Rory and Neil are on target

Rory and Neil are on target

11 September 2011 - by CHARLIE McSTAY

A GOAL in each half from young Rory Mason and the predatory Neil Walsh gave Drumaness three priceless points in their bid to move away from the relegation zone.

Seventeen year-old Mason, a son of former Mills icon Brendan 'Boondy' Mason, made the breakthrough with a sweet left-footed drive from the edge of the box in the 14th minute and Walsh netted the insurance goal in the 52nd minute.

There were a lot of positives to be taken from this game for Davy Gordon's beleaguered outfit, none more so than the fact that they kept a clean sheet, there first since the start of October.

The Mills applied all the early pressure and Mason made the breakthrough at the perfect time when he drilled in a beauty from 18 yards out after Gavin McEvoy's mazy run had left the Holywood defence all over the place.

Holywood then gave the Mills a scare when Robbie Doherty's fiercely struck free kick crashed into the crossbar and flew to safety.

Drumaness went back on the offensive and were playing some nice football, but simply failed to get enough men into the box when the final ball was played in.

Holywood continued to be a nuisance on the counterattack and with 25 minutes gone Eric Moore missed an absolute sitter after Johnny Mahoney had put the ball on a plate for him.

With 41 minutes gone McEvoy, who played up top alongside Mason, was inches away from getting on the end of a glorious cross from Paul Walsh.

The second goal came seven minutes after the break. Neil Gelston, who gave a master class in the art of long-range passing, picked out David Kelly wide right with another raking delivery.

Kelly immediately beat his man and fired the ball over to the back stick for McEvoy to cushion a header into the path of Neil Walsh, who was hovering on the penalty spot.

He still had a lot to do, but a swivel of the hips created a bit of space and he was able to steer the ball past a helpless Paddy Flood.

This was just the breathing space the Mills needed and they started to relax a little. Holywood were now forced to push the issue and they began making mistakes.

With 55 minutes gone the wily McEvoy robbed centre half Ricky Patton just outside the box, but was denied a certain goal by a brave save from Flood.

Gelston was then guilty of a glaring miss right in front of goal after McEvoy had created yet another opening.

Holywood enjoyed a lot of possession in the latter stages of the game, but they ran into a brick wall in the shape of Mills centre half Brendan Ward, who was imperious all afternoon.

Ward received great support at the back from goalkeeper Ryan Campbell, playing in his first game of the season, Donal Kennedy and the impressive Gary McCormick and Johnny Ewing.

Drumaness Mills: R. Campbell, G. McCormick, J. Ewing, D. Kennedy, B. Ward, P. Walsh,  D. Kelly, N. Gelston, N. Walsh, G. McEvoy, R. Mason. Subs: A. Magorrian, P. Flack, J. Smyth.  

Result: Drumaness Mills 2 Holywood FC 0

Amateur League Division 1A