• By Aaron McGlade

Share Of The Spoils For Reserves At Cherney Park

Dollingstown looked to stop the run of two poor results against an experienced Rangers team. Dollingstown themselves had two ex-Rangers players in the squad, one of which made a telling impact. The game started at a frantic pace that show Dollingstown control the opening thirty minutes, moving the ball well with the explosive Lavery and skillful De Brun cause all sorts of problems for Rangers.

Diven who had the lone striker’s role was isolated for the majority of the opening exchanges however he was involved in all of the Town attacks, and defended from the front leading the Town press well. For all the Town possession, the final ball was missing, either the weight of ball was not right or the pass selection was wrong. This seemed to give Rangers an added boost who got themselves back into the game and started to test McRobert’s all be it from range.

With the match evenly balanced Rangers took the lead on the thirty forth minute, a corner was not cleared and the ball fell to Chambers who as always was in the right place for a simple tap in. The remainder of the half ended a stalemate, Rangers playing the early long ball to the pacey McCann and Davidson out wide who struggled to get past both Town full backs in Denver and Russell who were excellent today. Town did have a few chances to draw level before the break, Treanor went through one on one but his touch was a little heavy and was easily gathered up by Parkes in the Rangers goal.

Town did have the ball in the back of the net, a recycled free-kick fell to Cathel DeBrun who whipped in an excellent cross for Lavery who headed in past Parkes only to be flagged off side.

HT 1-0 to Rangers

At half time Town were asked to get what they deserved from the game, having played good football for the majority of the match they were urged to take their chances and play football in the right areas. The squad know they would get chances and knew that they must take them.

The second half started as the first ended with both teams sparing, Rangers looking to put some daylight between Town and themselves whilst Town were seeking an equalizer. On fifty-five minutes Matthew Smylie was introduced for his debut against his former club and he made little time in making his presence known rushing onto a through ball from Lavery, beating the offside trap only to the forced wide by the on rushing Parkes.

Again Smylie was involved in the next incident, this time handbags between himself and Hilland which caused a number of Rangers and Town players to come together but nothing more than a few strong words and shoving took place, easily resolved by both managers and referee.

Second substitution of the game saw Branker come on for Treanor, Branker took up his role on the left-wing and was involved in the equalizing goal, on seventy-six minutes Branker collects the ball from a Rangers slipped in Cathel who played another through ball to Smylie who powered past the Rangers defence, into the box from the left corner and slipped the ball coolly under a driving Parkes, queue cheering and jeering from both teams as the ex-Rangers man comes on to make the desired impact.

The game was far from over with Town increasingly applying more pressure on the Rangers back four forcing them into a defensive change, on the eighty-third minute, Town had the chance to win the game Lavery came in of the right-wing running in front of the Rangers defence, ball played to feet by Diven, Lavery spins past Gregg into the box only for his shot to be tipped onto the post by Parkes.

The game ended 1-1, Town with a much improved performance, playing a very good high tempo game. A special mention is to Cameron who was fantastic at the heart of the defence today as well as captain Hill who was played out of position but battled hard and moved the ball well from the middle of the park.

Up next for Town as they look to get back to winning ways is an away trip to Annagh United Strollers this Friday evening under the lights at Tandragee Road with a 8.15 KO.

• By Aaron McGlade

The Dollybirds Crash Out Of The Intermediate Cup

On a cold but beautiful afternoon DFC hosted Newtowne in the intermediate cup and it was the visitors who progressed into the next round with a deserved 1-0 victory.

DFC started brightly enough with Norton firing wide on the quarter-hour mark after good work from the right and a minute later a good move down the opposite flank by McConnell but no striker gambled inside the area.

Neither keeper was tested at all during the opening 45 minutes and it wasn’t until the fifty minute mark when from a corner when Newtowne should have went in front when the big center back had a free header that was just off target.

Then on the hour mark DFC finally made a good move down the right by Redpath and Clark but Keegan cross was deflected wide of the near post.

Manager Duke then replaced the Doc with Rodgers but it was Newtowne who almost went in front from a long-range effort that was well saved by Croft.

Newtowne finally opened the scoring on 66 minutes when from a move down the right the striker volleyed home superbly with his effort going in off the bar.

Walker and Keegan were replaced in the final minutes by Coleman and Adams but DFC were very flat throughout the whole game and offered very little in the final third.

