Drumaness in late fightback

Drumaness in late fightback

18 May 2016

ATTICALL made it two wins from two starts last week with a convincing performance against Drumaness, who rallied late but couldn’t recover from two excellent spells by the visitors in the middle of each half. 

Gary Murdock and Jamie Donnan exchanged points in the opening minute in a lively start whilst Brian McIlmurray missed a chance to put the hosts in front in the second minute. 

From the resulting kick out though Drumaness seized possession and a measured pass to Nathan Jones followed by a quick turn of foot left him bearing down on goal when he let fly from 15 yards and found the top corner of the net. 

Atticall were quickly back in the game through an Eddie McAlinden score and a Martin Trainor free. 

Donnan struck again on 6 minutes to level affairs while Neil McAleenan’s effort to restore the lead strayed wide.

Atticall broke well from this period of pressure with the ball eventually ping to Trainor, who dispatched coolly past Patrick Savage to go three ahead before the 10th minute. 

Donnan continued his strong start to the game with another well taken score and midfielder Aidan Sloan added a wonderful score from the left side of the field as Atticall made hay during a period of dominance. 

Thirteen minutes had passed since Jones found the net when Neil Stranney finally got the hosts back on the score-

board and from that they looked to have sprung to life once again.

Paul Gilchrist drove strongly from the middle of the field, but his effort was saved and a rapid counter attack caught Drumaness out, Chris Morgan bagging Atticall’s second goal after just 17 minutes. 

Donnan and Sloan struck once more as Drumanes had a barren spell in front of goal which ended with a Murdock free. Trainor added another two frees to stretch the lead to nine.

Stranney pulled one back from play, but at eight points down Drumaness had it all to do in the second period. 

It was Atticall who took first blood after the break, Donan again continuing his impressive display, and Trainor put double figures between the sides for the first time with another dead ball. 

Drumaness’ livewire in the forward line, Jones, came to life again, causing havoc for his opposite number. His effort at goal looked like it may slip under the crossbar, but fortunately for Atticall it was only a point. 

Jones added another free moments later as Drumaness hinted at a revival, but it was five minutes of missed opportunities for the home side. Trainor and Donnan made the Blues rue these wides with a quick fire brace to restore their comfortable advantage.

Gary Murdock and Jones exchanged points with McAlinden and Morgan as the game entered the last 10 minutes and Drumaness now requiring goals to get anything from the game. 

Jones was again involved as Drumaness moved McIlmurray to the top of the pitch and it was his lay-off that put him through and the keeper was forced to tip his effort over for a point when in reality only three would do for Drumaness. 

Atticall were keen to nullify any threats to their goal and smart defending led to a succession of frees and a flutter of cards.

Even so, Drumaness simply couldn’t find a way to goal. When Morgan added his side’s final score with two minutes left on the watch the contest was over. 

There was still time for a piece of individual brilliance from Nathan Jones who found the top corner again from distance in spite of the angle and pressure, but it was too late for Drumaness and Atticall ran out deserved winners by five points.