Redeemer edge thriller to take top spot
NORTH EAST FOOTBALL LEAGUE
REDEEMER CELTIC JOHNSTOWN 4 3
REDEEMER took over as outright leaders of division 2 of the North East League with this defeat of one of the other three contenders for the title.
Johnstown were the last of the contenders to surrender their 100 per cent unbeaten record and it means now that all four have one defeat to their name.
So the title it there for the taking by any one of them but Redeemer after suffering their first defeat of the campaign in their last game could conceivably get their hands on it if they beat their local rivals Woodview on Sunday next in their last game.
Woodview currently lie second three points behind them with a game less played.
The other contenders are Bay, who like Johnstown is six points behind with both two games in hand on the leaders.
Redeemer made a shaky start to Sunday’s match at O’Gorman Park for which they were short a number of regulars, and suffered a bad injury blow when ace striker Barry Carr had to retire early on account of injury.
They fell a goal behind but recovered to forge 3-1 ahead only to concede two second-half penalties that made the win harder work than it should have been, as they did most of the pressing and Ronan Mulholland, Redeemer battles hard to keep possession.
created the bulk of the scoring openings.
Defender Paul Gartland put them level and then Andy McDermott gave them the lead before the break.
Kevin McCormack’s second half brace ensured they go into
their final game with every chance of emerging as champions. REDEEMER: Kyle Murphy, Andy McDermott, Paul Gartland, Niall Kelly, Steven Smith, Kevin McCormack, Dean McConnell (Jamie O’Hare), Martin Murphy, Ronan Mulholland, Liam McStravick, Barry Carr (Ryan Duffy) Other sub Mickey Lawlor. Pictures: Ken Finegan