Victory proves elusive but draw sees seconds pick up first point in four games

Raphoe 2nd XI 3

South Antrim picked up their first point in four games when they drew with Raphoe Second XI at Friends’ School on Saturday.

In a similar vein to last week’s game, South began the match brightly but they found it difficult to break down the resolute and determined defence of the Donegal visitors.

After the heavy defeat suffered out west earlier this season the Lisburn men were keen to right some wrongs.

However, it was to be Raphoe who took the lead after a forward slipped the ball past Hutchinson with their opening attack.

With Darren Hutchinson and Wilson in attack, aided and abetted by Hamilton and McCandless, South put the away defence under serious pressure but they couldn’t manage to get the necessary breakthrough before the interval.

The second half of the game was to prove a little more fast paced.

South first drew even by way of an own goal, this after a Raphoe defender inadvertently put a Chris Redpath cross into his own net.

Unfortunately for the Lisburn men though, Raphoe went straight up to the other end and regained the lead after a cross from the left was finished from close range.

South equalized again via a short corner second-phase move through Chris Redpath who finished with a reverse stick shot.

In the closing stages the away side again took the lead.

A lapse in concentration allowed a Raphoe forward to convert after being he was left free in the circle following a free hit.

South still had enough left in the tank for another equalizer.

Chris Redpath levelled the scores with his second goal but South just couldn’t force the winner despite applying pressure towards the end of the game.

South Seconds have been playing really well in recent weeks.

That being the case, and despite their lowly league position, the Seconds can be considered to have some very winnable games coming up.

With a combined effort and the benefit of consistency they should now be looking to pull away from the relegation zone.

Thanks go to George Redpath and Gordon McCandless for umpiring. Also to South’s Sponsor of the Month, McMinn School of Motoring.