Dollingstown were back in league action on Saturday, welcoming Blackers Mill to Planters Park.  With only keeper McConnville and the suspended Derby missing, the home side named the same squad as last week, with Denver replacing Derby in right wing back and Kris Fletcher making his debut between the sticks. 

The game started well with both teams keen to get the ball down play football, however it was clear from the outset that Blackers Mill came with the game plan to frustrate Dollingstown in the early stages and for the first 30 minutes this mentality seem to work with Dollingstown struggling to find any away through an organized and resilient Mill backline, with a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping, the game remained 0-0.  However on 35 minutes the pressure paid off, from an in swinging free kick from Adam Walker, striker Gregg steered the ball past the goalkeeper, for a rare goal with his head and put Dollingstown 1 up.  With a highly competitive half coming to end, from silly free kick conceded on the half way line, the away side had a chance to draw level before the break.  A hopeful ball into the box was half cleared by Fletcher to the edge of the box before in an attempt from Moffett to block the shot was deemed a penalty by the referee, which was duly taken by the striker to bring the scores level on the stroke of half time.

Half Time – 1-1

Picking up knocks in the first half, Gary Duke was forced to replace both Banks and Thompson at half time, with Uprichard and Wing coming on.  Shaken by the late equalizer, the home side started the half brightly with the fresh legs seeming to have a sudden impact, dominating possession with early chances falling to Uprichard, Montgomery and Denver, with the best chance falling to Gregg, when he managed to beat the offside trap, with poor finishing again letting him down. 

However it looked only a matter of time before the second arrived with Fletcher and mere bystander at this stage.  On 70 minutes it came when the dangerous Walker broke down the left flank to set up Montgomery who continued his recent goal scoring form and another tireless performance with an excellent finish from inside the box.  Further chances came and went, with the best coming in the last couple of minutes when the ball fell to King in front of goal but he could only watch as his shot anxiously passed the post.  The game finished 2-1. 

Dollingstown are home again next week in the league, with Fivemiletown United making the journey to Planters Park.

Team – Fletcher, Denver, McAdam, Moffett, Savage, Walker, Hamilton, Banks, Thompson, Montgomery, Gregg

Subs – Wing, King, Uprichard

Dollingstown booked their place in this seasons Premier Cup Final with a comfortable win at Planters Park. After missing last weeks league win against Laurelvale, Ashley Gregg returned to the line up and should have given the hosts an early lead but his close range effort was well saved by the Crewe stopper. With their midfield and back line working hard to close down space, Dollingstown began to dominate proceedings and were awarded a penalty when Richard Thompson was tripped inside the area. This time Gregg made no mistake, finding the bottom corner from the resulting spot-kick. Andy Hamilton almost made it two moments later when he found himself through on goal but his tame effort was easily saved. Crewe did have their moments and came close to opening their account after Philip Derbys wayward header created confusion in the Dollingstown area. With Ryan McConville out of position only a fine goal line clearance from captain Aaron Moffett spared Derby’s blushes. The home side went 2-0 up however through another Gregg penalty. Man of the Match John Banks was barged from behind and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

HT Dtown 2 – 0 Crewe Utd

Crewe should have found themselves 3 down in the opening stages of the second half when Ashley Gregg raced through with only the keeper to beat, but the inform striker couldn’t find the target to chalk up yet another hat-trick for the season. That set the tone for what was to be a frustrating 45 minutes for the Dollingstown attack as numerous gilt-edged chances went begging. Gregg, Thompson, Hamilton, Derby and Adam Montgomery all went close before Montgomery finally found the net with a close range finish. Gareth King, Chris Wing and Michael Denver replaced Hamilton, Gregg and Adam Walker before Crewe were reduced to 10 men following Pete McCabe’s dismissal. The home side sealed the win when Montgomery bagged the fourth, his 9th goal in his last four outings. There was still time for more drama as Derby also received his marching orders for an alleged stamp on his marker.

