‘Robbo” has agreed a move to Derriaghy Cricket Club, managed by ex-Loughgall captain Michael Lamont.

Loughgall FC would like to wish Marc all the best in the rest of his career and would like to thank him for his exceptional 13-season spell at Lakeview Park.

Also leaving the Villagers is Stephen Doyle who has signed for Donegal Celtic. Loughgall FC would like to wish Stephen all the best in the Carling Premiership next season.

Stephen Doyle scooped the Lakeview Blues Supporters Club Player of the Year to compliment his Leading Goalscorer trophy after a fantastic first season tally of 19 goals in the Royal Blue shirt. Captain Steven Ferguson was awarded the City of Armagh Loughgall Supporters Club Player of the Year.

Josh Finlay was rewarded with the Young Player of the Year for his tremendous performances throughout the season for both the first and second sides.

Gavin Fox won the Loughgall United Player of the Year trophy while Thai Blevins picked up the Leading Goalscorer.

On the non-playing aspect of Loughgall FC, Annabelle Griffiths was presented the Merit Award for her hard work and dedication behind the scenes. Leslie Willis was awarded the Clubman of the Year trophy for his excellent service.

Neil Anderson was presented the Chairman’s Cup for the wonderful effort he puts to making many aspects of Loughgall FC a success over the past year.

There was also a special presentation on behalf of the Loughgall FC to Eric Johnston who was made an Honorary Life Member for his support and work at Lakeview Park for over 30 years.

Full list of award winners:
Loughgall FC Player of the Year – Greg Hall
Loughgall FC Leading Goalscorer – Stephen Doyle
Loughgall FC Young Player of the Year – Josh Finlay
Loughgall United Player of the Year – Gavin Fox
Loughgall United Leading Goalscorer – Thai Blevins
Lakeview Blues SC Player of the Year – Stephen Doyle
City of Armagh Loughgall SC Player of the Year – Steven Ferguson
Merit Award – Annabelle Griffiths
Clubman of the Year – Leslie Willis
Chairman’s Cup – Neil Anderson

Photos

Davy Hawthorne returned to the starting line-up following his one-game suspension and Mark Carson also made his first start in three months.

Loughgall started brightly and on 11 minutes a Stephen Doyle cross fell to Steven Ferguson, on the edge of the box, who hit a half-volley that was expertly tipped over the crossbar by home ‘keeper William Hassan. Villagers ‘keeper Marc Robinson had to be equally alert to deny Neil Lamont when he was shot goalwards from 20 yards in the 20th minute.

The visitors twice came close to scoring in the last five minutes of the first period; firstly Jeff Brady’s headed effort was well held by Hassan and then left-back Brady’s smart chip forward provided Alain Emerson with the opportunity to volley narrowly wide.

Loughgall continued to exert their superiority however failed to take any of their chances in the early stages of the second half, Carson latched onto Brady’s cross but couldn’t keep his effort on target from inside the penalty area.

The deadlock was broken in the 69th minute when Carson slotted home from close range after he and Brady initially challenged ‘keeper Hassan to a cross. The win was secured with 7 minutes remaining when Hassan upended substitute Daryl Flanaghan inside the penalty area. Adam Pedlow stepped up to net from the resultant spot-kick for his 8th goal of the season.

Loughgall: Robinson, Hall, Brady, Stewart, Hull, Emerson, Ferguson, Hawthorne, Carson (Foster 73m), Pedlow (Willis 84m), Doyle (Flanaghan 81m).
Tobermore: Hassan, McKenna, Magill, Spratt, Neill, Stewart, Gardiner, Heneghan, Lamont, Patton, McClements. Subs: Bradley, Stewart, Drennan.

Congratulations to Davy, Neil, Gary, Derek and all the players on a great achievement.

Boss Colin Malone shook up his starting line-up with four changes as Mark Stewart, Jeff Brady, Steven Ferguson and John Guy were brought in. Out went Davy Hawthorne, Gavin Fox and Daryl Flanaghan while Thai Blevins dropped to the substitutes bench.

Loughgall created an early chance, after four minutes, when Alain Emerson won possession before playing a neat one-two with striker Guy. Emerson received the final pass on the edge of the penalty area where he saw his weak shot easily saved by ‘keeper Parr.

An well-worked quick throw in by Warrenpoint’s Gregory Curtis saw Keith Johnston set-up Paudie Smith with a shooting opportunity inside the penalty area on 11 minutes. Smith’s well-struck effort was denied by a great diving save by goalkeeper Marc Robinson.

Town came extremely close again after 24 minutes when Curtis’ corner delivery was somehow headed over by Sean McMullan from close range.

This glaring miss was compounded two minutes later when the visitors took the lead, Parr mishit a clearance from the right-hand edge of his penalty area.  And the ball landed kindly for Guy, 30 yards from goal, who calmly guided his first-time shot into an empty net.

