Mountjoy United 0 Lisbellaw United 0

Ten man Lisbellaw United had to settle for a share of the spoils from their meeting with Mountjoy on Saturday.

Kyle McCleery’s side lost goalkeeper Sam McDonald to a straight red card ten minutes before half time after he was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the box.

However, the ‘Law still managed to have the better of the exchanges but could not find a way through as sides had to be content with a point apiece.

“I felt that we created enough chances to win it even with ten men and we were the better team and the one’s who were pushing for the winner.

“In saying that, I’m happy enough with a point considering we had our goalkeeper sent off and played most of the game with ten men,” said McCleery,” whose side sit sixth in the table.

Lisbellaw started the game brightly and they went close to taking an early lead when Philip Beacom flicked a David Freeman cross towards goal but the ball hit his own man, Scott Moutray, on the line and the danger was then cleared.

Moutray then fizzed an effort from the edge of the box past the post while at the other end Luke Barker’s shot was routinely saved by McDonald.

The key moment of the game though came after 35 minutes. Barker was put through and McDonald raced out of his box to meet him. The striker attempted to lift the ball over the goalkeeper who stopped it with his hand and was given his marching orders by the referee.

A re-jig saw Freeman go into goal for Lisbellaw and made one save before the break to deny William Donaghy.

Lisbellaw also had a chance late in the half when Richard Woods clipped a cross to the back post to Moutray but his thunderbolt nicked the post and flew wide as it remained 0-0 at the break.

Despite being down to ten men the visitors remained on top and Woods had a glorious chance to open the scoring when he was put through one on one but he put too much on it as he looked to round the keeper and ball ran out for a goal kick.

Lisbellaw continued to push and Stuart Johnston forced Gareth Barbour into a good stop while late on new signing Stephen Bruce - who along with Craig Johnston joined from Derrychara - hit a great strike from 25 yards that had Barbour rooted to the spot but it was inches the wrong side of the post as the game finished 0-0.

Next up for Lisbellaw is a clash with league leaders Enniskillen Town on Saturday.

“Town away is a very tough game but one we are looking forward to and with the couple of signings we have in I feel we are in a very good place moving into the second half of the season,”said McCleery.