Adam rescuer for Killyleagh

Adam rescuer for Killyleagh

21 March 2018

ADAM Neale’s last gasp equaliser rescued a point for Killyleagh against the league leaders.

Neale struck in the 91st minute, hammering home through the legs of a defender, the climax to a remarkable incident in which the Islanders produced two separate goal-line clearances in the same attack. 

It completed a memorable comeback for Paul Sharvin’s team from 2-0 down.

There was a controversial opening to the game when the referee awarded the visitors a spot kick in the very first minute.

He adjudged that Niall Walsh had fouled Michael Moore but ended up booking the wrong Killyleagh defender before retracting it and giving the yellow card to Walsh.

Despite prolonged and sustained Killyleagh protests, the award stood and Ryan Kane squeezed the spot kick into the corner of the net to give Islandmagee a dream start.

It was the 12th minute before Killyleagh’s Lee Morrison forced the first save of the game from either keeper after a good exchange of passes between Stevie Kennedy and Jack Sharvin.

Killyleagh dominated proceedings from this point on, playing some super passing moves, which is a measure of how far they have progressed this season under Sharvin.

Island seemed content to sit back and it was the 26th minute before they had a shot on target. It took a fine save from Aaron Carberry to keep out Moore after good work from Kane and Scott.

For all the home team’s possession, however, the only other incident of note in the first half saw a Jack Sharvin free saved by the impressive Island goalkeeper David Harrison.

Killyleagh were rocked back on their heels two minutes into the second half when Island doubled their lead.

There have been some super goals scored at The Showgrounds this season and Moore’s wonder strike from 25 yards was every bit as good, giving Carberry no chance.

In response Neale went close from Jack Sharvin’s free in the 55th minute. Then Island were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark when central defender Andrew Phillips was shown a straight red.

The home side were pounding the visitors’ goal with Jamie Sharvin, Darren McConnell and Jordan Kennedy bossing the midfield sector and they finally got a breakthrough shortly afterwards when Stevie Kennedy’s run and threaded pass found Neale. He picked out Jack Sharvin for a lovely goal to make it 2-1.

From this point on the pressure was relentless. Another Sharvin free went close, Walsh’s point blank header was somehow kept out by Harrison and then in the 80th minute Morrison shot just over.

Killyleagh went for broke, withdrawing captain Jonny Murray and pushing Jon Joe Sharvin up as an extra attacker.

When Kennedy’s blistering drive from the edge of the area skimmed over the bar in the 89th minute it looked as if it would not be Killyleagh’s day.

Anything but at least a point would have been a travesty though and in the first added minute up popped ace poacher Neale to thump the ball through a defender’s legs after Killyleagh had twice been denied by last ditch goal-line clearances in an attack that resembled a ping-pong game on the six yard line.

It was no more than Sharvin’s YC side deserved. Teenage sub Declan McComiskey almost made it a dream result when he characteristically found space in the area but his hooked shot lacked power and Harrison gratefully grabbed it.

Islandmagee have taken full advantage of Ballynahinch Olympic’s lack of games in recent weeks to leapfrog them at the top of the Division 1A table and they will now be confident of securing second place and promotion ahead of neighbours Larne Tech Old Boys and Killyleagh.

Sharvin’s team, though, still have to play Island away and Larne away in a backlog of fixtures which leaves them with 11 league games over the next few weeks.

The Killyleagh man of the match award winner was Darren McConnell.