Orangefield v Dunmurry YM League 1B

15/1/11

Orangefield resume their league programme today almost a month since their last game on 11th December at Newcastle. Orangefield make a few changes with Jonny Pankhurst and Mark McQuillen making their 1st team debuts, as Sam McNaul (injured) and Brian Reynolds (suspended) are both out.

A mixture of defensive errors and unable to keep possession due to the long lay off contributed to a poor performance from the home side, and were lucky in the end to get a point from a spirited Dunmurry team.

Orangefield opened the scoring with a well-taken penalty by Dempster, which came against the run of play as the visitors dominated the 1st 20mins. Orangefield struggled to get any fluency in their play as Dunmurry were working hard to break up play and winning a lot of second ball.

It wasn’t long before they were rewarded for their endeavour with an equalizer before the break

1-1 H/T

Orangefield start second half downhill with a bit more purpose and desire. Quinn And Cousins getting more of a grip on centre midfield keeping better possession, young Cunningham working hard on the left with good approach play and William Richie more involved on the right putting in some good tackles after a quiet 1st half. Orangefield take the lead again through Dempster with a good opportunist goal. 2-1 on 55mins. The lead didn’t last long as Dunmurry were level after 5mins due to heavy legs in the home back four causing some slack defending. Fresh legs were needed to freshen things up as Mark McQuillen on for Jonny Pankhurst and Tony Craig on for Glenn Quinn. Orangefield take the lead again with a fine individual goal from Chris Harvey 3-2 on 75mins. Dunmurry never seemed phased and scored two goals in five mins through their lively centre forward McGill. The home back four caught napping as clearly months lay off has done us no favours, as Orangefield looking at their 1st defeat since last September. 4-3 down with a minute remaining Chris Harvey rescues a point with a smart finish intercepting a short pass to stab home the equalizer from 15 yards.

4-4 F/T

A better performance will be required next week at Bangor to keep the pressure on the chasing pack as Orangefield struggle to win a point with an under par performance.

Team :

Darlington, McNaul R, D’Arcy (capt) Pankhurst, Wilson, Cunningham,

Quinn, Cousins, Richie, Dempster, Harvey, Subs Craig, McQuillen, O’Neill 

MOM  Chris Harvey