Win for goal shy Drumahoe

DRUMAHOE travelled to Lisnagelvin to take on Northside in the first round of the Blue Riband Cup.

Early on the game was bogged down in midfield with neither side really threatening, but then after 15 minutes Ross broke through for Drumahoe but was unceremoniously stopped in his tracks by a crude challenge from Nelis.

Soon after Wilson fired over the bar for Drumahoe as the visitors began to take control of the midfield but with only King playing up front alone clear cut chances were at a premium.

Northside broke on occasions but found Mills majestic at the heart of the Drumahoe defence. Ross was a constant threat down the right for Drumahoe and always looked the player most likely to open up the Northside defence but the final ball was lacking.

The second half began with tidy passing down the left and McDermott breaking into the Northside box but stretching volleyed over from six yards.

As Drumahoe upped the pressure King had a header cleared off the line from a corner, Ross and Wilson were always a threat but received some harsh treatment from some crude defending which the referee penalised time and time again without stamping it out.

On 70 minutes Hawthorn had a speculative shot from outside the box which squirmed out of the Northside keepers grasp and into the corner of the net to give the Drums the lead.

Minutes later King challenged the keeper again when he fumbled another ball, the keeper jumped to his feet and assaulted the striker leaving the referee no choice but to dismiss the player from the field. This ended the game as a contest as Northside just sat back and played the game out.

Terry Martin's side were always in control of this game and their discipline was most impressive against the physical approach of a Northside team.

This was a good all round team performance by Drumahoe but they will need to find the net more often if they are to progress in this competition.