Football: Moyola Park ruthlessly deal with Tobermore United

Moyola Park 5 Tobermore United 0
Moyola Park FC in action against Sport and Leisure SwiftsMoyola Park FC in action against Sport and Leisure Swifts
Moyola Park FC in action against Sport and Leisure Swifts

There was a decent crowd at Mill Meadow on Tuesday 18 March to witness this long anticipated local derby.

Moyola Park captain Steven McQuillan got his side off the mark with less than two minutes on the clock when he edged a Michael Walsh free kick beyond the reach of Tobermore United keeper Paul Wells.

David Paul lined up a free kick some 22 yards from the visitors’ goal and then struck the ball sweetly into the top right hand corner of Wells’ net to put the Mill Meadow men two goals ahead by the 10th minute.

The Moyola Park midfield duo of Walsh and Eugene Gallagher set the tempo for the remainder of the half but there was no further addition to the scoreline.

Paul was in the thick of things again when with 65 minutes gone he provided a cross from the right wing for Gallagher to nod past Wells to further establish the home side’s domination of the game.

Try as they might the visitors couldn’t establish a foothold on the game and just when it looked as if Chris Dowie wasn’t going to get his name on the score sheet he popped up with two well taken goals in two minutes, the 85th and 87th minutes, to put the outcome of the game well beyond doubt.

This was a well merited victory for Mervyn Pattison’s side and much credit must go to him, his assistant manager Darren Mawhinney and the rest of the backroom staff for a tremendous run of results in the NIFL Championship 2 since the start of 2014.

One of Moyola Park’s Vice Presidents, William Jordan, adjudged the energetic Michael Walsh to be the Moyola Park Man of the Match. Michael was presented with his award by club committee member David Patton.

Moyola Park: Marty Farniok, Mark Waddell, Gareth Stewart, Steven McQuillan, Steven Kelly, Michael Walsh, Craig McAllister (Ciaron Monaghan), Eugene Gallagher, Chris Dowie, David Paul (Steven Kenning), Darren Walls (Maurice Curtis). Sub not used: Gareth Maguire.

S&L Swifts 1

Moyola Park 3

Moyola Park picked up another three points in the NIFL Championship Two at Glen Road Heights, Belfast by defeating relegation threatened Sport and Leisure Swifts 3-1.

Following heavy rain and hailstones the playing surface proved tricky and it was the home side, with a strong wind in their favour, which adapted more quickly to the conditions.

As the first half drew to a close Ciaran Monaghan, making his first start for Moyola Park since transferring from Magherafelt Sky Blues, made progress down the touchline before crossing to Eugene Gallagher who headed the ball firmly into the Swifts’ net to give the visitors a half time lead.

Moyola Park started the second half with much more vigour and with just three minutes of the half gone Chris Dowie beat the offside trap and rifled the ball into the home net.

Gallagher, Dowie and Darren Walls all had chances to increase the Moyola Park lead before Swifts reduced the arrears when Darren Gallagher, following a corner kick, struck a bullet like header past Marty Farniok.

However shortly afterwards Moyola Park regained a two goal lead when following great play by Gallagher, Dowie notched his second goal of the game and fourth of the week. Eugene Gallagher was adjudged to be Moyola Park Man of the Match.

Moyola Park: Marty Farniok, Craig McAllister, Gareth Stewart, Steven McQuillan, Steven Kelly, Michael Walsh, Ciaran Monaghan (Mervyn Pattison 90m), Eugene Gallagher, Chris Dowie (Maurice Curtis 75m), David Paul (Steven Kenning 70m), Darren Walls

Forthcoming games: Saturday 29 March at 3pm - Moyola Park v Ballymoney United at Mill Meadow.