Football: Moyola Park see off Coagh United in derby clash

Moyola Park on the ball against Coagh United

A Chris Dowie goal just before the hour was sufficient for Moyola Park to take all three points in the derby against Coagh United at Mill Meadow.

The visitors made a strong start and on six minutes Marty Farniok did well to foil Glenn Clarke when he broke through the Moyola Park defence.

On 29 minutes Conor Taggart saw his long range effort go over the Coagh crossbar.

One minute later Matthew Kempton delivered a good pass to Glenn Clarke who shot wide of Farniok’s upright.

Farniok made an excellent save when he punched Kempton’s long range effort over his crossbar, scoreless at interval.

Moyola Park played a much more prominent role during the second half and when a Eugene Gallagher cross was whipped in on 48 minutes the ball was eventually cleared off the Coagh United goal line.

On 53 minutes Gallagher headed a corner kick by Nicky Black wide of the United goal.

On the hour Chris Dowie took advantage of a gap in the visitors’ defence to cleverly chip past William Hassin into the net for the decisive goal.

Thal Blevins’ long range shot went wide of the Moyola Park goal. One minute later at the other end a Dowie pass gave David Healy the opportunity to test Hassin but his shot came back off the crossbar.

As Moyola failed to get an ‘insurance goal’ Coagh continued to press for an equaliser.

An Aaron Thornton free kick ten minutes before the end went narrowly over the Moyola Park crossbar. In the final minute a Darren Walls’ shot was well saved by Hassin.

The game was well refereed by Ross Dunlop. As has been true in many games Moyola Park had two players to thank for earning three points, Marty Farniok and Chris Dowie.

Moyola Park have no league fixture on Saturday, the next game being a visit to Sport and Leisure Swifts on April 4th.

Moyola Park: Marty Farniok, Craig McAllister, Gareth Stewart, Steven McQuillan, Mark Waddell, Adam Gray, Nicholas Black, Eugene Gallagher, Chris Dowie, David Healy (Steven Kelly 81), Conor Taggart (Darren Walls 58). Subs not used: Connor Barrow, Kyle Bradley.

Coagh United: William Hassin, Scott McGeown, Stefan Hogshaw, Sean Heggan, Aaron Thornton, Jonathan Young, Thal Blevins, Steven Glasgow (Ryan Smith 67), Matthew Kempton (Jason Ferry 77), Glenn Clarke (Ian Todd 58), Mark Taylor. Sub not used: Gareth Maguire.