Dergview ......2
Knockbreda ..1
First team boss Richard Clarke admitted his team had ridden their luck in chiselling out a narrow 2-1 victory over an improving Knockbreda at Darragh Park on Saturday.
Goals in each half by Ivan Sproule and Nathan Cashel secured a fifth league win of the season for the Castlederg side, who, having now played every team once remain fifth, four points behind leaders Warrenpoint Town and two points adrift of Ballyclare Comrades and Institute in joint second.
In recent weeks Dergview haven't been getting the rub of the green in dropping crucial points but on Saturday Clarke admitted his team were lucky to hang on for the win.”
“We didn't play that well if I'm honest,” said the ex-Portadown favourite.
“In fact, in patches we were poor. That said the back four stood up to the test.
“There were a lot of balls into the box from corners and things
“When they had a man sent off in the first half we needed to show more composure on the ball with the extra man.
“But we didn't and they got a deserved equaliser. To tell you the truth I was about to make a few changes when Cashel popped up with a cracking winner.
“In the end we just about hung on.
“It wasn't a great performance but it was vital three points. In recent weeks we have experienced the other side of things where we have played well but didn't get the reward, just like Lurgan Celtic last week. That's the way football goes sometimes.
“It was three points banked and keeps us in touch with the leading group.
“It was important to get the win, we know we can do better and we need to improve. That's everyone played once and we are well enough placed. It's all very tight.”
Knockbreda, now under the direction of former Bangor boss Gareth Scates, arrived buoyed by an impressive win against Loughgall United and in the opening 45 minutes gave as good as they got.
But it was the home side who looked well placed for victory by the half-time interval following an early goal from Sproule and the sending off of ex-Glentoran favourite Michael Halliday.
After 15 minutes Matty Buchanan got in front of his marker before finding Sproule on the right and the former Hibs player dashed into the box to finish well with the help of a slight deflection.
Shortly afterwards Dergview threatened a second with striker Kyle Friel-Curran having a shot blocked and a second attempt cleared off the line after good play initially by Ryan Campbell.
However even at this early stage the visitors were enjoying plenty of the ball but on the stroke of half-time, the city slickers were reduced to 10 men when Halliday was harshly sent off for having a niggle at Gareth Porter.
Despite this setback, 'Breda continued to give as good as they got and deservedly equalised early in the new half when a 25-yard shot by David McMaster cannoned back off a post, hit goalkeeper Kealan Mulcahy on the back of the head to end up in the net.
That deserved equaliser added to the visitors’ growing momentum however it was a wonderful strike by Cashel which ultimately earned the home side a much-needed victory.
The visiting defence only partially cleared the danger following a promising Dergview attack, the ball broke to Cashel on the left and the Kesh man stepped inside the fullback to brilliantly curl his shot inside the keeper's far post.
But the drama wasn't quite over yet. In the final moments Porter was sent off for a second yellow despite the fact the linesman had signalled for offside before the offending tackle had been made.
This Saturday Dergview host H&W Welders at Darragh Park. Kick Off 3 O'Clock.
