Second half collapse sends Mills spinning

Second half collapse sends Mills spinning

13 September 2017

A MONUMENTAL second half collapse from Drumaness saw them exit the Steel & Sons Cup in spectacular fashion and bring an abrupt end their winning start to the season. 

There were quite a few puzzled faces around Meadowvale at the final whistle, given that the first period had been relatively comfortable.

The Mills were first to settle with Owen Wright and Michael McGarrity pulling the strings in midfield. And with just five minutes on the clock, the Mills took the lead. 

McGarrity and Michael Rainey combined on the right to put James McGivern clear down the wing. His measured cross from the by-line found Owen Wright in the box. He trapped the ball, rounded a defender and calmly placed the ball beyond Conan Russell.

The Mills almost added a second when a long clearance from ‘keeper Ryan Campbell caught the breeze and evaded the Shankill defence, allowing Owen Wright to get in a shot which United ‘keeper Russell did well to block.

A defence-splitting pass from Steven Deegan allowed Anton McGrattan to cut in from the wing, beat two defenders and shoot just inches wide. The teams then got involved in a game of ping-pong in the Shankill box following a Rory Mason corner on the right.

Tommy McConville, Owen Wright and James McGivern all had efforts cleared off the line as the United defence stood firm. From a Philip Rogan corner on the left, Michael McGarrity rose at the back post to head back across goal, where McGivern should have done better with his headed effort. The Mills eventually got their second goal when Wright cleverly played in McGrattan for a one-on-one with the ‘keeper.

McGrattan produced a cheeky chip to increase the lead, so the Mills went into the break two goals up and in cruise control.

Not even the most fervent Shankill supporter could have imagined what would unfold at the start of the second half. 

Within 30 seconds they were back in it. McCreadie broke down the left and played in Jonny Dallas, whose curled shot from the edge of the box found the far corner. 

A minute later the same two players produced an identical play, this time, Dallas’s effort was blocked by Campbell. After five minutes United were a little lucky to equalise.

A McCreadie shot from the edge of the box, took a wicked deflection off Mason and spun in at the far post with Campbell stranded.

Drumaness tried to hit back immediately. A Mason cross from the left was trapped by McGrattan 20 yards out, his delicate chip just missing by inches. Rogan then had a long range effort partially blocked by Russell, McGrattan rushing in for the rebound which the ‘keeper also pushed out.

Disaster struck the Mills after an under-hit back pass caused confusion between defenders and the ‘keeper. When the ball ran free, McCreadie was on hand to chip the ball into an empty net and Shankill were in front.

Five minutes later Shankill increased their lead when McCreadie weaved his way along the by-line, crossed to the back post where substitute Ryan McMinn headed back across goal and found McCreadie rushing in unchallenged to grab his side’s fourth.

Shankill added a fifth on 75 minutes when a Luke Bowers free on the right, was met at the far post by substitute Jonathan Mahoney’s powerful header.

The Mills did pull one back when a McGrattan cross from the right, was handled in the box by Marriss – substitute Sean McQuoid coolly slotted home from the spot. 

McQuoid was then put in the clear by a Wright pass, but Russell managed to block and then smother a second effort. Substitute Matty Shaw should have done better when well placed in the box, but shot wide.

With five minutes remaining Shankill sealed their win when McMinn curled a free around the Mills wall and found the right corner of the net.

Right on the whistle, the same player repeated the feat from an identical position, this time finding the left corner.

Drumaness Mills 3

Shankill United 7

STEEL & SONS CUP 3RD ROUND