Jones strikes to grab a point

Editorial Department • Published 15 Apr 2010 10:42 0 Comments

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Christopher Lyons attacking down the left wing in the game against Draperstown.

Kesh 1; Draperstown Celtic 1;

A Mark Jones goal gave new boss Noel Ellis his first point as Kesh manager and helped end a run of two successive defeats.

Having lost 4-2 to the same Draperstown side in the cup less than a month ago Kesh were keen to make amends in the league encounter and started brightly. Twenty minutes into the game the new boss witnessed the first goal under his reign. Good work down the right wing led to a near post cross, and striker Mark Jones nipped in to fire past the keeper and give the home side the early advantage.

Stung into life by the goal Draperstown responded well to going behind and had the edge for the remainder of the first half, without managing to net an equaliser. After the interval the visitors continued to push forward without reward, and mid way through the half Kesh nearly made them pay for their inability to score, wasting a couple of half chances.

On 70 minutes Draperstown got the goal their play deserved. A carelessly conceded free kick on the edge of the Kesh penalty area led to Stefan McCusker making a diving save, but he could only push the ball into the path of the attacking team, and their right winger fired the ball home from the edge of the six yard box.

As Kesh started to tire it looked as though they would concede again, but their defence held firm and they almost snatched a late and unlikely winner. The visiting keeper came rushing out to gather a long clearance but Chris Lyons nipped ahead of him and crossed the ball into the area, only for Alwyn Beatty's desperate lunge to come up inches short of providing the crucial touch in front of an unguarded goal.

"We played well and a point gives us something to build on," said Kesh manager Noel Ellis. "We were holding on for the last 20 because to be honest our fitness is rubbish at the minute as we haven't been playing on a regular basis, but we are going to Strabane on Thursday night and then we have Churchill at home and I'd like to think with a good first team squad out we would be able to get a few points from those two games."

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 15 Apr 10

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