownabbey in the Ballymena League.

After last week’s exit from the Linda Welshman Cup it was back to the league where the main priority of promtion lies.

As early as the first minute James McPartland was clean through only to put his effort wide. Again McPartland had a great chance to open the scoring only for the Newtownabbey keeper to make a wonder one handed save when the the ball looked destined for the net.

RBL were piling pressure onto the Newtownabbey goal and it looked as if a goal was forth coming. McPartland, who could of had a hat trick in the first five minutes, did open the scoring; with some nice one-two work he slotted the ball home.

Within minutes McMenemy scored to double the score. Using neat foot work he dribbled past four of the home side’s defence to rifle a low shot giving the keeper no chance.

With the game looking comfortable and under no pressure the RBL conceded a goal when a high hopeful ball was put into the box and there was a Newtownabbey head to tear the ball past Neil Young into the net to reduce the deficit to one.

Cookstown RBL were stroking the ball about and creating chance after chance. Ally Young, McMenemy and McPartland all had glorious chances to extend the lead, but the visitors went into half time 2-1 up.

The second half started the way the first finished - attack after attack - and it was the Newtownabbey keeper who was keeping the home side in it.

Cookstown RBL had to wait till the 60 minute to find another goal and it come from Simon Young. The right back, who has hit a real purple patch, unleashed a real fire cracker of a shot into the net and that seem to break the resilliance of the stubborn Newtownabbey defence.

Midfielder McGarvey opened his account on the day with a rocket into the net to which all the keeper could do was watch it as it passed him.

Just when the game seemed to be petering out. Ally Young found his scoring boots; all alone in the box he grabbed the final goal with his back to goal he turned quickly and buried the ball past the keeper to make the score 5-1 to Cookstown RBL.

The management team of Gray and McKelvey were pleased with the result which sees the RBL sitting top of the Ballymena Division 3 league.

This week Cookstown RBL will be at home against 1st Carrick at the Fairhill at 2pm.

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