Scarva reach quarter-finals of Shield

SCARVA Rangers booked their place in the quarter finals of the Mid-Ulster Shield with an impressive victory against Dungannon Rovers.

Rangers went into their away tie as underdogs, facing a side from the division above them, but they made a nonsense of that with another eye catching performance.

They led by a single goal after an evenly matched first half. Stephen Hendron latched on to a cross field pass and burst between two defenders in the penalty area before steering the ball past the goalkeeper into the top right hand corner of the goal.

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The hosts levelled matters early in the second half but Rangers responded to the setback in exactly the right manner.

Ryan Dodds won possession with a strong challenge and the ball broke to Greg Douglas whose inviting through ball carved the Rovers defence wide open. Dean McCammon was left with a straight race for possession with the advancing keeper and McCammon’s pace ensured there would only be one winner. He accelerated onto the ball and coolly finished first time from outside the area to put Rangers 2-1 up.

Mark Baird provided the platform for the visitors’ third goal with an explosive run down the right side and a dangerous low cross into the heart of the Rovers penalty area. The initial shot was saved but Greg Douglas clinically drilled the rebound into the net.

It sealed victory for his side and the hosts were dealt a further blow late in the game when they were reduced to ten men.

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Best for Scarva Rangers – Mark Baird, Neil Anderson and Dean McCammon.

Scarva’s reserve side suffered a comprehensive 7-0 defeat at the hands of promoting chasing Coalisland Athletic Reserves in their Reserve Division Three clash.

A spectacular shot from Gary Dodds that struck the crossbar provided the only highlight of a miserable afternoon for the village side.