Amateur League: Wellington settle for a point

IT was honours even after a 1-1 draw at East Park last Saturday where Wellington Rec renewed acquaintances with former manager Tommy Leeman - now in charge of East Belfast. And while either side could have won it in a frantic final fling, in the end, a point a piece was probably just about right.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Dec 2012, 23:02 BST

Wellington manager Ciaran Kelly said his side lacked a “cutting edge”. “We were solid defensively but maybe sat back too much after taking the lead, we should have pushed on from there,” he told the Times.

Taking last week’s abandoned match with Derriaghy CC out of the equation, Saturday’s draw leaves the Millbrookers unbeaten in their last six; the last side to beat them ironically was East Belfast at Brookvale Park back in October.

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Rec forged ahead on 20 minutes when diminutive striker Josh McAllister soared high to meet an Aaron Black cross.

Cyril McCosh almost put distance between the two sides, but lost his footing and thus spooned the ball over the bar, having rounded two defenders.

Instead, it was Leeman’s men who drew level from the spot after Christopher Morton, diving in, brought a player down just inside the box.

There was little between the sides in the second session, until it livened up in a frantic finale. Wellington had a strong penalty claim turned down when the East keeper appeared to impede Dean Shaw inside the box, while Kieran Kane was unlucky to see his chip crash back off the bar.

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In stoppage time East would have matched that earlier 2-1 result back at Brookvale but for an outstanding double-save from Rec custodian Aaron Kerr.

Wellington Rec: Kerr – Cowie, Black, Keenan, Magill – Morton, McCosh, Kane, Z McAllister (Shaw) – Morrow (Houston), J McAllister.

Related topics:East Belfast