IFA Championship Division 2

3rd December 2011

For this table topping encounter Queen’s were without the injured Paddy Donnelly, Phil and Paul Prenter were unavailable and with keeper Gerard Duff suspended Michael Hingston had his first start of the season. Robbie Budden and Tony Tumelty were back after injury.

Hingston was called into action as early as the first minute beating away a fierce volley from James Ferguson and moments later the Queens keeper did well with a double save from Stephen Park and Glenn Clarke. Coagh’s Johnny Yorke saved well from Aaron Keenan’s long range drive and soon after, the Coagh keeper was in action again tipping the ball over the bar when James Lavery twisted and turned in the box before unleashing a left foot shot.

The dead lock was broken on 31minutes. Aaron Thornton started the move with a long ball to Steven Park, he kept Scott McGeown on the run to cross for Clarke who back healed to the unmarked James Ferguson for the opener. Six Minutes later Coagh were two up after Park was bundled over in the box. Jason Gillespie converted the spot kick to give the home side a two goal half time lead.

Coagh were on top again after the break and Gillespie increased their lead when he broke clear on the right, dribbled the ball along the bye line and slipped it under Hingston on 66minutes. Four minutes later it was all over as Gillespie met Ferguson’s right wing cross at the near post and scored with a glancing header for his hat trick. Queen’s came into the game in the final ten minutes and Connor Mulholland hit the upright but Coagh stay top with a well deserved win. Away to the team top of the table is always a difficult game and so it proved. Overall this was a disappointing performance but despite two defeats we are still in second place in a league in which every team seems able to win (or lose) on the day.

Coagh:
J. Yorke, S. McGeown, J. Ferguson, D. Calderwood, B. Anderson, S. Park, A. Thornton, C. Donaldson, J. Gillespie, M. Dallas, G. Clarke

Subs: N. McGinn, A. Quinn, J. Diamond

Queen's:
M. Hingston, D. Tumilty, R. Budden, S. Harper, M. McManus, M. Allison, T. Tumelty, A. Keenan, P. McDonald, C. Mulholland, J. Lavery

Subs: S. Quinn, C. Simpson, R. Murphy, E. Donnelly, P. Mallett