Dromara Well On Top

Dromara skipper James McDonagh, referee John Lewis and  Mals captain Conor McHugh

After the outstanding result last week against Shankill, Mals returned to earth with a bump today when they were well beaten 4-1 at home by Dromara Village who tonight  top the division. Leaking two soft, early goals it was always going to be an uphill struggle against a well organised, physical Dromara side who, on the day, played to their strengths with a direct style that paid dividends and they ran out comfortable winners.

Mals started with the never wrong footed Stitt, vociferously welcomed back to the goalkeeping slot, and with Adams, Dalton and key striker McDonnell all unavailable it was the same starting line up as last week , except for Dillon replacing Adams at right back.

Mals got off to the worst possible start when, with just two minutes on the clock, a long throw from the left by visiting flanker Brendan Agnew was nodded on to striker Aaron Thompson to innocuously score with a glancing header that looked soft to the home sideline. Former Distillery striker O’Connor went close soon after as Dromara opened the stronger, in incessant rainfall, and with just twenty minutes gone, the visitors went two in front, A simple long ball from deep caught the Mals defence out which allowed O’Connor an unchallenged run on goal and the big striker needed no second invitation as he finished well with the right foot to the bottom right of the Mals’ goal.

As conditions deteriorated away midfielder Brendan MacNamee was the first to see yellow from referee John Lewis, tight shorts and all, for a poor challenge on Reilly as a McCourt header from a Lowe cross was all the Mals could muster from a poor start. Despite these early setbacks, Mals slowly but surely clawed their way back into the game, without really threatening it must be said, as Dromara sat back and relied on the long ball forwards from defence. There was a half chance for Mals’ winger Reilly before the half ended with home keeper Stitt denying the ever threatening O’Connor, as the visitors went in two goals to the good.

HT: Malachians 0 Dromara Village 2

Within two minutes of the restart Dromara scored again and the game was effectively done and dusted. Again it was a soft score from a Mals point of view. The defence failed to clear the ball after a corner on the left and Thompson was again left free to head home despite the efforts of Lowe on the post to keep it out. Dromara were again well on top and only a brilliant finger tip save at full stretch by home keeper Stitt denied that man O’Connor again.

Fifteen minutes in however Mals were thrown a lifeline when McCourt scored. The scorer fought hard to gain possession half way into the Dromara half before setting strike partner Moore free on the right. Moore squared the ball perfectly as McCourt arrived into the box and he finished well from twelve yards. Allsopp was then replaced by McAtee as Mals upped the ante. However at the other end O’Connor missed a sitter and a looping header hit the top of the bar as the game opened up.

Collins was pushed forward as Mals chased the game and Dromara continued to press with long probing balls forward. Hackett cleared off the line again to deny O’Connor who could have had a hat trick, he himself said later. Mals battled hard to try and force their way back into contention but they were well contained by a strong Dromara side. As Mals pushed forward the inevitable gaps started to appear at the back and as the game entered it’s final minutes Dromara grabbed a fourth when Manus O’Gorman crossed for substitute Brian McIlmurray to score.

So a bad day at the office for Malachians as the normally reliable defence conceded soft goals, from which the side never recovered. The midfield today came out second best and the full back, winger pairings on both flanks never really got going. Moore and McCourt battled hard in tandem upfront but got little change from a strong Dromara defence. Malachians now face another important fixture next week at Rosario as the battle for points throughout the entire division intensifies. Up the Mals !

FT: Malachians 1 Dromara Village 4