Islanders finish third in the Premier Division

Islandmagee 3

ISLANDMAGEE were already assured of third place in the Premier Division, before bringing their season to a close with this draw away to Killyleagh Youth Club.

Earlier in the week, the Islanders were 2-0 winners away to Clarence Cup finalists Albert Foundry; Stuart Hilditch and Billy Waide getting the goals.

Hilditch got Island off on the right footing, opening the scoring on ten minutes.

While Paul Waite and Billy Waide both came close to extending that lead, instead it was Killyleagh who bounced back, going off at the break one goal ahead.

The Wilbourners restored parity just after the interval, when Waite was upended inside the box; David Harrison racing the whole way up the field to beat his opposite number from the box.

Harrison was the villain just minutes later when he somehow allowed a harmless enough looking long ranger to slither through his grasp.

Worse was soon to follow, when Andy Waide was sent off for speaking out of turn.

Having played what football there was, up against a typically Route One Killyleagh side, Islandmagee certainly deserved something from the game, and a David Lough header 10 minutes from time at least salvaged a point, when they really ought to have been going home with all three.

Fourth last season and third this time out, Island are progressing in the right direction but while, with their best 11 out they are more than a match for anyone in the division, manager Steven Donald surely knows he’ll need to add to the depth of his squad during the summer months. One other plus point from Saturday was yet another impressive display from Michael Moore in his new central defensive role.

While it’s the end of the season for Islandmagee, it’s not the last football Islandmagee will see this season, as Wilbourne Park, on Saturday May 22, has the honour of hosting the annual representative match for the first time, between the Northern Amateur League and the Scottish Amateur Association; kick off 2.30pm.

Islandmagee; Harrison – Craig, McKnight, Moore, Lough – B Waide, A Kerby (Ogilvie), Waite, Moffett – Hilditch (Murray), A Waide.