Relief as Wakehurst end three-game losing streak

Wakehurst shook off a three game losing streak in Belfast Telegraph Championship Two with a crucial 2-1 win at Ballymoney United on Saturday.
Wakehurst's Corey Price challenges a Ballymoney United opponent during Saturday's game.Wakehurst's Corey Price challenges a Ballymoney United opponent during Saturday's game.
Wakehurst's Corey Price challenges a Ballymoney United opponent during Saturday's game.

It was certainly a happier trip back up the A26 for Ian Gregg’s men than their last visit to the Riada Stadium - the infamous 8-0 defeat at the hands of Glebe Rangers last month.

Once again, Wakehurst were indebted to ace striker Conor Gregg, who scored both goals, the winner coming five minutes from the end.

“There was probably more of a feeling of relief than euphoria among our players about the win,” Gregg told Times Sport.

“It was absolutely imperative that we ended our losing sequence and while I feel a degree of sympathy for Ballymoney for conceding a late winner, it would have been an absolute travesty if we hadn’t come away with the win.

“I really have to praise the morale and spirit of the players over the last three or four weeks while we have been losing matches - they have dug in battled hard and this win will give everybody a big boost,” added Gregg.

In windy conditions, Andy Laughlin saw an effort hit the bar inside three minutes before a defensive slip allowed Ballymoney to take the lead against the run of play.

But Wakehurst rallied and good work from Laughlin allowed him to set up Gregg to equalise on 18 minutes and the little striker also saw an effort come off the post before half-time.

As Wakehurst continued to waste openings in the second half, teenage goalkeeper Aodhan Tolan made a couple of good stops to keep the visitors level.

Gregg introduced veteran Darren Parker in the final 10 minutes and the former Glentoran and Ballymena United player provided an intelligent pass into the channel with five minutes left from which Conor Gregg beat two defenders before firing home a sublime finish from an acute angle to clinch a victory which lifts Wakehurst to 10th place in the table, well clear of the relegation placings.

Wakehurst: Tolan, R Young, Stevenson, Muir, Price, Lemon, Laughlin, Crawford, Mellon, G Young, Gregg. Subs: Maybin, Kirkwood, Millar, Allen, Parker.