Glebe United................0
Dergview Reserves......1
MARTY Buchanan's second string got their season off to winning start although they left it late, very late at Bellspark Road on Saturday.
Deep into stoppage-time veteran striker Gareth Sproule showed he's still the man for the big occasion by netting the game's only goal to decide a hard-fought north Tyrone derby.
In the dying embers Sproule controlled a Graham Lecky cross and unleashed a thunderbolt which crashed down off the crossbar and, in the judgement of match referee Barry Devenney, across the line.
That late, late winner came after the Spamount whistler had chalked off two efforts by Glebe replacement Patrick McGavigan for offside.In the end, one goal was always likely to be decisive in a north Tyrone derby that was contested tooth and nail to the bitter end.
If anything, the visitors possibly shaded the verdict in the opening 45 minutes although their goalkeeper Alan Buchanan was twice called upon to deny Eamon McGrath and Brian Sweeney.
In the second half Glebe gained a foothold and in the final 20 minutes looked the more likely winners.But, after McGavigan was twice denied by the offside flag, and Ciaran O’Loughlin had been introduced to steady the Dergview Reserves ship, it was that man Sproule who produced a stunning winner three minutes into added time.
