The Dollybirds Exit The Tennent’s Irish Cup At The First Stage

Dfc welcomed Maiden City to Planters Park on Saturday for the very first time in the Irish cup and it was the away team who successfully progressed into the second round.

Maiden City opened the game brightly with some very expansive football but DFC held firm despite so many injuries with new signing Nathan Lavery starting up front and young Matthew Russell at left back.

Indeed DFC should have opened the scoring on 35 minutes but the header from a corner kick was cleared off the line and a few minutes later the opposition tested keeper Stephen Croft from distance but both teams went in all square at the break.

Jake Redpath had to go off injured to a list that includes 5 players already and was replaced with Cathel DeBrun and on 55 minutes Maiden City went in front when a free kick rebounded off the bar and they responded quickest to tap in.

However DFC were back in the game a minute later from a Scott Adams block buster after a good cross from Nathan McConnell and DFC enjoyed a blue patch in the game for next 15 minutes with Josh Norton and substitute David Gray who replaced yet another injury to young Russell were both denied by superb saves by the visiting keeper.

Adams then delivered a wonderful cross but Gray couldn’t get his header on target and a few minutes later from a replica free kick Maiden City went 2-1 up.

Young Lavery then gave way in final few minutes to Scott McCordick but a slip in the last minute by Chris Coleman allowed Maiden City to wrap up the game.

Dfc now have 6 players on the injury table before a very tough game away to Hanover on Tuesday night.