’Stute get back to winning ways

In truth the Drumahoe club could and should have won by a far bigger margin, because on another day striker Darren McFadden could have helped himself to a hat-trick.

Once again Michael McCrudden and Dean Jarvis stole the show for ’Stute as their link-up play down the left was super, particularly in the second half.

On three minutes a super through ball by McCrudden released McFadden, but with only Gareth Buchanan to beat, the striker’s side footed effort from just inside the box, was saved by the Loughgall keeper’s legs.

Loughgall’s first effort on goal came on 26 minutes but Scott Herron’s powerful drive was tipped over by the alert ’Stute keeper Marty Gallagher.

Soon after some sloppy play by Neil Harkin resulted in the midfielder losing possession on the edge of his box, but fortunately for the Waterside man, Herron’s dipping shot was gathered by Gallagher.

Just before the break a Graham Crown free-kick found fellow full-back Jarvis, but his glancing header from 10 yards was blocked and John Curran’s follow-up shot from close range, whistled just wide.

On 50 minutes a clever ball over the top of Stephen Parkhouse found McFadden who did well to get away from his marker but his left footed drive from 10 yards, which had Buchanan beaten, hit the side netting.

Another good piece of set up play by Parkhouse saw him play in McFadden again, but with his weaker right foot he dragged his shot from all of six yards well off target.

’Stute finally broke the deadlock on 69 minutes when a tremendous left wing cross by McCrudden into the six yard box found an unmarked Neil Harkin who ghosted in between the Loughgall defenders, before heading home.

The home side doubled their lead and wrapped the points up when McCrudden’s inch perfect pass split the visitors defence to find Jarvis at the back post and the left back made no mistake, drilling the ball low into Buchanan’s bottom corner.

Right at the death a tremendous jinking run by McCrudden, saw the Gobnascale man show some sublime skill to skip away from a number of challenges, before his cut-back, which would have found substitute Ricky Lee Dougherty inside the six yard box, was cleared by Mark Stewart.

Institute: Gallagher, Crown, Curran, McLaughlin, Jarvis; Gray, Harkin, McCauley; McCrudden, Parkhouse, McFadden. Subs: Dougherty, McKeever & Hegarty for Parkhouse, McFadden & McCauley (86); Roddy & Taylor (not used).

Loughgall: Buchanan, Finlay, Rodgers, Stewart, Copeland; Herron, Malone, Brady; Guy, Kernaghan, Boyle. Subs: Carson for Brady (H-T); Pedlow for Guy (59); Willis for Boyle (72); King & Carson (not used).

Referee: Stephen Wallace (Londonderry).

Cautioned: McCauley (45); Curran (62).