DUNMURRY REC V ABBEY VILLA – POINTS SHARED IN 6 GOAL THRILLER
Team: COBURN, MCERLEANE, MCDONNELL, FENTON, MCMULLAN, TUMILTY, NAPIER, CORR, ANSLEY, WALSH Subs: MCLARNON, REDPATH & FRANKLIN
There were 2 forced changes from last weeks line up with Ricky Rutherford suspended and keeper Chris Kerr unavailable. Anto Walsh returned from injury and Mark Coburn made his debut in nets.
The Rec almost got off to a dream start when in the 1st min John Ansley released Sean Napier down the right and his cross past the keeper was met by Anto Walsh but a defender made a great block denying a certain goal. The Rec were well on top in the early exchanges, with the Villa defence looking shaky and took the lead on 9 mins when John Ansley played a through ball with the outside of his foot which was missed by the defender and Neil Corr slotted home. Almost immediately it was 2-0 when Ansley found Tumilty who played in Neil Corr who again fired home. On 24 mins it was almost 3 – 0 when Anto Walsh fired just wide form the edge of the box. Then on 29 mins a lifeline for Villa when McDonnell upended an attacker in the box and the spot kick is coolly converted. Then on 41 mins unbelievably it was all square when from a corner Villa No 9 rose unchallenged to head home.
HT 2-2
Tumilty was unable to continue with an injury so Dee McClarnon came on wide left with Anto Walsh moving to centre mid.. On 59 mins Neil Corr wriggled free to be 1-1 with keeper but his tame shot was easily held by Villa keeper. On 61 mins Paul Redpath came on for Sean Napier. On 62 mins Mark Coburn produced a good save with his feet from a shot from 14 yards. Then on 65 mins Steve McDonnell fouls at the edge of box, picks up a 2nd yellow and goes for an early bath. From the free kick Villa take the lead with the ball getting under the dive of the Rec keeper. A few mins later it was 10 men each when Villa No 8 made a reckless late challenge on Gary Hewitt and the ref produced the red card. On 70 mins the Rec were level, McClarnon played the ball down the left channel to Ansley who turned back inside and crossed perfectly for Gary Hewitt to head home. A moment later a great chance went begging when Neil Corr burst through on the left, cut inside his man and fired over from 18 yards although Redpath was standing unmarked to his right. The game became stretched for the last 20 mins with both teams producing ½ chances. Then in injury time Redpath looked to have won it for the Rec when picked up the ball in midfield, ran past 4 opponents to be 1-1 with the keeper, and although the keeper gambled the wrong way the shot came back off the post.
Dunmurry Rec 3-3 Abbey Villa
MANAGERS COMMENTS
What a fantastic advert for Amateur league football. Give credit to both sets of players for a committed display, plenty of endeavour and some really good football being played. I’m certainly disappointed to have dropped 2 points as you don’t expect to be pegged back from a 2-0 lead or to concede 3 goals from set pieces. But to be fair both teams probably deserved something from the action packed game. I am really angry at the goals we conceded, a silly challenge for the pen, a free header 7 yards out from a corner and a free kick that really should have been saved and these have cost us 2 points. I thought the game changed for us with Barry Tumilty being forced of by injury meaning we had to re shape the team. Drama at the end when young Paul went on one of his spectacular runs and almost won it for us! The team showed great character to get back into the game and I believed showed the hunger Ricky and I have been trying to instil in them this season. There were some good individual performances. Mark Coburn deserved credit for a decent game in nets, Michael McMullan I thought was again solid, Neil Corr scored 2 striker goals with confident finishes and Paul Redpath was a threat when he came off the bench. Man of Match for Rec was skipper Gary Hewitt who lead by example in the 2nd half and came up with the equaliser. It is vital now we pick up 3 points at home to Foundry next week.
