ORCHARD FC MISSED out on the chance to go joint top of the Old Orchard Saturday Division but are still very much in the race for the title.
With Arranmore United, the league leaders, seeing their fixture against Mulroy Celtic postponed due to the weather, Orchard shared the spoils at Maghery against Strand Rovers – coming from behind twice to get a point.
Strand Rovers 2-2 Orchard FC
Strand welcomed a strong Orchard side to Maghery on Saturday and apart from a bit of wind conditions weren’t bad and what a game it turned out to be.
Strand won the toss and decided to play with the wind in their back for the first half and played as if they were sitting top of the league.
They gave Orchard no time on the ball and worked hard in all areas of the pitch winning tackles and pressing hard with chances coming and going and a goal disallowed from a corner. It was a set piece that broke the deadlock with a wonder strike from Darragh Hanlon straight to the top corner so it was 1-0 at the break.
Orchard had the wind in their backs for the second half. For the first 10 minutes Orchard piled on the pressure and pushed men forward. Orchard equalised through Charlie Creevey when a corner wasn’t dealt with and the game was level again.
Strand started to play better stuff again against and Doalty Boyle always looked a threat up top. It was a lay off from him to Paddy Glackin that created Strand’s second goal. Glackin made great work to dribble around the defender and tuck it away to make it 2-1.
Both teams went all out to take the most from the match. An Orchard attack and cross from the left side of the box saw the Strand defender Gerard Diver try to head clear but mistakenly he put through his own net. The game could have gone either way before the end but a draw was probably a fair result. Good team performances from both teams and a good showpiece for the Donegal League.
Glencar Inn Saturday Reserve Division
St Catherine’s Reserves 0-1 Drumoghill FC Reserves
St Catherines hosted Drumoghill on a wet and windy day in Emerald Park.
The hosts started brightest and had good chances to go ahead through Stevie Anderson and Daniel O’ Keeney but Drumoghill’s keeper saved both chances. Drumoghill broke on the counter attack and forced a good save from Shane O’Gara in the Saints goal.
Stevie Anderson had another one on one but couldn’t convert. The only goal of the game came after 50 minutes when a shot from 25 yards by John O’Kane found the corner of the net. St Catherines pushed hard for an equaliser but couldn’t make a break through. Good team performances from both sides.
Milford United Reserves 0-2 Glenea United Reserves
This game was switched to Glenea with Milford’s pitch being unplayable.
It was a game of two halves with Milford playing with the wind in the first half. Despite dominating possession they couldn’t find a breakthrough. The second half saw the roles reversed with Glenea dominating with a strong wind behind their backs. Milford held out mostly down to stand in keeper Shane Mc Fadden pulling off a number fine saves.
Glenea took the lead with 10 minutes to go with Daniel Cannon finding room in the box to drill home. With Milford pushing for an equaliser they were caught on the break in injury time with Aodhan Ferry finishing to make it 2-0. With Glenea going for the title they can breathe a sigh of relief as this was a tough game for them. A great team effort from both teams with Shane McFadden standing out for Milford.
Donegal Town Reserves 2-3 Castlefin Celtic Reserves
It finished honours even as Donegal Town welcomed Castlefin Celtic
Castlefin started the better of the two teams and found themselves two goals ahead after 20 minutes. Mark Loftus’ 20 yard effort neatly placed into the bottom corner opened the scoring for Castlefin.
Loftus doubled Castlefin’s lead five minutes later when he ran onto the end of Paul Logue’s well placed back post cross. Loftus hammered the ball past the Donegal keeper. Donegal pulled a goal back 5 minutes before half time through Jamie McCrea.
McCrea headed home a well delivered Oisin Gorrell corner kick. Donegal started the second half better and started to play some good football. David Bustard levelled the teams on 55 minutes. Bustard found himself one on one with the Castlefin keeper and calmly rounded him to finish into an open net.
Castlefin’s James Mc Menamin had the final say in this game. McMenamin’s corner kick was awkward for the Donegal keeper and curled into the top corner.
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