Penalty save is turning point

Rocking Chair............................2

AFTER putting six past Sion last week, Drumahoe had a much tougher assignment on Saturday when the Rocking Chair were the visitors.

The opening part of the game was an even enough affair with neither team really threatening until the 20th minute mark when young Andrew Wilson picked the ball up 20 yards from goal and coolly passed the ball into the bottom corner of the Rocking Chair goal with the keeper hardly moving.

Drumahoe almost doubled their lead when a McDermott cross was headed narrowly wide by Duddy. Then Gallagher broke forward and a speculative 35 yard effort brushed the Rocking Chair crossbar.

The Rocker got back into the game on the half hour mark when Christy Doherty broke from the midfield jinked into the box before hammering home from 12 yards giving the keeper no chance.

Immediately Drumahoe went upfield and King had a good strike well saved by the Rocking Chair keeper.

It only remained level for five minutes because from a Drumahoe corner the ball dropped to Ryan Devine on the edge of the box and he unleashed a rocket which went in off the underside of the bar to put the home side into the lead which remained in tact going into the break. The game was even enough in the opening spell of the second half with neither team really threatening and as the pitch cut up it was hard to play passing football.

Drumahoe got the all important third when McCracken crossed for Alan Duddy to hammer home from 10 yards. Drumahoe seemed comfortable at this stage entering the final quarter but there was a twist to come, when Ryan Wilson made a strong challenge cleared the ball with his follow through making contact with the opposing forward.

To Drumahoe’s horror the referee awarded a spot kick to the visitors, Gavin Campbell stepped up and hammered the ball to Wylie’s left who dived and parried out, straight to Campbell’s feet but once again the keeper made an even better save when he through himself at the feet of the forward and diverted the ball to safety. This was a massive point in the game and from here Drumahoe had no more worries.

McCracken sent a good free kick narrowly wide before Duddy scored his second and Drumahoe’s fourth by beating two men entering the box and hammering a left footed shot high into the net.

This was an excellent result for Drumahoe with their whole team putting in a sound no nonsence performance. A bit of the flair may have been missing but in the sticky conditions Drumahoe adapted better than the visitors and in Duddy had a match winner up front.

Sion Mills are the visitors next Saturday in the Blue Riband Cup when the home team can enjoy a day away from the pressures of being the league table toppers.