Islandmagee earn well deserved point
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
ISLANDMAGEE 3.
NEWINGTON YC 3.
THERE was quite a game on Saturday at Wilbourne Park, where Islandmagee grabbed a well deserved point, thanks to Stuart Hilditch's last gasp equaliser four minutes into injury time, after having early frittered away a two goal lead against reigning champions Newington Youth Club.
It was the Islanders who made the early running, with Andy Waide and Stuart Hilditch both testing the visitors' keeper.
It was no real surprise then when Island forged ahead midway through the half; Aaron Anderson doing well to beat two men before crossing for Hilditch to head past the keeper.
The Wilbourners, too, doubled that lead soon afterwards, with a pinpoint header this time from Michael Moore.
It was Island who continued to play all the football, and while
Newington had the occasional foray, they never troubled keeper David Harrison. 2-0 then at the break, but the second half was a totally different story. Newington, knowing they had to go for it, had the Islanders pinned back and the warning signs were there when the visitors had two one-on-ones - screwing one wide, and then bringing out a superb save from Harrison. Striker Thomas Duffy, too, missed one at the back post when he should have done better.
Duffy, though, was involved when the North Belfast side finally found their mark, when his miscued effort was turned into his own net by Andy Phillips.
Ten minutes later, Newington were level, with a forward outpacing substitute Neil McConnell, giving Harrison no chance.
Island, nevertheless, could have edged back in front when Moore nodded Andy Waide's right wing cross just over.
That apart, though, it was still mostly Newington, with Harrison producing another excellent stoppage, as a forward again ran through on goal. Even he had no hope, nevertheless, as a Newington man put the visitors in front for the first time.
With 12 minutes left on the clock, there was still time for Island to pull something out of the bag, with Andy Waide twice deprived by the keeper, while a Moore cross was just too high for Hilditch at the far post.
Newington, too, were reduced to ten men on 82 minutes, when Duffy was redcarded for pulling Thomas Craig's hair.
Island, nevertheless, gained their reward four minutes into injury time; Hilditch doing the needful from a yard out, after the keeper fumbled another testing cross from Andy Waide.
Next Saturday, Island travel to Temple Rangers in the Clarence Cup.
Islandmagee; Harrison - Craig, Phillips, McKnight (McConnell), Anderson - Smith, Moffett, Moore, Gibb (B Waide) - Hilditch, A Waide. Sub (unused) Lough
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