Seven heaven for United

Draperstown Celtic......1

THE Waterside men came into this game on the back of four league game wins out of four and were hoping to continue their fine form against Draperstown Celtic who find themselves rooted to the bottom of the league table.

It was the away team who got off to a flyer, pressing and putting the home defence under pressure, albeit from a long clearance from their keeper which caught out Thornton, and although he collected the ball after a clash with the away striker the referee pointed to the spot deeming the home stopper had impeded the Draperstown forward.

Thornton saved the penalty but it had to be re-taken because the referee had not blown his whistle.

The Celtic striker found the corner of the net with his second attempt in the sixth minute.

United were rattled and were soon on the front foot with quick direct counter attacks and from one of these Dougherty broke down the left and crossed inch perfect to Robinson who smashed the ball home from 6 yards out.

Draperstown were playing some fine football through the centre but couldn’t get that final ball into the strikers due to some fine defending by Blair and Moore and when this broke down Newbuildings were quick to attack.

Falconer added the second for the home team soon after when he was played through on the left and sent in a vicious swerving left foot shot which deceived the keeper and ended up in the back of the net. Utd had now found their feet and were starting to dominate in all areas and it wasn’t too long before Dougherty added the third.

Some good play down the right involving Wallace and Scanlon saw the big striker make no mistake from 12 yards out. The teams went in at half time with the score 3-1 to Newbuildings.

United came out at half time with the intent not to let Celtic back into the game.

A brilliant cross field pass from Wallace found Falconer who volleyed the ball goal wards only for the away stopper to pull off the save of the game and turn the ball over the crossbar.

Time and time again the home team were knocking at the door but were finding the away keeper hard to beat.

The right hand side of the home team was now growing in confidence, Wallace and Lewis Nicholl were causing all sorts of problems for the away defence and this is where Newbuildings capitalised.

Dougherty’s second was a simple tap in when Wallace squared the ball to him from the right.

The same player grabbed his hat-trick when he collected the ball 40 yards out, out paced the away defence and sent in a low left foot shot from 15 yards out giving the away keeper no chance.

Bryan Scanlon added the sixth when a cross from the right saw Doughterty’s shot well saved but the midfielder was on hand to volley home from 10 yds out.

Dougherty almost made it seven when he drove in an angled free kick which the Draperstown keeper could only stand and watch only for it to shave the top corner of the net. He did add his fourth and United’s seventh when, again after good work on the right saw Robinson, his partner in crime square the ball to him and he made no mistake from close range.

The win leaves Newbuildings joint top with Oxford, but with a game in hand, and they now go into this weekend’s massive Irish Cup tie at home to one of the top teams in the Northern Amateur League Dromara Village (KO 1.30pm).