They will need a huge improvement  next week away to Rathfriland Rangers in the semi final of the Bob Radcliffe cup.

DFC would like to thank Paul Colton for sponsoring today’s game.

• By Aaron McGlade

The Dollybirds Return To Winning Ways In The League

DFC welcomed Windmill stars to planters park for the very first time and despite the heavy rain of the previous 24 hours the pitch was once again in pristine condition.

Windmill arrived on the back of suffering there first league defeat in two years to Crewe and were intent on reversing this with a very aggressive team performance with their full back booked as early as the 5 th minute for a foul on the returning Ritchie Thompson making his home debut after his transfer from Lurgan Celtic.

Both teams had chances in the opening minutes but all failed to convert but Windmill went in front on 10 minutes after a break away .Harrison missed from 6 yards out when really easier to score and Harrison was denied again 5 minutes later when he chased down a Duke header but Windmill defender made a superb tackle to deny him the opening goal.

DFC did finally get the equalising goal on the half hour mark when from a MC Connell cross from the left Duke hammered in off the post but a few minutes later Windmill went in front again direct from a free kick with Croft simply watching it hit the back of the net.

Into the final frantic 5 minutes of the first half and Duke again brought the teams level with a fine header from a Harrison cross and Harrison then put DFC in front for the first time in the match when he ran onto a flick from Thompson and slotted home very calmly.

However in first half injury time DFC were again punished for sloppy defending and allowed Windmill to go into the break all square and Harrison had to go off injured and was replaced by Norton.

DFC pushed hard in the opening 20 minutes of the second half but good goalkeeping and some solid defending kept the score at 3-3.

On 75 minutes DFC went in front again when a Redpath scored from a Glen Hamd cross and during this frantic period Windmill had as many as 4 more players booked.

Then Norton wrapped up the game in the final minutes when he ran on to a Duke pass to calmly lob the keeper for number 5.

This was a very hard-earned home victory for DFC that sees them return to joint second in the table and with 3 cup matches coming up over the next 3 weeks it will be mid December before we return to league action.

We would like to thank KGByrne & Associates Ltd for the Matchday Sponsorship and also Paul Robinson for sponsoring the Matchball. It’s much appreciated.

Next sat DFC host Newtown in the Intermediate cup at 1.30 pm kick off and would welcome as much home support as possible.

Our next social/fund-raising event is only a few weeks away, come along and bring friends, family, work colleagues are a great nights craic. All support is very welcome

MATCH PICTURES with thanks to EDS Photography

• By Aaron McGlade

Smith Extra-Time Winner Sends The Dollybirds Into 4th Round Of Irish Cup

DFC made the long trip to Millisle on Saturday in the 3 rd of the Irish cup and came away victorious after extra time.

Conditions were very tough for both teams with the be verbally strong wind blowing in from the coast.

DFC had the wind advantage in the first half and Duke nearly put them in front on 4 minutes but he failed to convert at the back post.

Then keeper Croft pulled off two fantastic saves a few minutes later to keep the score sheet blank . On the quarter-hour mark a good move down the left between Adams and Hand ended with Duke firing wide.

DFC were then awarded a penalty when Harrison was brought down in the box from a simple throw in and Duke calmly stepped forward to score his 20 th of the season so far.

Villa almost equalised on 27 minutes only for skipper Moffett to clear the ball from on the goal line and a few minutes later they were punished further when full back Redpath ventured forward and his low drive from the edge of the area was deflected past the home keeper.

DFC again started very brightly in the second half and the two strikers had chances to wrap up the game but failed to convert them and on the hour mark they were punished when Walker appeared to bring down the home striker but from the resultant penalty Croft pulled off an easy save.

Villa did get one back with 10 minutes to go when on a quick break from a corner Redpath appeared to be pushed in the back and the striker went on to convert.

Manager Duke then took off Adams and Harrison and replaced them with Norton and MC Connell . However with time running out DFC for the third week in a row conceded from a corner to force the game into extra time.

DFC looked the most likely team to get the winner with Doc just wide from distance and MC Connell unlucky after great run down the left but still all square at the break.

Smith was then introduced by manager Duke in place of Coleman as he went with 3 strikers for last 15 minutes and his bold move was rewarded when both subs Norton and Smith combined for Smith to score the decisive 3 rd and winning goal.

So DFC progress now into the 4th round of the Irish cup.