H&W Welders...1 Dergview...1
The first team opened their new Championship One campaign by securing a hard-fought point against HW Welders at Tillysburn Park.
Kyle Curran-Friel's first competitive goal for his new club put the Co Tyrone visitors ahead around the hour mark, however a headed equaliser by Danny McKee quickly followed by the sending off of defender Matty Buchanan swung the game in favour of Welders late on.
Richard Clarke's new-look side though dug deep to get their campaign up and running with a positive result.
The highlight of the first half was a bullet header by Welders' McKee which cannoned back off the crossbar.
But it was the visitors who upped the ante early in the second period with Curran-Friel netting around the hour mark.
Dwayne McManus carved apart the home defence and the new man rounded the Welders stopper to fire home from an acute angle.Shortly afterwards Ryan Campbell could have made it two but was denied by a last-ditch tackle before McKee leveled with a header.
Moments later Buchanan received his marching orders with young centre-back Shane Porter, coming off the bench for his first competitive start.
Welders upped the ante in search of a winner but 10-man Dergview held on for a deserved share of the spoils.
Next up Loughgall United at home next Saturday.
Team: Mulchay; G Porter; Robinson; M. Buchanan; Falconer; A Sproule; Ballard; McManus; I Sproule (Cashel 63); Curran-Friel (S Porter 70); Campbell.
Subs not used: Arkinson; Edgar; Wilson.
FULL REPORT IN TODAY'S TYRONE HERALD. PHOTOGRAPH (C) ADAM SHAW PHOTOGRAPHY
