Mccleery disappointed to end up empty handed as ’Law lose to Dergview

Dergview Reserves 2 Lisbellaw United 1

LISBELLAW Manager Kyle Mccleery admitted he was disappointed his side did not take something from their game against Dergview Reserves.

Two second-half goals for the Castlederg-based team earned them all three points, but Mccleery felt his side deserved more from a game where a disputed goal line call proved pivotal.

“It was a good game of football, and I was happy with how we played, but really disappointed not to get anything out of it,” admitted the Lisbellaw boss.

“It was a really close game and there wasn’t much between the sides. The first half was quite cagey with very few meaningful chances at either end, and the game could have gone either way on the day, so from that point of view I was very disappointed to come away empty handed.

“I have to give our players a fair bit of credit. They put in a good shift, and we were unlucky on the day.”

Dergview started on the front foot and Ivan Sproule had the first chance of the match but could not get enough power on his shot to trouble Sam Mcdonald in the Lisbellaw goal.

Paul Elliott then had a shot cleared off the Dergview goal line after he was set up by Robbie Little, and the same player came close again just before half time with an effort that flew the wrong side of the post with the keeper rooted to the spot.

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It was a good game of football, and I was happy with how we played but really disappointed not to get anything out of it

Dergview were dominant in the first 15 minutes of the second half, with Ethan Nethery coming within the width of the crossbar of opening the scoring with a back post header.

Once Lisbellaw had weathered the pressure they started to pose more of a threat, going forward, and Robbie Little blasted a shot straight at the keeper after being set clear by Ryan Lindsay.

The key moment of the match arrived in the second half when Lisbellaw had forced a series of corners. Scott Moutray’s delivery was collected by Dergview goal keeper Oisin Gibson, but he spilled the ball as he landed before gathering it in again.

The Lisbellaw players were adamant the ball had crossed the goal line, but the referee did not award the goal, and two minutes later Dergview went ahead when Sproule’s shot was deflected into the path of Nethery and he poked the ball into the net.

Jamie Adams then added a second goal on the hour mark when he fired between the legs of Mcdonald.

Lisbellaw substitute Keelan Flanagan pulled a goal back in the 90th minute, heading in Stuart Johnston’s flick-on, but despite some late pressure they could not find an equaliser.