Valuable point for Amateurs against Service

Civil Service 2

DROMORE Amateurs secured a valuable league point at the weekend courtesy of an entertaining 2-2 draw with Civil Service.

The home side were eager to bounce back from the previous week’s defeat to Mossley YM, and on Saturday took early control of the game.

Their dominance was rewarded when Jamie Mairs was upended in the opposition penalty area - and Roger Downey made no mistake from the resulting spot kick.

But it was a lead which Dromore held on to for about a minute – Civil Service making the home side pay for not switching on after the restart.

Ten minutes into the second half, the visitors edged in front when they converted a penalty of their own after the referee spotted a handball offence.

Civil Service looked to be heading for their first win of the season but Amateurs substitute Chris Lockhart had other ideas.

With just eight minutes remaining, the teenager rounded off a fine move with a clinical finish from a tight angle.

Dromore may even feel that they should have got something more out of this game, but a draw still offers plenty of encouragement – and perhaps it will prove to be the catalyst for a run of good results.

Red Star 9

Dromore Amateurs IIs 0

A Junior Cup tie away to Red Star always looked a daunting challenge for the Amateurs Seconds, and so it proved as the Armagh team cruised into the next round with a convincing victory.

The real damage came in the last half-hour when – through a red card and injury – Dromore were left with just nine men on the pitch.

Red Star – who play in Division Three of the Mid-Ulster - ran amok, smashing the goals past a deflated Dromore side.

Had it not been for the heroics of Amateurs keeper Tommy McKeown - who was in fine form, pulling off a string of excellent saves – the scoreline would have been even higher.

* The winner in the Club 100 draw was number 81, Colin Riddell.

* On Saturday, the firsts take to the road for a league clash with Kilroot Rec. The Seconds are at home to Suffolk Swifts, also in the league.