Mals End The Year On a High

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

Malachians ended the year on a high with a hard fought, well deserved 2-1 victory over Islandmagee at the Stadium of Sand. The game was full of controversial talking points from start to finish but Malachians, supremely marshalled by talisman coach and man of the match Collins, with two goals from the impressive “Mac Attack” McDonnell emphatically grabbed all three points for their fourth win in a row in all competitions.

For once it was almost a full strength Malachians squad that returned to action after the festivities with only Adams and McCourt missing and debutant Patrick Dillon starting on the bench alongside Crossey and Faulkner.

There is a growing balance and sense of unity and purpose in this Mals side with Collins and Hackett in central defence alongside Dalton and Sharpe and pace throughout with Lowe and Reilly on the flanks and Moore and McDonnell upfront. Captain McHugh and McAtee again started in central midfield and both were clearly up for the physical challenge that Mals knew wouldn’t be long in coming from the visitors.

After a cagey start from both sides, with Mals just about having the better of it, the game burst into life on fourteen minutes. The blistering pace of McDonnell outstripped the away defence with the striker cleverly taking the ball into the box across the path of centre back Cowie as he attempted to recover his ground. Contact was inevitable and there was no debate when referee John McKnight pointed to the spot. What was clearly controversial is why Cowie didn’t see red for a clear, last man infringement, but he amazingly stayed on the pitch, McDonnell dispatched the kick in some style and Mals were ahead.

There was almost an instant reply from the visitors when Waide, dangerous throughout,  cracked a blistering effort against a post. Away centre foward Hilditch and home coach Collins were having their own personal duel as both contested every scrap whilst in the middle of the park opposing captains Moore and McHugh were going at it hammer and tongs. Michael Moore was the first player to see yellow from referee McKnight for a poor challenge.

McAtee was catching the eye in midfield while upfront James Moore and McDonnell with guile and pace were proving a real handful for the away defence. On thirty six minutes only a brilliant save from Stitt, low down to his right , pushed an effort from Waide round the post. With a lot of other games falling victim to the weather, the pitch was in great condition and, in front of a large crowd, the match became decidedly tetchy with bookings for away striker Waide, for a cynical trip, and home defender Hackett for a tug of the shirt. A long range effort from Mals striker Moore was then well tipped over by former Mal Simon Steele in the away goal.

Home defender Sharpe was next to enter the referee’s book for a blatant trip and from the resultant free on the right Islandmagee drew level, just two minutes before the break. The free was floated into the box, Mals keeper Stitt called it but then was unable to get there through the crowd and away centre back Cowie gratefully headed into the unguarded net for what was, from the Mals perspective, a soft equaliser.

HT: Malachians 1 Islandmagee 1

The visitors stayed out on the pitch throughout the half time interval and opened the second period with pace and purpose putting Mals onto the back foot and forcing them to lie ever deeper. Despite this Collins continued to win just about everything the away side could throw at him and slowly Mals stemmed the tide and with crisp, passing, pacey football took the initiative as the half progressed.

On twelve minutes a brilliant one two between James Moore and Lowe saw Moore clearly tripped by home defender Cowie, as he stepped inside him, for what was a stonewall penalty. Even the Islandmagee players stopped but to howls of derision and disbelief all around the ground referee McKnight saw nothing wrong and play continued.

Minutes later, from a Mals corner on the left, a defensive slice saw the ball loop over away keeper Steele’s head and appeared to be well over the line before being hooked out by the defender on the post. The hands were all instantly up in protest from the Mals supporters, in line with the action behind the goal, who later said the ball was clearly two feet over the line. (And Mals supporters never lie !) But it was hard to fault referee McKnight, in this instance, as it would have been impossible from his position to be certain that the ball had crossed the line.

Twenty minutes into the half and Islandmagee were down to ten in controversial fashion. Centre back Cowie, who had an eventful afternoon and was involved in all the game’s major talking points, got a straight red for a poor challenge that clearly merited yellow but never looked malicious enough to see red. From the Mals point of view Cowie should have walked after just fourteen minutes of the first half, but Islandmagee were incensed at the decision.

Debutant Patrick Dillon then entered the fray replacing the tidy Dalton on the right as Mals attempted to press home their numerical advantage. With thirteen minutes to go only an impressive wonder save from Steele denied a pile driver from McDonnell whilst at the other end a long range effort from Michael Moore went close as Islandmagee refused to yield.

Despite the man down there was no evidence of heavy Islandmagee legs, after their cup final exploits just three days previously, and the away side again got back into the game with good possession football and Waide always looking dangerous on the left side. It would however have been rough justice if Mals had not won this one and with eight minutes left, after a series of one two’s, too many to count, James Moore played in strike partner “Mac Attack” McDonnell to finish from close range, albeit with just a hint of offside.

So a great end to a turbulent year with a deserved Malachians victory against a physical Islandmagee who never gave up, despite going down to ten men, and who clearly felt aggrieved at the sending off. Collins was immense for the home side but it was the pace and creativity of Lowe, Reilly, Moore and McDonnell that will have most pleased manager Saunders as he prepares for another stiff challenge, the visit of Albert Foundry to the Stadium of Sand next Saturday. Happy New Year and up the Mals !

FT: Malachians 2 Islandmagee 1