Drumaness Mills 2
Albert Foundry 3
A STIRRING second half fightback almost salvaged a point for
Drumaness when they came back from 3-0 after 24 minutes to scare the
living daylights out of title-chasing Albert Foundry.
The Mills, who had to reshuffle their pack yet again, have now just
three games to save themselves from the dreaded drop.
They are second from bottom, but Comber Rec, the team immediately
above them, are a point ahead of them and have played three games
less with Holywood Rec, the bottom team, have five points less than
the Mills, but have two games in hand.
Drumaness started full of confidence and a surging run from Brian
McIlmurray after two minutes out on the right saw him beat a couple
of defenders before playing in Gavin McEvoy with a deft touch, but
his shot was well saved by the experienced Kris Malone.
Albert Foundry then rocked Drumaness to the core with two goals in
as many minutes, but they got a helping hand from the Mills defence.
With just three minutes gone Paul McCaw got the better of Gavin
Rogan out on the right crossed perfectly for Stephen Young to head
in the opening goal.
Two minutes later Glen McCord was given the freedom of Meadowvale
and he took full advantage and drilled in a beauty from just outside
the box. The visitors went 3-0 up in the 24th minute when McCaw
seized on another defensive howler before lobbing Ryan Campbell with
an exquisite lob from the edge of the box.
Ryan Kane went close to reducing the leeway in the 32nd minute when
he brought out the best in Malone, but that was as good as it got
for the Mills in a disappointing first half display.
A few tactical tweaks and a stern talking to saw a completely
different Mills side take the field at the start of the second half,
but it was the introduction of Niall Mulholland that ignited
Drumaness.
Mulholland replaced the injured Paul Burns and manager Graham
McConnell put him into a pivotal midfield role with Paul Walsh
moving back into defence to replace Burns.
Mulholland immediately gave Drumaness a lift and they laid siege to
the Albert Foundry penalty area, but the killer ball into the box
was missing.
However, with 68 minutes gone Gavin McEvoy latched onto a long ball
out of defence from Aidy Kelly, weaved past two defenders and
crossed for Kane to head home at the back post.
Four minutes later McIlmurray made it 3-2 when he got on the end of
an Owen Wright free and powered a header past Malone. Albert Foundry
were now creaking and survived a goalmouth scramble in the 80th
minute as the Mills searched for the equaliser.
With 82 minutes gone McIlmurray wasn't too far away with a shot from
the edge of the box, and two minutes later Charlie Robinson was out
of luck when he blocked a clearance from Malone, but the ball rolled
the wrong side of the upright as the visitors held on for an
invaluable three points.
Drumaness Mills: R. Campbell, G. Murdock, G. Rogan, A. Kelly, P.
Burns, P. Walsh, G. McEvoy, O. Wright, B. McIlmurray, C. Robinson,
T. Williams. Subs: R. Kane, D. Clarke, N. Mulholland.
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