Lisbellaw United 1 Tummery Athletic 3

Tummery Athletic maintained their perfect start to the new season as they made it five wins out of five with a 3-1 win away to Lisbellaw United on Saturday.

Athletic led 2-1 at the break and a Gerry McCullagh goal early in the second half sealed the points for Ryan Hanna’s charges.

The result leaves the Dromore outfit two points clear of Strathroy Harps at the top of the table having played a game less and boss Hanna was pleased to come away with the win.

“Drumad is never an easy place to go to and get the points so we are pleased with the win. It was a tight first half but in the second half I thought we controlled things and we had some good chances that we didn’t put away. Overall, that’s five wins out of five so I can’t ask for much more than that,” he said.

Lisbellaw manager Kyle McCleery had no complaints about the result.

“Over the course of the 90 minutes, and particularly the second half, Tummery deserved the three points. They are a good side and you can see why they have won their opening five games,” said McCleery.

And the big games keep coming for Lisbellaw this week with a trip to second placed Strathroy.

“It’s another tough test against a team that are going well but they are all going to be tough games and anyone is capable of taking points of any other team in this league,” he added.

Tummery got off to the perfect start to the contest as they took the lead with only three minutes gone as Kyle McCrory set up Ruairi Sludden and he who fired past ‘Law goalkeeper Sam McDonald from outside the box.

However, the home side responded well and they were back on level terms by the 13th minute as Adam McKenna challenged Tummery goalkeeper Niall McCrory from an Aaron Lindsay cross and the ball spilled to Paul Elliott who bundled the ball home.

However, the away side were back in front on the half hour mark as Martin Hughes unleashed a fine effort to the top corner to leave it 2-1 at the interval.

And within five minutes of the restart Athletic had added to their lead with the experienced McCullagh getting on the scoresheet.

Tummery captain Adrian McCaffrey picked out McCullagh with a cross from the right hand side and he took a touch before slotting past McDonald to make it 3-1.

The away side looked the more likelier to add to their score as Lisbellaw were forced to go in search of a way back into the game and McCaffrey fired over when put through one on one with McDonald while Sludden and Hughes also had chances that they failed to avail of.

Lisbellaw’s best chance of the half fell to substitute McGrath but his header was superbly saved by McCrory as Tummery claimed the points.