Rock let the lead slip

ROCK are becoming the draw specialists with their fourth in six league matches as they allowed victory to slip at Sandy Lane on Friday night.

Inspired by substitute Derek Delany they turned round a one nil deficit to lead with seven minutes left and were on the verge of revenge for the cup defeat they suffered at the hands of the Deesiders the previous Sunday. .

However, they committed hari kari as young centre-half Aaron Casey dwelt on the ball as he came out of defence and was dispossessed and his mistake was compounded with Sean Hand sending a visiting player tumbling on the side of the penalty box.

The referee deemed that the foul was committed inside the box and Ken Thornton stepped up for the second time in the match to the spot and held his nerve to coolly convert the penalty with two minutes left.

He shot low into the same side that he had in the 68th minute when he to put his side in front. Goalkeeper John Rogers who gave away the earlier penalty when his defence was breached, dived the correct way but couldn’t get to the ball.

Rock brought on Delany immediately after falling behind and he paved the way for Niall Donnelly to equalise a minute later.

Donnelly then turned provider to enable David Ward head the home side ahead.

Donnelly collected a corner kick that broke into space beyond the far post and crossed to find Ward all alone in front of a gaping goal. ROCK: John Rogers, Liam McDonnell (Derek Delany 69), Ferghal McDonald, Aaron Casey, Shane O’Callaghan (Paddy Reilly 78), Ronan Doherty, Eanna McArdle, Aidan Curtin, Sean Hand, David Ward, Niall Donnelly.

ARDEE : Stuart Reynolds, Aaron Roche, Niall Sharkey, Ken Thornton, Robbie Reynolds, Lorcan Malone, John Bingham, Ryan Burns, Brian O’Connor, Gareth Kane, Seanie Dowdall. Sub. Stuart Osbourne.