Robinson produced another stunning save to make sure Loughgall kept their advantage two minutes before the break when Smith’s looping header was dropping into the far post only for a wonderful save.

The second half provided little in the way of clear-cut goalscoring opportunities; Town had the best chance on 56 minutes when a goalmouth scramble involving Smith and McMullen was denied three times by the resolute trio of Robinson, Stewart and Greg Hall.

Loughgall: Robinson, Hall, Brady, Stewart, Hull, Doyle, Ferguson, Emerson, Willis (Blevins 45m), Pedlow, Guy (Carson 68m).

Warrenpoint: Parr, Trainor, Crilly, Boyle, Cowan, McParland (O’Connor 68m), Curtis, Smith, Fegan (McAleenan 68m), Johnston, McMullan (Boyle 68m).

Boss Colin Malone had to contend with another much-changed team he was forced into making five changes from last week’s starting line-up at Dergview. Out went Symon Ferguson, Jeff Brady, Mark Stewart, Steven Ferguson and Dale Malone to be replaced with Marc Robinson, Gavin Fox, Alain Emerson, Thai Blevins and Daryl Flanaghan.

Stute got off to the best possible start as they took the lead inside the first minute when John Curran got on the end of Dean Jarvis’ corner delivery.

Loughgall missed a good chance to equalise on 16 minutes when ‘keeper Marc Robinson’s long goal-kick found its way through to Steven Doyle, however the striker couldn’t keep his left-footed effort on target.

The leveller came in the 32nd minute when Adam Pedlow received a pass just inside his own half before playing a smart reverse pass into Greg Hall’s path, the right-back raced downfield before confidently slotting past ‘keeper Marty Gallagher.

Institute continued to threaten and forced goalkeeper Robinson into an excellent diving save to deny Sean Roddy’s free-kick on the edge of the penalty area just before the break.

The hosts raced into the lead early in the second period thanks to Steven Doyle’s 19th goal of the season, however this lead was short-lived as Stute levelled through Jarvis’ headed effort on 51 minutes.

And one minute later they were back in the ascendency when Davitt Walsh saw his sweetly-struck shot tucked up in the bottom corner beyond the reaches of Robinson.

To continue the blistering start to the second half, Loughgall levelled through a counter-attack on the hour mark that resulted in Adam Pedlow stepping back inside onto his favoured right foot and picking his spot past ‘keeper Gallagher.

The winner came just six minutes later through a penalty as Gavin Fox upended an opponent, adjudged by the referee, to be inside the area. Roddy stepped up and send goalkeeper Robinson the wrong way.

Loughgall rallied for the remaining minutes but couldn’t find a way past the Institute defence; their best opportunity came in the 70th minute when Thai Blevins played a pass across the 18-yard box for Aaron Willis. The tricky winger hit a first-time effort that was heading for the top corner only to be denied by a fantastic stop by Gallagher.

Loughgall: Robinson, Hall, Emerson, Hull, Fox, Willis, Blevins (Guy 73m), Hawthorne, Flanaghan (Herron 73m), S Doyle, Pedlow (McCourt 73m). Unused subs: N Doyle, Hylands.

Institute: Gallagher, Roddy, Taylor, Curran, McLaughlin (Crown 86m), McEneff, Semple (McCarron 23m), McCauley, Walsh (Harkin 71m), McCrudden, Jarvis. Unused subs: Glackin, McCready.

However Loughgall boss Colin Malone can be heartened by the performance of his side discounting the initial ten minutes.

By that stage Dergview had taken a two-goal advantage; their opener came after only four minutes when left-back John Carlin’s low cross was smartly back-heeled by Nathan Cashel into the path of Aaron Arkinson who dispatched the chance from inside the penalty area.

Then, in the tenth minute, Ryan Campbell received a pass with his back to goal, turned and unleashed a tremendous 30-yard drive beyond ‘keeper Symon Ferguson that nestled in the top corner.

Loughgall finally received rewards for their efforts when Dale Malone curled a 20-yard free-kick in between the diving ‘keeper Stefan McCusker and the far post.

With two minutes remaining, the hosts made sure of collecting all three points when tall substitute Adam Lecky directed Duwayne McManus’ corner delivery into the corner of the net.

Loughgall: Ferguson, Hall, Brady, Hull, Stewart, Hawthorne, Ferguson, Willis, Pedlow (Blevins 57m), Malone, S Doyle. Unused subs: N Doyle, Hylands.

Dergview: McCusker, Porter, Carlin, McCaskie (Mullen 45m), Gallagher, Burns (Sproule 73m), Arkinson (Lecky 55m), McManus, Walsh, Campbell, Cashel. Unused sub: Buchanan.

Boss Colin Malone made one change to his starting line-up from last week’s loss at the hands of league leaders Ballinamallard United as Chris Hull replaced makeshift central defender Paul Keenan.

The first period saw little fluent attacking play from either side; the visitors came close after 11 minutes when Ryan Marks driven free-kick from 25 yards was parried by goalkeeper Marc Robinson.

