Dromara overcome Lisburn to remain top of the table

Dromara overcome Lisburn to remain top of the table

5 October 2022

DROMARA maintained their perfect start to the season after defeating Lisburn Rangers in what was a game of two halves at Bellsbridge on Saturday afternoon.

A reasonably entertaining first half affair exploded into life after the interval with the travelling Lisburn outfit finishing the game with nine players following two sending offs.

Dromara took the lead through striker Ben Martin before Rangers forward Craig McCutcheon levelled after 40 minutes.

A rejuvenated Village team re-entered the fray, notching two goals in quick succession, but the result was far from secure when Lisburn responded once more.

However, two red cards debunked the momentum the away team had mustered and the three points were confirmed when Dromara substitute Peter Jordan made no mistake with his one on one opportunity in added time.

Much like the weather, the contest was unpredictable in the opening stages as both teams took a rather cautious approach to each other within the first ten minutes.

The deadlock would be broken by dynamic Dromara number ten Ben Martin, who benefitted after receiving a quickly taken free-kick and rolling his shot past onrushing Rangers ‘keeper Owen Kennedy.

It wasn’t all jubilation for Martin after he was denied his penalty appeal ten minutes later, after he seemingly was clipped to the ground inside the box by the Lisburn custodian.

Rangers remained present in the tie with defender Kevin Farrelly seeing his long ranged effort whisk past the Dromara post in what was a warning to the home team.

Eventually the hosts would succumb to the mounting pressure of the Lisburn side as striker Craig McCutcheon displayed great control with his chest to open up the space for him to smash home his effort.

Dromara almost went back in front instantly after a punted pass up the pitch took an awkward bounce in front of Lisburn ‘keeper Kennedy, who just did enough to tip the ball onto the crossbar before the danger was cleared.

The home team came out onto the pitch for the second half as a different beast and quickly went in front after Alex Burtney’s pass across the box was failed to be cleared, leaving striker Marcus Murphy with an easy tap in goal.

A series of yellow cards would follow for the Lisburn team, with one such foul from Torin Kerr resulting in a free-kick which Dromara would take full advantage of.

An inviting free-kick delivery from Philip Kerr eventually found its way to team-mate Peter Turley, who cut inside his marker before dispatching his left-footed effort past the diving Kennedy for Dromara’s third goal of the afternoon.

The hosts had their tails up and rallied in hopes of adding further goals to the scoreboard but it would be Lisburn who would strike next.

An individual piece of magic from striker Mohamed Ayari caught the Dromara defence cold with a fantastic finish against the run of play.

This seemed to have spurred on the travelling outfit who were now pressing for an equaliser.

However, with less than 20 minutes to play the Lisburn momentum would be derailed as goal-scorer Ayari, who was proving to be a serious threat up front, was given his marching orders after sillily reacting to a late Dromara tackle.

The Lisburn number nine opted to kick out at Village defender Burtney, leaving the referee with little option but to brandish the red card.

Things would go from bad to worse in a matter of minutes for Lisburn when captain Andrew Ginn also saw red following his second yellow card offence.

Dromara were dealt a blow of their own as they lost lively midfielder Philip Kerr to injury following a late tackle by Lisburn’s Dean Farr.

Nevertheless, the home team pushed relentlessly for their insurance goal and it finally came in added time of the 90 minutes as substitute Peter Jordan beat the offside trap and converted his chance.

The victory means Dromara have claimed the maximum 15 points available from their opening five games and retain their spot as the current Division 1A table-toppers.

Dromara Village: J Connolly, J Clarke, A Burtney, L Russell (capt), P Turley, J Gregg, N Hamilton, D Turley, M Murphy, B Martin, P Kerr.

Subs: C Mallon, B Hanna, P Jordan.

Yellow cards: D Turley, B Martin, M Murphy.

Lisburn Rangers: O Kennedy, B Masters, K Farrelly, M Harrison, B Webb, L McCausland, D Farr, A Ginn (capt), M Ayari, C McCutcheon, T Kerr.

Subs: M Armstrong, J Scott, B Burrows.

Yellow cards: A Ginn (x2), M Harrison, T Kerr, K Farrelly, D Farr.

Red cards: M Ayari, A Ginn.