Wilkinson puts Grove to the sword

Grove United 1

NORTEL get right back on the rails following that first league defeat at Rosario Youth Club the week before, seeing off Shore Road neighbours Grove United at the Factory Grounds.

Coach John McMinn said afterwards: “Grove might have had a lot of the play, but we had the better chances – and it’s nice to bounce right back after that first defeat the week before.”

Both sides were understrength and it was Grove who had maybe the slight edge, only for Nortel to set the tone on 20 minutes; Mark Wilkinson stabbing the ball into the bottom corner amid a goalmouth scramble.

Grove might have stormed right back, but for a fine save from home netminder James Millar, who also coped well with a few testing corners.

Nortel widened the margin five minutes after the turnaround, with McKay flicking Davy Freyne’s perfectly measured cross over the keeper.

Two minutes later Grove were back within touching distance, thanks to a low 20-yard drive past Millar into the bottom corner of the net.

The home side regained that two-goal cushion when Wilkinson fastened onto Taylor Kirk’s probing pass, racing through before being sent tumbling as the tried to round the keeper. McKay duly obliged with the resultant penalty.

Grove could have bounced back with a penalty of their own when Millar nudged a United forward. However, the spot-kick this time was hoisted high over the bar.

A goal then, with 10 minutes still remaining, could have sparked off a real frantic finale, but instead it was Nortel who finally ended the debate with a crisp finish from Wilkinson just before the close.

This Saturday, Nortel have no fixture.

Nortel: Millar – Kirk (Forsythe), McMinn, A Doyle, Bell – Fenner (M Doyle), Lorrimer, Loughran (McClean), Freyne – McKay, Wilkinson.