Loughgall 1 - 4 Tobermore United

League leaders Loughgall slumped to a disappointing defeat at the hands of a strong Tobermore United side.  The effective away side netted two in either half to frustrate Villagers boss Niall Currie and give extended hope to the chasing pack.

Niall Currie was forced to reshuffle his starting line up as Andy Smith was serving a suspension and Glenn Waddell picked up a knock during the midweek friendly against the Mid-Ulster select side.  In came Willie Herron and striker Paul Baron to the starting team as Lukasz Adamczyk dropped back into central midfield and Bryan Pentland returned to his normal left back position.

Loughgall started the game well and threatened with a number of long throws delivered by Noel Robinson, one of which Dean Smith headed just wide.  After 12 minutes Ryan Moffatts corner was just headed over by Lukasz Adamczyk at the back post.  Adamczyk nearly scored the opener on 19 minutes when Alan Murphy headed Moffatts corner across goal to the Pole however his effort was straight at ‘keeper Kyle Hassan.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play on 23 minutes when a delightful one touch passing move allowed Stephen Lamont to pick his spot beyond ‘keeper Marc Robinson.  One minute later Alan Murphy could have levelled however he saw his header from Moffatts set piece land just past the post.
With 10 minutes remaining in the first half Tobermore doubled their lead when Willie Herron’s poor backpass was intercepted.  Niall Cooke ran onto the ball before squaring it to allow Paul McLaughlin the easy task of sidefooting into the net.  A goal line clearance saved a certain Loughgall goal moments later when Baron beat ‘keeper Hassan with a looping header only for Steven McQuillan to excellently head over the crossbar.
5 minutes after the interval Baron controlled Adamczyk’s short pass before his left footed shot was well saved down to Hassan’s right.  The Villagers were pushing forward in order to grab a lifeline however were dealt a sucker punch in the 65th minute when Paul Owens reverse pass played in Cooke and his lay off from the byline found Lamont who converted from close range for his second goal of the game.
Just 1 minute later and the Villagers finally scored one of their many opportunities when Neil Alderdice’s floated ball into the penalty area was headed goalwards by Murphy and Dean Smith managed to get his outstretched foot onto the ball and it found it’s past the in-form ‘keeper Hassan.
Loughgall changed formation to 3-4-3 searching for more goals and it almost paid off in the 70th minute when substitute Marty Lavery’s cross was nearly headed in by Murphy however the defender’s effort was grasped in mid air by Hassan.  Herron chipped in a great pass into substitute Andy Brown’s feet and the tall striker did excellently to engineer a shooting chance however the half volley was straight at the ‘keeper.  The killer blow was delivered with 7 minutes left when a long ball from Michael Walsh was played into Cooke’s path and he superbly beat ‘keeper Robinson with a low drive to make it four.
The hosts continued to threaten from set pieces and Alan Murphy saw two headed efforts excellently saved by ‘keeper Hassan.

 

Loughgall: M Robinson, Alderdice (Brown 69m), Pentland, Peden, Murphy, Herron, Moffatt, Adamczyk, Baron, N Robinson (Lavery 54m), Smith.  Subs not used: O’Neill, Allen, Uprichard.

Tobermore United: Hassan, Walsh, McQuillan, Boyle, Kelly, Lamont, Owens, Cooke (McIvor 84m), McLaughlin, Crockett (Campbell 86m), Patisson.  Subs not used: McDaid.

Referee: Michael McLaughlin (Belfast)