Loughgall tested Rangers ‘keeper Matt McGraw on 33 minutes when smart interchange between Dale Malone and Aaron Willis allowed the former to get a strike on target.

Glebe should have opened the scoring on 38 minutes when the alert Nigel Turner dispossessed Loughgall captain Steven Ferguson in midfield before racing through on goal. Turner ignored the option of passing inside to strike partner Tommy Elder in favour of going alone and he saw his shot well saved by ‘keeper Robinson.

The visitors did have the ball in the Loughgall goals following a sharp attack on the stroke of half-time however it was adjudged to be offside. Turner evaded an initial offside appeal to break through the home defence, bearing down on goal he was denied by a fantastic save by Robinson that sat up nicely for Elder to nod home from close range albeit from an offside position.

Loughgall put in a much improved performance in the second half, and even threatened to snatch the win after creating a few goalscoring chances. One of which came on 74 minutes when Stephen Doyle’s set-up for Jeff Brady saw the left-back blaze over from the edge of the penalty area.

A quick break with two minutes remaining saw Doyle play an incisive pass in for Ferguson, through on goal with ‘keeper McGraw outrushing, who couldn’t control the pass before Malone following-up was quickly closed down.

One minute later Glebe were reduced to ten men when Owen Moody, only on the field for 29 minutes as a substitute, was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge.

Nonetheless Rangers pressed for a late winner and received their rewards in the fourth minute of injury time as a corner delivery fell kindly for McCart, 15 yards from goal, to hit a great shot into the corner of the net.

Loughgall: Robinson, Hall, Brady, Stewart, Hull, Willis (Blevins 74), Hawthorne, Ferguson, Malone, S Doyle, Pedlow(Hylands 74m). Unused sub: N Doyle.
Glebe Rangers: McGraw, Forgrave, Morrison, Sheppard, Rice, McCart, Marks, Kennoway, Turner (Moody 60m), Elder, McAllister (Parkhill 70m). Unused sub: Tannahill.

The 2 – 1 triumph was Loughgall’s fourth successive league win and it sees them leapfrog both Ards and Newry City into second position in the Belfast Telegraph Championship 1, albeit with Newry having three games in hand.

Mark Teggart opened the scoring, in his last game for Loughgall before moving to Australia, in the first period and Greg Hall’s rifled goal on the hour mark put the Villagers in a commanding position. Ards managed to pull a goal back in stoppage time through Ross Arthurs but it was a case of too little too late.

Loughgall, again with a depleted defence – Alain Emerson continued in his unaccustomed left back spot and Paul Keenan started in central defence – had to weather an early storm as Ards started brightly however the Co Down side failed to test ‘keeper Marc Robinson in the early stages. On 8 minutes Nathan McConnell played a pass out to Craig McMillen who, from the edge of the penalty area, saw his shot deflected just over the crossbar by right back Greg Hall.

Loughgall threatened on 16 minutes when Keenan’s long pass over the visitors’ sluggish defence saw Stephen Doyle beat ‘keeper Graham McKibben to the ball before chipping it over him from the corner of the penalty area however it was cleared off the goal line.

The warning wasn’t heeded two minutes later when Dale Malone broke from the halfway line with options either side of him, the attacker slipped an incisive ball through to the left channel where Teggart was running onto and he finished confidently in off the crossbar.

In similar fashion to his Loughgall side’s playing style, Currie’s Ards outfit continually worked space on either flank before delivering dangerous crosses into the penalty area however the Loughgall defence stood firm throughout the entire first period. One of those crosses presented a chance on 41 minutes as McConnell connected with Arthurs’ delivery but his improvised effort was well saved by Robinson.

The hosts extended their advantage from a counter attack on the hour mark as ex-Ards forward Doyle controlled a clearance on the halfway line, he assessed his passing options before picking out Hall, racing down the right hand side of the pitch, who fired past ‘keeper McKibben inside his front post from the edge of the penalty area.

Ards looked to have be thrown a lifeline with 20 minutes remaining when Alain Emerson was curiously shown a red card for a sliding challenge on Mark Picking that both won the ball and couldn’t have been described as a lunge.

However the visitors man advantage was negated when they too were reduced to ten men just four minutes later as Sammy Devine was shown his second yellow card for a late challenge.

The Co Down side grabbed a late consolation when, in injury time, a whipped cross from the right flank wasn’t adequately cleared allowing Arthurs to volley home from close range.

Loughgall: Robinson, Hall, Stewart, Emerson, Willis, Hawthorne, Ferguson, Teggart (Pedlow 85m), Malone, S Doyle, Keenan. Unused subs: N Doyle, Kernaghan.
Ards: McKibben, D Cully, Pike, J Cully, Spence, Smith (McKee 66m), Devine, McMillen (Magee 66m), Picking, Arthurs, McConnell (Finlay 66m). Unused subs: Berry, McIlhagga.