Killyleagh Snatch Point From Foundry

Albert Foundry  0  Killyleagh YC  0

KILLYLEAGH picked up another precious league point with a spirited team performance at the Belfast venue on Saturday.

Foundry are fancied as one of the potential winners of the Amateur League's Premier Section but they can have few complaints that Dee Heron's side did not deserve a share of the spoils after another battling performance.

It is the second draw in the league between the sides in the past three weeks and continues the YC's notable run of form away from home that has seen them climb away from the relegation zone into fifth place, albeit with many more matches played than most.

In the first half, in atrocious weather conditions and on a heavy pitch, it was backs-to-the-wall-stuff at times for Killyleagh as Foundry probed for a breakthrough.

Remarkably Killyleagh thought they had opened the scoring in the 18th minute. On the counter-attack, Hugh Dickson and Gordon Leckey linked up with the highly impressive Darren McConnell. He picked his spot from the edge of the area only to see the home keeper fingertip the ball away.

Within two minutes at the other end Jordan Kennedy slipped as he went to cut out a probing through ball and it took first a fine save from Michael McKenna and then a superb goal line clearance from Hugh Ross to keep Foundry out.

McConnell was at the creative heart of all that Killyleagh were able to do in this period with Dickson running himself to a standstill as Killyleagh, with at times 10 men behind the ball, sought to soak up the Foundry pressure and hit on the break. At times Foundry played some superb passing football and looked like a team that if it wins its matches in hand, would go top. The YC central defensive pairing of Gary Murdoch and Niall Walsh were outstanding, with Murdoch repeatedly in the right position to close down the threat.

In the second half Killyleagh produced another brilliant performance. McConnell was linking superbly with Barry Walsh in the central midfield as Killyleagh started to look the more enterprising. Kennedy made a fine run forward out of defence but lacked support and then Niall Walsh showed how it should be done, although again Beck in the Foundry defence closed down the threat.

Late on Heron's side had chances to nick all three points. Bary Walsh jinked through and then Dickson did well to evade Beck on the half way line but on a pitch which was so heavy, he was unable to find Ian Mannus.

With some brave goalkeeping from McKenna and timely interceptions from man of the match Murdoch, Killyleagh held on for a point that takes them closer to safety.