Team - McConville, McAdam, Moffett, Savage, Derby, Hamilton, Banks, Walker, Thompson, Montgomery, Gregg

Subs – Wing, Denver, King

Dollingstown Football Club would like to thank all those who supported Saturday nights Table Quiz at The Planters

Dollingstown secured their place in the next round of the Intermediate Cup after turning around a 2-1 half-time deficit with a fine 2nd half display against the men from Carrick.

The hosts started slowly and fell behind inside the opening ten minutes when Barn’s number 10 was left unmarked following a corner, and the big striker made no mistake in finding the back of the net. Ryan McConville was called into action shortly after, tipping a long range effort around the post when a goal looked a certainty. At the other end Richard Thompson and Ashley Gregg went close for Dollingstown before the in-form Gregg levelled matters with a neat finish. As the half drew to a close the visitors regained the lead after they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area. A low drive found the net after somehow eluding the wall, giving McConville no chance.

HT Dtown 1 – 2 Barn Utd

Dollingstown suffered a setback early in the 2nd half when Andy Uprichard was knocked unconscious after receiving a blow to the head. Unable to carry on, he was replaced by Adam Walker who was welcomed back into the squad after his recent suspension. With John Banks and Gareth King getting a foothold in midfield the home side began to dominate and were rewarded with the equaliser when a well worked corner was headed back across goal by the towering Aaron Moffett and Adam Montgomery finished with a fine header. Montgomery then scored the goal of the game, curling his shot in beautifully from the corner of the area past the despairing keeper. Despite Barn creating a few chances of their own, McConville was rarely troubled and Dollingstown continued to dominate with their neat passing and movement. Philip Derby made it four when he combined well with Jonny McAdam to race clear and slot the ball calmly into the corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance. Derby then helped himself to another, getting on the end of a fine Walker cross to guide the ball home for Dollingstown’s fifth. Chris Wing and Andy Hamilton replaced King and Banks in midfield and Hamilton might have added a sixth had he finished better after a storming run.

Dollingstown will return to league action next week when they play host to Laurelvale

Team - McConville, McAdam, Moffett, Savage, Derby, Uprichard, Banks, King, Thompson, Montgomery, Gregg

Subs – Wing, Hamilton, Walker

Dollingstown put their frustrations and disappointment last week’s second half performance behind them with a convincing result at Planters Park on Saturday.  Seapatrick were the visitors, looking to end Dollingstown’s unbeaten start to the season.  Gary Duke welcomed back attacking pairing of Montgomery and Thompson into the starting line-up, joining top scorer Gregg in a 3 prong attack. 

With the windy conditions playing a major part, both teams struggled to establish any real momentum or pattern in their play.  Despite attacking with the wind, Seapatrick could not find any way through a well disciplined and dominate Dollingstown rear guard.  In actual fact it was the home side who looked increasingly dangerous, with Moffett hitting the post from a tight angle and numerous gilt edge chances falling to the in-form Gregg, however could not find a way past an in form Seapatrick stopper, with his best save coming 10 minutes before the break, managing to turn a volley from the industrious King around the post, when it looked destined for the top corner. 

However it wasn’t long until their dominance was rewarded with a goal and it was that man Gregg again, this time finishing inside the 6 yard box from a superb Uprichard corner to put the home side 1 up at the interval.

Half Time 1-0

With the wind behind them and the old football cliché, “next goal is crucial” ringing in their ears Dollingstown began the second half at a high tempo and they didn’t have long to wait for their next goal, and within 10 minutes of the restart Gregg had bagged his hat-trick, with 2 excellent finishes.  With the game more or less wrapped up, the increasing pace and movement of the front three supported with superb wing play from Uprichard and Derby, the away side struggled to compete.  Not to be out done by his striking partner and to cap another hard working display, Adam Montgomery fired a superb quick fire hat trick of his own to make it 6-0.  With time still remaining further chances fell to Thompson and then McAdam after a marauding run from the back only to be denied by a fine stop from the keeper.  Further goals were added in the closing moments; first from Moffett after being teed up by Savage, adding to his long and impressive list of assists this season and then it was left to Gregg to cap a fine team performance by adding his fourth and making it 8-0 with a thunderous left foot shot.

