Fifths victorious in must-win match to earn their first win since Halloween

Mossley 5ths 0

Having not won since Halloween, South Fifths welcomed Mossley Fifths to Wallace High School.

With Mossley sitting four points above South prior to hit off, this was a must win match.

Playing an attacking formation and starting off with a full press, South took the game by the scruff of the neck and pinned Mossley into their own half.

With a much improved effort over recent weeks and playing more flowing hockey, South soon took the lead with a Nathan Donald reverse strike.

Adam Pyper’s blistering pace was causing the Mossley defence all sorts of problems throughout the half and 20 minutes in, he found McElhinney on the flick spot whose lighting reflexes saw him turn and blast the ball into the roof of the net.

South could have been more up by half time but the Mossley keeper was in fine form, denying first Pyper and then Donald from clear cut opportunities.

With two minutes until half time, Mossley won a short corner.

With the ball beating Hutchinson in nets after a straight strike and heading for the goal, Trevor Wallace was on hand to calmly turn the ball around the post.

The second half followed much of the same pattern as the first, with South pressing high and the defensive line of Davidson, Moore and Kay stopping any counterattack.

Chances came but again the Mossley keeper was on hand to deal with them.

The match finished 2-0 to South Antrim.