DUNMURRY REC V KILLYLEAGH JAN 2010

 

Team: KERR, MCERLEANE, LARMOUR, FENTON, MCMULLAN, TUMILTY, CAMLIN, KERR, RUTHERFORD, WALSH, LEITCH  Subs: LARKIN, COLLINS, CORR

 

REC COME UP SHORT AWAY TO KILLYLEAGH

 

Dunmurry Rec travelled to Killyleagh with almost at full strength.  Only Gary Hewitt, Sean Napier and Steve McDonnell were missing from the 1st team squad available for selection.   The game kicked off in bright sunshine and incredibly there was not a foul committed for the first 6 mins of the game.  All that changed as the game degenerated into a physical battle with Rutherford particularly targeted by both Killyleagh players and the Killyleagh crowd.  It seemed the ref was intimidated by the vocal home support egged on by the Killyleagh bench much to the frustration of the Rec players. The game itself was even with neither side able to create a clear cut chance.  As the half wore the Rec started to get on top with more and more of the play in the Killyleagh half. On 27 mins Camlin saw a free kick from 20 yards blast into the wall.  Then on 33 mins a defensive mix up at the back allowed Camlin through 1-1 with the keeper but from 18 yards he fired narrowly wide.  Killyleagh then had a long range shot easily saved by Kerr.  Almost immediately the game was turned on its head when McErleane, the Rec right back, went off the pitch to retrieve the ball for a throw and was injured in what turned out to be snapped ligaments.  Larkin came on in midfield with Kerr who was having a solid game moving to centre back and Fenton out to right back.  The changes unsettled the Rec. GOAL - On 42 mins from a needlessly conceded free kick out on the Killyleagh left, Larkin lost his man and although the first header was well saved by Kerr the rebound was poked home.

HT Rec 0-1 Killyleagh.

The second continued the tight affair with plenty of effort from both teams but little by way of creativity or chances. On 51 mins Leitch fired over a cross which was well headed away by a defender as Rutherford lurked. GOAL - On 58 mins disaster for the Rec when Larkin again lost his man, Kerr saved the header only for an unmarked player to flick the ball over the line.  GOAL - 10 mins later it was game over when the Rec defence was all over the place as they stopped for an offside that wasn’t given and the striker scored under the advancing Kerr to make it 3-0.  The players tried to get back into the game but Killyleagh used their experience to break up the play and slow the game down.  GOAL - On 76 mins following a long throw Tumilty slammed the ball home from 6 yards. Then on 80 mins Walsh went in for a challenge in front of the Killyleagh dug and despite making absolutely no contact with the player, the challenge drew the now typical reaction from the Killyleagh bench, players and fans and the Ref awarded a second yellow to the distraught Rec player.

Dunmurry Rec 1-3 Killyleagh

 

MANAGERS COMMENTS

A really tough day today all round and bitter disappointment from the both the result and the game.  It was difficult for back room staff and players going into the game with the passing of our 1st team kit mans wife on Thursday. You hope that such circumstances can spur players on but it also adds to the pressure to get a result.  It was such a tight game with maybe only 3 clear cut chances in the whole game but in the end Killyleagh took their chances when they came and we didn’t so they deserved to win the game.  I thought we were excellent first half and ended the half clearly on top but after the injury to Dee McErleane we struggled defensively. I shook each players hand after the game as I had no complaints about their effort or commitment.  We certainly missed Gary Hewitt’s presence but that’s football.   A special mention must go to Brian Strain who looked after Dee McErleane so well following the injury and we appreciate his help. A bad day at the office but we must re group, lick our wounds, for what is now a vital Clarence Cup game next week at Drumaness.