Reserves leave it late to Ern points

Lurgan United Reserves 2

SUBSTITUTE Ernie Hammond emerged from the bench to complete an unlikely comeback for Scarva Rangers Reserves.

The village side could easily have been dead and buried after an abysmal start to their encounter with Lurgan United Reserves.

A solid defence has been at the heart of Rangers Reserves’ bright start to the new season but chaos reigned in the opening stages of Saturday’s league clash at Scarva Park and they were soon two goals behind.

A tactical switch further up the park gave Scarva new impetus and as half time approached both Stephen Morton and David Dillon forced the visiting keeper to make last ditch saves.

A penalty award in the early stages of the second half after Ryan Dodds was bundled over inside the penalty area threw Scarva’s reserve team the lifeline they needed.

Player manager Freddie McKelvey was coolness personified as he calmly stroked the spot kick into the back of the net.

The equaliser came from a corner kick, swung precisely into the heart of the Lurgan side’s penalty area by Mark Baird and headed emphatically into the back of the net by centre half David Morton.

As the game entered the final five minutes David Dillon forced the hosts to concede yet another corner.

Wes Baird, who had played a key part in Scarva’s second half revival, matched the delivery produced by his younger brother Mark earlier in the game and for the second week in a row Hammond rose powerfully to send an unstoppable header screeching into the roof of the net.

He was desperately unlucky not to score a second shortly afterwards when he unleashed a blistering strike that crashed against the woodwork.

Best for Scarva Rangers Reserves – Brian Topley and David Morton.