SCARVA RANGERS RESERVES 4 RICHHILL RESERVES 2

A COMBINATION of the fixture schedule and the winter weather conspired to ensure Scarva’s reserve side went seven weeks without a home game.

 

It was good to be back.

 

Mo Brown’s side left Scarva Park at the end of Saturday afternoon with three welcome points in the bag but the contest was far more even than the final score line suggests.

 

The hosts started brightly and capitalised on this encouraging early spell when a fine through ball from Nathan Dodds was coolly slotted home by Stephen McNeill.

 

Only some superb saves from the visiting keeper prevented Scarva Rangers Reserves adding to this slender cushion but at the other end Wayne Dodds had to tip the ball from under his crossbar to ensure his side went into the half time interval with their single goal lead intact.

 

Nathan Dodds turned from supplier to executioner early in the second half when Alex Hammond fed Stephen McNeill and the midfielder’s dangerous low cross was fired home by Dodds.

 

But Scarva had squandered the lead in their away fixture against Donacloney Reserves the week before and they managed to do the same against Richhill.

 

The visitors hit back twice to level the match and had a gilt edged opportunity to take the lead but blazed the ball over from close range.

 

The afternoon was threatening to turn sour for the hosts but they showed character and commitment, which was rewarded when Gary Chambers, brought on at the start of the second half, conjured up a clinical finish to restore his side’s advantage after Hammond’s initial shot was blocked.

 

An intelligent cross from David McCabe picked out Stephen McNeill at the back post and he drilled the ball confidently into the net to end Richhill’s dogged resistance.

 

Best for Scarva Rangers Reserves was right midfielder Stephen McNeill and the other noteworthy performers were central defenders Brown and Jordan.