Lisbellaw United 1 NFC Kesh 2

NFC Kesh bounced back from two consecutive league defeats to edge past Lisbellaw, thanks to first half goals from Callum Frempong and Jordan Fleck.

Manager Scott Robinson was in no doubt that his side was deserving of the victory, but was again frustrated that they were not as clinical in front of goal as he would have liked.

“We had so many chances it was unbelievable,” he said.

“It was the same as every game we have played this season. We dominated, and we had chance after chance, but we have to start taking these chances or we are going to get punished again. Our attacking display was superb, but our finishing was lacking, but that will come.

"It was all one way traffic in the first half, and at half time I told them to keep doing what we were doing and just up the ante another 15 per cent, and to be fair in the first 15 minutes we did that.

"As the game went into the latter stages they came more and more into it, and they got their goal and had a wee bit of pressure. They kept coming at us and the boys did start to get a wee bit nervy, but I have to give our boys credit. They keep plugging away, and now we just have to cut out the silly mistakes.”

A second half reply from Sam Lindsay was not enough to stop Lisbellaw slipping to a fifth consecutive match without a win, and manager Kyle McCleery acknowledged that they rode their luck in the first half.

“Over the course of 90 minutes Kesh probably deserved the three points, and in the first half they had pinned us back for the majority,” admitted McCleery, who felt aggrieved that his side were not awarded a penalty in the closing minutes of the match.

“It was a stonewall penalty and I still can’t believe he didn’t give it. It was at the stage of the game when we were pressing and they were getting a wee bit nervous, because I know they have dropped a few points lately. Everything seemed to be going for us and I had a feeling we were going to nick one. It was so late in the game it was a big decision, and I was disappointed we didn’t get the rub of the green.

"Over the course of the game though Kesh had more chances, and particularly in the first half they looked hungry for it. At 2-0 down we had a mountain to climb, but it was important we picked ourselves back up and showed some belief that the game wasn’t over, and we could turn it around.

"We went out and we did look a different team in the second half. I’m pleased with the character and the performance we showed. In the end we could have nicked a point, but it wasn’t to be.”

Kesh started on the front foot and Ryan Campbell had the first effort on target, but scuffed his shot.

Campbell was partnering Mark Jones in an experienced front line, and Jones was next to have a shot at goal, but he directed Danny Wilson’s cross wide of the post.

With 16 minutes gone Kesh were rewarded for their early pressure when right back Callum Frampong opened the scoring. His first shot was saved by the impressive Sam McDonald, but the rebound fell kindly and he fired home at the second attempt to put Kesh one up.

McDonald was busy in the Lisbellaw goal in the first half, and he saved superbly from Campbell, before going on to deny Jones, Walker and Wilson before the interval.

When it looked like Lisbellaw would restrict the first half damage to one goal, they conceded on the stroke of half time when Jordan Fleck powered a header into the net from Wilson’s corner.

Kesh continued to create chances in the second half with Jones hitting the frame of the goal, but it was Lisbellaw that found the back of the net on 70 minutes when McCusker palmed Niall Keenan’s shot into the path of Sam Lindsay, who made no mistake from close range.

Kesh almost gifted Lisbellaw an equaliser when Justin Palmer’s header drifted over the keeper’s head, but Fleck got back to clear of the line.

Nathan Cashel, returning from injury, spurned a great chance from inside the six yard box, before the controversial ending when substitute Moutray went down in the penalty area, but the referee waved away Lisbellaw’s appeals.