Portstewart 1



TOBERMORE United added another three valuable points to their tally last Saturday and in doing so broke Portstewart’s hoodoo over them as the Seasiders had beaten the south Derry men twice this season, including in a cup final.

Although there are three more points in the bag it wasn’t a game that the faithful will note in their diaries as a classic.

It was a typical end of season game spoiled by a very strong wind and frequent heavy hailstone showers which prevented any quality football being played.

Tobermore however got off to a flying start when they were awarded a very soft penalty in the second minute which Paul Owens duly despatched to put his side one up.

This should have been the platform for Tobermore to go on and win comfortably from but that wasn’t to be as Portstewart battled to get back into the game. Crockett and Cooke both had good chances for the home side and McAllister and Rushe were always a threat for the Ports.

The pattern at the start of the second half was very much the same as the first with Tobermore having most of the possession but having nothing to show for it.

But as the half wore on Portstewart began to come back strongly and you could sense that they were going to score.

On 63 minutes they almost did when McAllister hit a post with Hassan beaten then they got their reward 7 minutes later when Peden converted from the penalty spot to make it 1-1.

One wondered where Tobermore were going to find a response from but eight minutes from time Owens delivered when he fired in a Ronaldo type free kick into the top corner of the net giving McGraw no chance sealing the three points for his side.

Tobermore United: Hassan, Walsh, McQuillan, Boyle, Kelly, Lamont, Owens, Cook, McLaughlin, Crockett, Docherty.