South Antrim are in seventh heaven as they open with win

Action from the match between South Antrim and Portrush, at Friends. US1443-534cd Picture: Cliff Donaldson

South, who are amongst the favourites for promotion this season, started the game brightly against a Portrush side making their first appearance in Senior One.

The hosts didn’t have long to wait before breaking the deadlock, with a trademark Adam Glass penalty corner nestling nicely in the bottom corner.

However, Portrush were level within a matter of minutes through a slick short corner variation themselves.

South soon retook the lead through their skipper, Lee Marshall, who reacted quickest to a poor clearance by the visiting ‘keeper following another Adam Glass short corner.

Once again though, Portrush struck back almost immediately adding weight to that old cliche that a team are most vulnerable after they’ve just scored.

With half time approaching, South continued to carve out attack after attack with the pace of Henry and Watt proving a real asset in the forward line.

And it was through the speed of Henry that created the chance for Paul Maguire to put South back in front just before the interval.

The second half continued in much the same way as the first had ended; with South dominating in terms of possession and chances created. However, it was Portrush who got the next goal to make it 3-3 by capitalising on a defensive error from the hosts.

With 15 minutes remaining it appeared that South may have let a game they really ought to have won slip from them.

However, as good teams do, the hosts managed to find an extra couple of gears to drive through and guarantee victory.

Chris Henry again broke down the right side of the pitch before teeing up Ward Phillips to put South 4-3 ahead before Henry himself added his name to the scoresheet.

Portrush did reduce the deficit with another goal on the counter attack before Paul Maguire and Adam Glass added goals number 6 and 7 for South through a well placed slap and diving reverse stick effort respectively.

South will no doubt be content with the 3 points to start the season but will need to tighten up defensively as a team if they wish to contend for the league title.

South Antrim would like to thank their ‘sponsor of the month’ - SportsDock (Antrim Street, Lisburn).