Islanders share the spoils with Killyleagh

Killyleagh YC 2

ALL in all, a point apiece was just about right, from the Premier Division’s match of the day; with fourth-placed Islandmagee entertaining the then second-placed Killyleagh Youth Club.

Dee Heron’s side might have had more of the possession, particularly in the first half, but the Islanders certainly had the chances to win it.. Five points adrift of current leaders Ards Rangers, each with 11 games to play, the Wilbourners are still very much in the championship chase, but, with Steven Donald’s squad not the biggest, they’ll need to keep their main men fit – and free from suspension; something which was hardly helped by Saturday’s six bookings, all of which went to Islandmagee.

With the Islanders affording Philip Rogan far too much platform space, it was Killyleagh who forced the early pace, with Dale Davidson, Darren McConnell and Jim Murray all going close.

However, it was Andy Waide who should have set the scoreboard clicking on 15 minutes, fastening onto Simon Moffatt’s tailored pass, waltzing past two defenders only to drag his shot wide of the right-hand upright.

Instead, it was the Co Down side who drew first blood on 21 minutes; Rogan releasing Murray, who breezed past a couple of defenders before flighting the ball beyond the outstretched David Harrison into the top right-hand corner.

Islandmagee haven’t been beaten by Amateur League opposition during normal time since losing to Dromara Village in mid-October – and just two minutes later they were back in tandem; some neat interplay initially between Michael Moore and Moffatt, before Steven Smyth barged his way through, the loose ball falling nicely for Moore trundle into the bottom left hand corner.

On 28 minutes, Harrison had to react smartly, catching above his head an almighty hoof from opposite number Carson. The Islanders, though, lived dangerously as Jim McStravick, strolling back, inadvertently got in the way of Harrison’s attempted clearance, but fortunately the loose ball didn’t roll to a visiting forward.

At the other end, Carson flung himself across goal to claw an opportunist effort from Waide out of the top right hand corner.

Both sides could have inched ahead during first-half stoppage time, with Killyleagh’s McConnell racing through, only to be denied by a fine one-on-one block by Harrison; referee Colin Rainey awarding Islandmagee the by-ball.

At the other end, Killyleagh’s Dominic McGreevy, much to the annoyance of the hardened few behind the goal, used his outstretched arm to divert the ball away from Moore’s head, but Island’s loud penalty appeals went unanswered.

Just one minute after the changearound, however, Killyleagh were back in front; stemming from a disputed free kick out on the left, with Davidson nodding in Neil Walsh’s left wing cross.

Things could have deteriorated further just three minutes later had Harrison not managed to paw the ball out of his top left-hand corner, after being initially wrongfooted by a Jim Murray free kick which took a deflection off the Island wall.

Island, though, had their chances, notably when Moore headed Waide’s left wing corner over the bar, with keeper Carson stranded.

It was no real surprise either when the home side levelled matters on 61 minutes, Waide eventually providing the finish after a stirring run down the left by Karl Murray – the move instigated by keeper Harrison haring off his line to hack the ball away from the onrushing John Murray.

From there on in, it was the Islanders who came closer to winning it, with Moore blazing one over, after Carson had initially deprived Murray, and Waide hooking a long goal kick from Harrison just the wrong side of the bar. Waide also had a clear run-in on goal halted by what must have been a borderline offside decision.

On Saturday, it’s the Clarence Cup where the 2008 winners Islandmagee entertain the 2009 runners-up Wellington Rec.

Islandmagee; Harrison – Craig, Phillips, Lough, Anderson – Smyth, Moffatt, Moore, Gibb – Murray, A Waide. Subs (all unused), Baxter, A Kerby, McKnight.

Saturday’s match was sponsored by the Mayor of Carrickfergus, Patricia McKinney.