Temple rumbled

Temple rumbled

27 November 2013

TEMPLE Rangers lost further ground on leaders Tullycarnet at the top of the 2B table when they were turned over big time at Langley Road by their Ballyclare visitors.

However, the final scoreline was a bit harsh on Gary Emerson’s boys as they deserved a draw for their endeavours and on another day, would probably have got one.

Things started so promisingly for Temple. Ross Duffield and Dylan Carberry were enjoying a good spell in the middle of the park and they kept James Croskery and Alan Dickson busy out wide with a clean supply of ball.

Duffield almost gave Temple the lead in the ninth minute when he was played in by a delightful reverse pass from Johnny Dickson, but the midfielder was denied by goalkeeper, Joel Loughridge.

Temple hadn’t long to wait for the breakthrough and two minutes later a sweeping move ended with Croskery firing a low ball into the box for Carberry to slide home from close in.

The home side were then pegged back by Grange and some indecisive defending cost Temple dearly when the experienced John Davey converted an improvised cross from Marc Campbell in the 18th minute.

Johnny Dickson, Temple’s main weapon of terror, certainly had the beatings of the Grange defence, but he didn’t get a good enough supply to cause maximum damage and the home team paid the penalty for this deficiency when Davey curled an absolute pearler of a free kick into the top corner to give Grange a 2-1 lead in the 22nd minute.

Now was the time for Temple to stand up and be counted, but it was Grange who almost went further ahead when Campbell missed a sitter after some slack defending left him with only Kelly to beat.

Temple finished the first half on top, but apart from a Duffield free kick that went narrowly over and an audacious scissors kick from Alan Dickson, few scoring chances were created before the break.

Grange started the second half in a hurry and Stuart McConnell and Campbell linked up in the 48th minute to send Davy Thompson clear down the right flank and he fairly buried the ball in the back of Kelly’s net to make it 3-1.

Three minutes later Duffield showed a nice piece of skill on the edge of the Grange box when he created a shooting chance, but his strike skimmed the crossbar on its way over the top.

Temple were now asking the right questions, but they shot themselves in the foot with 53 minutes gone when they conceded a needless penalty when Kelly rashly brought down Andy Gilmour in the box.

Campbell made no mistake from the spot to make it 4-1 and game, set and match.

However, Temple came storming back and pulled a goal back when Johnny Dickson was perfectly placed to steer in a well-placed cross from the industrious Chris Strain, game back on.

Temple were now on a roll, but nothing would go right for them in front of goal as Grange defended in numbers.

The impetus was certainly with Temple as the visitors tired, but any last, lingering hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 90th minute when Grange broke out from defence and Davey linked up with Campbell yet again to make it 5-2.

Temple Rangers: J. Kelly, D. Crawford, C. McMullan, A. Vance, A. Barrett, D. Carberry, J. Croskery, R. Duffield, A. Dickson, S. Annett, J. Dickson. Subs: C. Strain, A. Miller, S. Earney.

Grange Rangers: J. Loughridge, J. White, R. Murray, M. Cooper, P. Lutton, D. Mulholland, A. Gilmour, S. McConnell, J. Davey, M. Campbell, D. Thompson. Subs: A. Hunter, P. McAllister, D. Trew.

Temple Rangers 2

Grange Rangers 5

AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 2B