Mountjoy 2-2 DC
December 8, 2008
Draperstown collected their first point in this year’s league campaign, at the fourth attempt, at league newcomers, Mountjoy, and yet it should have been so much more. Typical of many of Draperstown’s performances this season, they dominated large parts of the game and certainly had the lion’s share of the possession but were caught twice on the break to concede goals and but for the home side to miss a penalty late on, Celtic would have returned home with nothing to show for their effort which would have been a total travesty.
It was Draperstown who controlled the early stages with Sean McBride in centre midfield the dominant figure. In the 12 minute it was his header which found Sean Young on the right and his excellent cross was headed past home keeper Gilligan by Gavin Bradley to put Celtic in a deserved lead.
The home side were having difficulty in getting forward in numbers and it was Draperstown who should have turned their domination into further goals. Gilligan saved Murray’s free on 23 minutes while Bradley shot wide four minutes later when well placed. A Draperstown corner caused a great deal of panic in the Mountjoy defence with Aiken eventually clearing off the line from Marshall’s slice.
Little had been seen from Mountjoy in attack but they drew level very much against the run of play on 42 minutes when good work from Hamilton on the left set up Graham who scored from close range. There was still time in the half for Gavin Bradley to spurn another good chance for Draperstown when after being set up by Young he shot tamely wide.
The second half again saw Draperstown largely dictate matters, though Northern headed wide on 50 minutes when well placed and it was the home side who took an unexpected lead when after sustained pressure from Celtic, Mountjoy broke down the left wing through Good and his cross was dispatched first time by Matthews. It took Draperstown just five minutes to equalise when from Heron’s corner Gavin Bradley scored through a ruck of players. Two minutes later and Eamon Murray’s headed goal was incorrectly ruled offside by the referee as Celtic sought to grab the win. Bradley could have claimed a penalty on 70 minutes for Draperstown when he was clearly impeded by Aiken while Good cleared Murray’s shot off the line on 78 minutes with Gilligan beaten.
However it was the home side who were awarded a somewhat fortuitous penalty after 80 minutes when Caulfield was adjudged to have fouled Northern but Matthews crashed his kick off the cross bar, and the home side’s last chance was spurned. It was Celtic who finished the game on top in terms of possession and chances the best of which fell to the in-rushing Heron who blasted over from 12 yards. It was a very disappointed Celtic dressing room after the game with the knowledge that further important league points had been left unclaimed in a season which has yet to hit the heights of last year.
Next First Team Fixture
V 
Tobermore Utd v Draperstown Celtic
Skills Development Centre
Folks this Saturday 04th September is the last day of the Football Development Centre for.Under 14 Registration
LadsAs we are now entering the Mid Ulster Youth League we have had to re - register you.The New Season
The sun shone, the pitch was in great condition and the team put in a very good performanc.Quick League Table
| NI Intermediate League - Intermediate |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||