Next week Dollingstown are in Intermediate cup action, with a home tie with Amateur League side Barn United.

Date for your diary – Dollingstown are running a quiz night on Saturday 12th November in the Planters @ 7.30pm.

Team – McConville, Derby, McAdam, Moffett, Savage, Uprichard, King, Banks, Thompson, Montgomery, Gregg.

Subs – Wing, Hamilton, Denver

Dollingstown continued their recent unbeaten run against their Intermediate A league rivals with a hard earned point at Madden Road.

The visitors entered the game without the injured Peter Wright along with the unavailable strike pairing of Adam Montgomery and Richard Thompson but welcomed back recent casualties Adam Walker and Ryan McConville to the starting line up.

On a damp afternoon it was Dollingstown who started the brightest, forcing some early attacks but Tandragee weathered the early storm and created chances for themselves with Rooney heading over from close range. The deadlock was broken when Andy Uprichard rounded off a flowing move from the away side with a low finish that found the bottom corner of the net. Shortly after, Ashley Gregg doubled Dollingstown’s lead. Good work from Gareth King forced an error in the Rovers defence and Gregg was on hand to bury the loose ball amid claims of offside from the home defence. It might have been three moments later only for a terrific save from the young Tandgragee goalkeeper, tipping the ball to safety after a fine effort from Andy Hamilton. For all Dollingstown’s dominance of the first half proceedings, Rovers had a fine chance to snatch a goal before the break when Greenaway lost his marker only for McConville to deny him with a fantastic save from point blank range.

HT Rovers 0 – 2 Dtown

The second half was 45 minutes to forget for Dollingstown. Tandgragee came out reinvigorated and forced McConville into some smart saves. Their endeavour paid off when a speedy attack down the right flank lead to a fine cross picking out the unmarked Gerard Magee, who finished neatly. In a rare Dollingstown attack Adam Walker was booked after the referee amazingly adjudged him to have dived after a wild lunge from Tandgragee’s Philip Pedlow and the same two players were involved in Rovers’ equaliser. Pedlow broke into the Dollingstown penalty area and went down whilst pursued by Walker. Walker received his second caution and his marching orders whilst Greenaway made no mistake with the resulting penalty kick. The home side dominated the remainder of the game and had chances to take all three points, but a combination of resolute defending and assured goalkeeping from McConville insured Dollingstown claimed a share of the spoils.

FT Rovers 2 – 2 Dtown

Line up – McConville, Macadam, Moffett, Savage, Denver, Hamilton, King, Banks, Uprichard, Walker, Gregg

Subs – Wing, Davison, Derby

Best on the Day – Ryan McConville

Dollingstown where back in cup competition on Saturday, this time in the Marshall Cup, when they welcomed Newry City reserves to Planters Park.

The match started in a good tempo with the away side looking the sharper in the early exchanges with Dollingstown failing to get a grip with the young side's bright start. Newry mangaed to peg the home side on back on their 18 yard line without making any real impact on goal with the dollingstown backline looking strong. Despite their sluggish start, Dollingstown still looked a threat on the break with chances falling to Gregg, Uprichard and Hamilton. However on 30 minutes it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in lucky circumstances when a hopefull cross eluded everyone in the box and dropped in just under the cross bar to make it one nil. This was the wake up call Gary Duke's team needed, with Wing, Hamilton and King beginning to dominate the central areas and minutes before the break the game was level when a great through ball from Wing found top scorer Gregg who made no mistake with a cool finish past the keeper. Half time -1-1.

