Warrenpoint Town.. 2
Dergview.................1
After a blip, and in truth a dismal display against Armagh City the previous week, the Town looked the business against an unbeaten visiting team.
The Seasiders' defence was strong, solid and tough-tackling, the midfield busy and inventive while up front twin hit-men Conor McMenamin and Stephen Murray were a constant threat.
The scoreline flattered Dergview and indeed the Town could have netted three or four more, the only slight minus was conceding a late, late goal that took the shine of their notable win. That penchant for leaking late goals was the biggest factor (apart from a man called Dunlop) in Warrenpoint losing their Premier status last season.
The Town almost blasted into an early lead when on two minutes the impressive central defender Jordan Dane latched onto a Josh Lynch freekick to thunder a header off the Dergview crossbar.
Stephen Murray, last season's top scorer, started for the first time this term as did Darren King, the workmanlike Jody McGovern and the experienced John Boyle. And on 26 minutes Murray almost opened his account for the new season but the Dergview keeper Kealan Mulcahy dropped to save his low drive.
However, the big Town striker wasn't to be denied and five minutes later he pounced to score. John Boyle picked out Murray with a massive punt upfield and Murray did what he does so well, scorching onto the long ball before firing low into the net. Mulcahy did get to the shot but the pace was too hot for him with the ball cannoning off his hand and over the line.
On 32 minutes Warrenpoint doubled their tally. This time Murray turned provider, teeing up Conor McMenamin with the ex-Linfield man coolly netting with an incisive, close-range left-footer.
It was McMenamin's third goal in as many games and he looks as though he will terrorise Championship defences for the next nine months.
The Town were in total control at this stage and on 35 minutes a classy McMenamin pass found Murray, again in the clear, but this time Mulcahy charged from his line to block. With six minutes left to the break Warrenpoint thought they had made it three when Darren King popped up at the back stick to poke into the net - but referee Chris Morrison ruled that one out for offside.
Dergview began the second half in a much more determined mood and on 52 minutes former Northern Irish international Ivan Sproule found the back of the Warrenpoint net - but Morrison also ruled that one out for offside.
The game, as a contest, ended on 72 minutes and again Stephen Murray was the architect. The tall hitman once more used his searing pace to good effect, haring down the left and shooting. Mulcahy again dropped to block but Murray sized onto the rebound the smash the ball into the net from close range.
The Warrenpoint defence, with skipper Stephen Moan a virtual rock, were never seriously troubled at any stage during the 90 minutes but as the game eased into injury time the rearguard slackened their vice-like grip. Big central defender Colin Robinson rose to power in a header. Johnny Parr dropped to make a stunning save but the rebound fell kindly for Thomas McBride who cracked home from five yards.
It didn't really matter however as the match was over.
Warrenpoint Town: Parr, King, Traynor, McMenamin, Murray, Moan, McKenna, Lynch, Dane, Boyle, McGovern subsRice (replaced McMenamin 78), Bain (replaced Lynch 59), Pierce (not used), Maguire (not used), Croskery (replaced Boyle 78)
Dergview: Mulcahy, Robinson, S. Porter, Falconer, Burns, McBride, Cashel, I. Sproule, Ballard, Campbell, Curran subsWallace (replaced Burns 77), Arkinson (replaced Curran 69), Mortland (replaced Ballard 77)
Referee: Chris Morrison
