Unbeaten run goes in for the Whites

And indeed it was the Whites who got off to a flier on this occasion as only two minutes in and it was one-nil to Distillery as William Bingham’s whipped in cross found the head of Sean Southam to head into the net.

A great start then for the Whites and manager Tommy Kincaid, however this lead didn’t last long as after only 11 minutes the towering Richard Leckey found the net after an Aaron Arkinson cross.

Doubtless this goal will have disappointed the Whites manager, however, it was always going to be difficult to defend against the visitor’s considerable height advantage.

Darren Nixon then prevented the boys from Castlederg going ahead when Nathan Cashel picked the ball and drove it towards goal only for the experienced defender to make a superb tackle at the death.

By this stage Dergview were starting to take advantage of the elements as the strong wind battered around the ground however it was the home side who had the next big chance as Peter Sargent whipped in a threatening free kick which was somehow headed clear by Phillip Wallace.

Bingham then picked the ball up in his own half resulting in a superb counter attack that the visitors could not deal with the ball falling to Ryan Corrigan who sliced his shot wide.

Dergview then had a good chance as Whites ‘keeper Ryan McBride then made a wonder save to deny the visitors as Darren Higinbottoms powerful effort was well held by the keeper with Lecky on hand to tap home any rebound.

The game then became a little feisty after this and Dergview were reduced to ten men as Gareth Faulkner went in heavy on Stephen Doyle and received a second yellow card.

For the second time in a few weeks at New Grosvenor the referee seemed unaware of this fact only for the linesman to point out that the player had already received a yellow card. More drama was to follow shortly afterwards when Dergview player manager Richard Clarke was sent to the stands for dissent.

The Whites were quick to try to press home the extra man advantage as on forty minutes Sean Southam took a heavy touch when well placed this allowing Colin Robinson to make a last ditch tackle.

Tommy Kincaid’s words at the break must have taken effect on his players as they flew out of the blocks in the second period and were unlucky not to score when Doyle cut inside to fire wide of the upright.

Jimmy Mcilhagga then nearly did find the net as his cross nearly swirled into the top corner of the net and as Distillery started to take control of midfield Corrigan teed himself up but fired over the crossbar.

This proved to be the young midfielders last action as he was replaced by Joe McDonnell, however it was Dergview who had the next chance when a whipped in free-kick was well headed away by Nixon.

The visitors ‘keeper Jack Boggs then made a superb save to deny Southam as he smashed his shot low and hard only for a fine reaction save by the keeper, however, the Whites pressed and pressed but just could not stick the ball in the net the next chance falling to McIlhagga who headed the ball down to Southam only for Boggs to gather.

Despite the Whites pressing hard against the ten men for a winner credit has to go to Dergview who dug deep and refused to let them through and indeed the visitors had a big chance to win the game when Richard Leckey’s “Hatem Ben Arfa” like run saw him beat the defence only for his shot to hit the side netting.

After this Ryan McBride came to the home sides rescue again as a horrible mistake by Nixon saw Adam Lecky run through only for the keeper to race out and make a superb block.

A draw in the end then and doubtless with having to play for ten men for almost an hour it will be the visitors who will have gone home the happier but for the Whites a fifth game unbeaten and they now move with confidence into next week’s testing encounter against HWE Welders.

LDFC team v Dergview: McBride, Thompson, Sargent, Burns, Nixon, Kopyt, Bingham, McIlhagga, Doyle, Southam, Corrigan

Subs: McDonnell (for Corrigan), Kirgan (for Kopyt), Wilson, Morton.