There was no shortage of controversy in this clash between these two title chasers. Strathroy finished the game with nine men as Tummery took charge in the second half to turn their 2-1 half time advantage into a compressive win.
For Tummery the win takes them five points clear at the top of the table and Athletic’s player manager, Benny McElholm was delighted with the victory;
“I'm very pleased with the win. It was a great three points. I wasn’t overly pleased with the first half but I felt we improved in the second half.”
Tummery went two nil up in the first half. Ryan Cunningham was first to hit the net with a penalty following a hand ball. Tummy doubled their lead through Niall Donnelly after a neat one two with Malachy McLaughlin.
It looked to be all going the home sides way but the league champions hit back with a stunning goal through Adrian McCaffrey who lashed the ball home to the top corner from all of 30 yards.
The goal was a real boost to the visitors and they returned for the second half determined to cut the deficit.
McElholm made a change for the home side with the introduction of Matty Callaghan and he pulled the strings from the centre of the park for the second 45 minutes.
But according to Strathroy player manager Seamus Fanthorpe referee Josh Porter was the ‘key factor’ in his sides defeat. Porter sent off Caolan McCrossan and Brendan Boyle in the second half with Fanthorpe describing the decision to show McCrossan a second yellow for simulation as ‘the worst decision’ he has seen in his footballing career.
“I’m very disappointed with the referee, he was a key factor in the result and anybody who was at the match would say it. There was controversy throughout the game. 
To be quite honest with you, he puts in that level of performance and yet there is no real accountability.”
Within five minutes of McCrossan’s dismissal Callaghan had added another for Tummery and it got worse for Strathroy when Boyle was adjudged to have committed a professional foul. 
That indiscretion came just seconds after Strathroy had strong claims for a foul at the other end of the pitch with Porter waving play on.
Tummery added two more goals to run out deserving winners with Donnelly and Cunningham adding to their tallies. 
The win puts Tummery in a commanding position but there is still plenty to play for with Lisbellaw and Strathroy both having games in hand but McElhom believes his side will have a big say in where the Mercer league trophy lies this season;
“We have put ourselves in a good position and it is all to play for at the moment. There is plenty of football to be played and if we don’t win the league then we will certainly decide who does. We are enjoying things at the moment and just want to keep going.”