Mals Open Their Account In Dramatic Fashion

Mals skipper Conor McHugh, referee John McKnight and Islandmagee captain Michael Moore

When you have just lost your first four league games in a row and confidence is low the last thing you need is a game at Wilbourne Park away to Islandmagee, who had won their first four games without conceding a goal. That was the daunting task facing Malachians today, but to a man the squad rose to the challenge, battled superbly , matched the physicality of the home side, outplayed them in the first half, rode their luck in the second and grabbed all three points in a dramatic finish to the game. Stitt was once again outstanding in goals, the new central defensive partnership of Collins and impressive debutant Decky Hackett won the challenge put upto them all game by Island front two Moore and Hilditch and man of the match substitute Craig Faulkner led the line well when asked to step in and took both his goals beautifully. But this was a superb all round performance with full backs Corr and McDonagh heavily committed throughout, wing backs Feighan and Kavanagh up for the challenge and the central midfield partnership of McHugh and McAtee exceptional. McCourt as always worked his socks off and set up the winning goal at the end.

The game opened in frantic fashion with an early booking for Mals’ Corr from referee John McKnight for a clattering challenge from behind on Island captain Moore, playing upfront. Kavanagh was showing some nice early touches on the right with some great crosses and on ten minutes a peach of an effort from distance from another Mals debutant Seamie McDonnell was tipped over brilliantly by former Mal Simon Steele in the Island goal. A half chance for McAtee came just after and then McDonnell, causing havoc in the home defence with his speed and directness, narrowly failed to convert when through one on one with the home keeper. McCourt then flashed an effort just wide as the Mals clearly unsettled the home side with their direct approach and it was twenty minutes before the home side mustered their first real effort on goal, an effort from distance by Moore that whistled just wide of an upright.

The impressive McDonnell was then unluckily forced off with a knee injury soon after, which was bitterly disappointing for both the player and the team as he had started brilliantly. But replacement Faulkner was soon in the thick of it with a right footed effort that saw Steele make his second important save of the half to keep the sides level. The half continued in physical fashion with a booking for home centre back Scott Cowie for a cynical late challenge on Feighan that clearly left the diminutive Mals winger with stud marks above the knee. Mals continued on top as the half ended but with nothing to show for their efforts and, as the bickering amongst the home players grew ever louder, the first period ended goal less.

HT: Islandmagee 0 Malachians 0

More of the same was what managers Donnelly and Saunders demanded from their side in the second period and that’s exactly what they got. Mals opened the half with a flourish and, after a corner, a toe poke from Hackett drifted agonizingly wide with Steele stranded.

The half burst into life five minutes in when the home side went in front. A free kick from the centre circle was clipped forward then headed across goal for Moore to ghost in, unchallenged, and head powerfully home for the game’s opening goal. Within a minute the sides were level. A long ball over the top, through the middle, from Hackett found substitute Faulkner and his effort came back off the inside of a post. However the affable new Mals striker was not to be denied and, reacting quickest, his turn and shot put the sides level once more.

The new defensive partnership of Collins and Hackett continued in exemplary fashion to thwart the home side, with Collins in particular clearly enjoying the ongoing arm wrestle with home skipper Moore. It was like synchronized diving from the pair at times with Collins going into referee McKnight's book for what looked like an innocuous tug. The game then became decidedly tetchy as pressure from the home side grew with Mals continuing to look dangerous on the counter. Keeper Stitt then saw yellow from the over fussy McKnight for wasting time. A double substitution for the home side then followed as Island chased a winner with danger man Andy Waide pushed forward in attack but the next nearest thing to a goal came at the other end from Mals when, after good work on the left from Feighan and McCourt, Faulkner flashed an effort narrowly wide.

Hilditch then had a great chance at the other end but his effort on goal was weak and the chance was gone. With five minutes left Donnelly replaced Kavanagh, who had run himself into the ground on the left flank. Again Mals rode their luck when home defender Stephen Smyth embarked on a mazey run from one box to the other and squared the ball perfectly for Waide only for the normally lethal striker to be denied by another outstanding save by Mals super keeper Stitt.

As the match entered injury time a draw looked a certain result but the game was still to have two dramatic stings in its tail. Three minutes into injury time an American Football style “Hail Mary” pass was launched high into the Mals box. Stitt in goal was clearly upto the challenge but the misplaced exuberance of Corr in blocking an on rushing striker's run saw referee McKnight correctly award a penalty kick and Mals hearts looked like being broken. Up stepped Andy Waide but his kick was poorly struck and Stitt was able to throw his hat on the ball as they say before saving easily. The howls of delight from the Mals sideline had barely subsided when the final dramatic act of the game unfolded in the fourth minute of added time. A long punt upfield from defence was bravely and powerfully headed on by Faulkner as two Island defenders sandwiched him and the ball broke to McCourt on the left. He cut the ball back onto his right before delivering an inch perfect cross to the penalty spot where Faulkner, dogged and persistent to the end , had made up the ground to power his header to the corner giving Steel no chance and the game was won to ecstatic scenes on the Mals sideline.

Mals still had to endure an unbelievable seven minutes of injury time in total but they were not to be denied and as the shouts of the traditionally hostile home crowd melted away an eerie silence descended on Wilbourne Park, except in the away dressing room that is where the win was celebrated as if they had won the league not just a game, but then again why not ? Even the normally unsatisfiable Collins, who himself had played on bravely through the pain barrier with a back injury, told his troops that he was proud of what really was a superb team effort. The challenge now is to carry that effort into next week’s fixture away to Killyleagh. Up the Mals !

FT: Islandmagee 1 Malachians 2