The goal just before the break seemed to give dollingstown confidence and they came out in the second half a lot better as they looked to gain the upper hand. And it wasnt long untill they had the lead with a superb finish from the edge of the box from the impressive Wing. Further chances fell to McAdam and Gregg before Banks completed a well worked move to mark his first goal for the club to make it 3-1.
With dollingstown in control, the game took a sigificant twist, with all three substitutes on the pitch, Peter Wright suffered an unfortunate ankle injury and could not continue leaving Dollingstown with 10 men for the last half an hour of the game. Newry gained confidence from this and began pushing men forward with nothing to loose and managed to pull 2 quick fire goals back to bring the match all square at 3-3 with extra time looming.
However with 10 minutes left on the clock, good work down the right hand side, resulted in a great ball across into the box finding striker Montgomery who made no mistake from 6 yards to fire dollingstown into the 4th round of the cup. Great credit must go to a young and very talented Newry side who played their part in an intralling cup tie.

Next week Dollingstown travel to madden road to face Tandragee Rovers in a much anticipated league fixture, 2.15pm ko.

Dollingstown traveled to Seapatrick on Saturday looking to bounce back after last weeks disappointing exit from the Irish Cup by booking their place in the last 4 of the Premier Cup, aiming to win it for the third year in a row.

It was clear from the outset, that Seapatrick were content in soaking up the pressure and attempt to hit on the counter attack. From the outset Dollingstown were control of the game in terms of possession with just the final ball eluding them on too many occasions with half chances falling to Gregg, Uprichard and Thompson without really troubling the goalkeeper. However it wasn't until mid way through the half when the pressure finally paid off when Wing played a superb 30 yard ball to find to Gregg in behind the home team’s rearguard, with the latter managing to pick out Thompson in the box who made no mistake with a firm header to add to his impressive start to the season. Dollingstown continued to dominate possession, however just before the break sloppy play down the left hand side gifted Seapatrick their first real sight of goal and force keeper Hynds into making a smart save down low to his right. Half time 0-1.

The second half continued much like the first with Dollingstown looking the more likely to extend their lead, however with the score remaining at 1-0, game was always in the balance.  However with the Dollingstown looking increasingly dangerous with their pace and Hynds more or less a by stander, it wasn’t along until they got the decisive second goal, good play in the middle of the park from King resulted in the ball landing at the feet of in form striker Thompson, who shrugged off a few challenges on the edge of the box before unleashing a thunderous shot past the Seapatrick stopper and send the holders into the semi finals and set up a home tie against Crewe United.

Next week Dollingstown travel to Lower Maze in the league.

Team – Hynds, Savage, Moffett, McAdam, Denver, Davison, Wing, Banks, Thompson, Gregg, Uprichard

Subs – Derby, Hamilton, King

Dollingstown continued their impressive start to the season putting their off field shenanigans behind them with a comfortable 5-0 win over loughgall reserves in the marshall cup.

After the 0-9 demolition of Fivemiletown Utd in their opening league fixture the planters park side were favourites to progress into the third round on Saturday.
After a slow start in which loughgall worked tirelessly to frustrate the home side, Ashley Gregg produced a fantastic solo effort to break down the away sides stubborn defence and make it 1-0 on 30 mins. It didn't take Richard Thompson long to increase the lead when on 35 mins he picked up on a goalkeeping error to pass into an empty net. Gregg almost made it 3 on 45 mins only to lift the ball over the bar from 10 yards after a one on one with the keeper. HT 2-0

The home side dominated the second half and when Ashley Gregg got his second on 48 mins the match was all but over. At the other end new signing Ryan McConville was rarely troubled in goal as a well organised dollingstown defence never looked troubled. On 55 mins Gregg was at his clinical best again when Thompson threaded the ball through. On song striker Gregg made no mistake. It was fitting too that Gregg should score his 4th on the day and 100th for the club on 65 mins to complete the score. That gives the much talked about striker 8 goals in 2 games, what a way to put to bed the controversy his signature cost the club last year!

Best on the day was Ashley Gregg and Johnny McAdam. This week Dollingstown have another home fixture against Lower Maze in the Premier Cup ko 2.15.

Team: McConville, Denver, Wright, Savage, Moffett, McAdam, Banks, Davison, Uprichard, Gregg, Thompson subs Wing, Derby, Montgomery