Bitter Disappointment For Mals

Sporting their new kit, courtesy of Drivewell School of Motoring, Malachians were left bitterly disappointed when a hotly disputed penalty just two minutes from time gave visitors Islandmagee a share of the spoils in what was a cracking, competitive and eventful game . A draw seems scant reward for a committed and much improved team performance but when you consider that the Mals were a man down for the last thirty minutes and the number of  chances missed by the visitors, perhaps the disappointment will fade quickly.

With Bell and Burns injured , Doherty declaring himself unavailable and new signing Joe McDonnell working, managers Lyttle and Donnelly started with two up front, captain Smyth and McCourt with the returning Lowe and McKervey wide on the wings. The game started with sharp, early exchanges with good interplay between McCourt and McKervey nearly creating an opening and a thirty yard free from McKervey whistling narrowly over. At the other end Grealy should have done better after a Waide cross and there was an early booking for away centre forward Hilditch.

On twenty five minutes McKervey side stepped two defenders in the box and unleashed a fierce drive which was well saved by the feet of away keeper and captain Harrison, whilst there was some confident early handling from his Mals counterpart Steele at the other end. Hilditch then blazed over wastefully from close range for the visitors as it was nip and tuck with both sides getting the ball down and playing attractive football that was good to watch.

On thirty five minutes a defensive lapse from the otherwise excellent Corr, playing at right back, allowed Islandmagee’s dangerman Waide to set up Hiditch again but he dragged his effort wide, A great save from Steele followed soon after and only a brave block from left back McHugh prevented the rebound from being forced home. Just before half time the visitors had strong appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Paul Doherty as Waide went down, somewhat theatrically it must be said, while at the other end a left foot pile driver from the edge of the box by Mals midfielder Paul Prigent went agonizingly close with the keeper beaten. Honours even at half time.

HT Malachians 0 Islandmagee 0

Mals opened the second period brightly but with perhaps some over elaboration in the final third being the only obstacle to breaking the deadlock as both teams upped the ante. Mals keeper Steele was booked for some needless backchat to referee Doherty before he was followed into the book by Corr for a strong and committed challenge on Hilditch which clearly won the ball. Captain Smyth was also booked in the aftermath for dissent and looked lucky to stay on the park as he continued to argue the point with the referee. The game was becoming tetchy and as a result disjointed when fifteen minutes into the half Corr saw red after receiving a second yellow for a mistimed challenge on Moore. More misfortune was to follow as Nial Devine limped off after turning an ankle resulting in a very make shift line up at the back of Lowe, McHugh, Liam Prigent and McDonagh who had come on for Corr. To their credit the Mals backline defended heroically as the visitors piled on the pressure and Liam Prigent cleared off the line before Hilditch again unbelievably failed to hit the target from close range.

Eighteen  minutes from time Mals relieved the pressure and got their noses in front. Substitute Essers Johnston, leading the line on his own against the towering away defence and causing them all sorts of problems, harried the away defence into indecision. The ball fell to substitute full back McDonagh, what was he doing in the opposition box when we were down to ten men, and he calmly slotted home to the corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Controversy then followed. An opportunistic Waide kicked the ball straight into the home net from the centre spot as Mals keeper Steele was still enjoying the celebrations for what seemed a perfectly good goal only to have it disallowed by referee Doherty, who confirmed that he had blown the whistle for the restart but hadn’t meant to ! Mals were now playing as if their lives depended on the result and man of the match Mals keeper Steele weighed in with two stunning and vital saves. The first was low down to his left from a free kick, the other after a bullet header from away defender McKnight. With six minutes left Doherty entered the fray replacing Paul Prigent as Mals still threatened on the counter attack and endeavoured to see the game out. Islandmagee’s frustrations were rising with Moore vociferously complaining at every opportunity and substitute William Waide lucky to only see yellow after a wild and needless hack at Mals winger McKervey

With just two minutes left the match ended in more controversy. Mals Liam Prigent , in the right back position, shepherded the ball out for a Mals throw, confirmed by the away side’s linesman, but the referee inexplicably reversed the decision. The throw went to Andy Waide who again went down far too easily for my liking after the slightest of contact from Lowe. To be honest referee Doherty’s decision to award a penalty embarrassed not only quite a few of the large travelling support but also several away players on the pitch. But such is football as the visitors gratefully accepted the chance and Waide converted to level the game with the Mals management incandescent with rage on the line. Tempers threatened to boil over too on the pitch as the game ended with handbags exchanged in a heated finish but common sense prevailed and the game was drawn. Mals manager Lyttle had calmed down somewhat after the game when he said, “ I thought it was a superb team performance, much improved from Tuesday. I know our backs were against the wall towards the end but I am so angry that we didn’t actually win the game all due to a very poor refereeing decision”

FT Malachians 1 Islandmagee 1

Mals next match is on Tue 24th August away to Kilmore kick off 6.15pm. Up the Mals !

Man of the match: Simon Steele

Malachians : Steele Corr Prigent,L Devine McHugh Lowe McAtee Prigent,P McKervey McCourt Smyth (capt.) subs Johnston McDonagh Doherty

Islandmagee : Harrison Craig Anderson McKnight Phillips Moore Waide,A Gray Hilditch Moffatt Grealy subs Waide,W Patterson Long