United’s Temple of doom

United’s Temple of doom

6 February 2013 - by BY CHARLIE McSTAY

TEMPLE Rangers were whooping and hollering when they gathered for an after-match huddle in the middle of Millbridge after their epic penalty shoot-out win.

It was 2-2 at the end of extra time and the unlikely hero for Temple was striker Adam McDowell — not for the goals he scored, but the two penalties he saved in the shoot-out.

You see, Temple had lost ‘keeper Alastair Coburn to a hand injury in the first minute of the first period of extra time after he bravely saved at the feet of Stuart McMullan.

Midfielder Paul Dickson took over in nets for the remainder of the game, but Temple manager, Noel Dean, produced a masterstroke when he handed McDowell the ‘keeper’s jersey for penalties and the big striker did not let him down.

McDowell somehow sprouted wings and flew like a bird across his line to brilliantly keep out penalties from Stuart McMullan and Paul King and although Temple’s Matty Shaw had his penalty saved by Bryan McMullan, McDowell, Johnny Dickson and Andrew Carberry all netted theirs to send Rangers to a shock win.

The opening exchanges were keen and committed and Temple’s Paul Dickson was the first to enter the referee Kieran McMahon’s notebook for a late tackle on former team-mate Macauley Foster.

This prompt action by the match official effectively had all the players on a warning and they heeded this to produce a clean, but rip-roaring derby.

The opening goal came in the ninth minute when Aaron Cheevers, another former Temple player, sped down the right flank and planted the ball into the box for Ian Boal to tuck past Coburn from close in.

Three minutes later at the other end a long throw into the box from Paul Dickson begged to be put away, but nobody had gambled in getting into the six yard box and the chance was gone.

Both sides wasted hard-earned possession with the killer ball into the box sadly missing, too many crosses going astray. Carberry was presented with a glorious chance to equalise in the 52nd minute when McDowell cheekily chipped a pass into his path, but he blazed wildly over the bar from a good position.

Temple were asking quite a few questions during this period and two goals in less than 90 seconds had them winning the bingo jackpot,

Glenn Morrison brought the sides level in the 76th minute with a screamer from outside the box and Lee Maxwell put the finishing touch to a loose ball in the penalty area to send Temple wild with delight.

United, who were missing no less than six regulars, had it all to do, but Paul King popped up with an equaliser in the 88th minute to send the game to extra time.

Few chances were created in either period and so to dreaded penalties where Temple held their nerve to book their spot at home to Civil Service in the second round on Saturday at Langley Road.

Final score: Ballynahinch United 3 Temple Rangers 5

Ballynahinch United: B. McMullan, C. Bowman, S. McMullan, J. J. Carlisle, R. Hayes, M. Foster, D. Kelly, I. Boal, I. McMullan, S. McKibbin, A. Cheevers. Subs: P. King, G, Bingham, G. Allison

Temple Rangers: A. Coburn, A. Dickson, A. Vance, D. Crawford, G. Morrison, M. Connor, M. Shaw, P. Dickson, A. Carberry, A. McDowell, J. Croskery. Subs: L. Maxwell, M. Graham, J. Dickson.