Armagh City…1
Dergview….....3
RYAN Campbell made it a magnificent seven for the season by scoring a spectacular free kick as Dergview posted their first away win of the season to move joint second in the Championship One table.
For the second week in succession Richard Clarke's team knocked the table-toppers off their perch with Campbell again playing a lead role.
This contest at Holm Park was perfectly poised at 1-1 when midway through the second half the former Ballinamallard United attacker sensationally curled a free kick into John Connolly's top left hand corner from all of 30 yards.
That wind-assisted strike proved a real body blow for City and five minutes from time Kyle Friel-Curran was ushered in by Ivan Sproule, scorer of Dergvew's first half equaliser, to finish the job.
Dergview's third win of the season leaves the Darragh Park outfit just two points behind leaders Larne and joint second on 10 points with north west neighbours Institute and Warrenpoint Town.
The visitors made the worst possible start by conceding just two minutes in. The Dergview defence failed to clear their lines and when the ball dropped around the penalty spot Andrew Hoey swooped to fire City in front. Despite the setback the visitors grew into the game although for the most part the first half became bogged down in midfield with neither side able to gain a significant foothold.
But midway through the half Dergview struck back to level. Sproule scampered in behind the home rearguard and after rounding Connolly squared for the supporting Duwayne McManus. The midfielder's shot was saved by the keeper but the ball fell invitingly for Sproule, who duly equalised from an acute angle.
And the visitors almost snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time when an overhead kick by skipper Colin Robinson was diverted onto the crossbar by a defender. Clarke reshuffled his pack at the break by bringing on Kyle Friel-Curran and, after a period of early pressure by their opponents, the visitors threatened a second when McManus ushered in overlapping left-back Garth Falconer to smash a shot against the underside of the crossbar.
Moments later McManus was impeded as he surged forward and Campbell hit Connolly's postage with his thunderous free kick. That wonder strike took the wind out of Armagh's sails and in the final throes Dergview burst forward on the counter attack with Sproule finding Friel-Curran, who dashed in from the left to chip the ball over Connolly and inside the far post.
Team: Mulcahy; Porter; Falconer; Robinson; Buchanan; Burns; McManus; Arkinson; Ballard; Campbell; Sproule.
Subs: Maxwell; Wilson, Friel Curran. Mortland, Lynch.
