SCARVA RANGERS RESERVES 2 LURGAN UNITED RESERVES 3

If points were doled out for effort and endeavour then Scarva Rangers Reserves would not have ended this league clash empty handed.

 

Despite a spirited display they narrowly lost out to a useful Lurgan United Reserves side.

 

The Lurgan outfit, whose first team fixture had been postponed, dominated the first half, with the hosts mainly confined to defensive duties.

 

United made their attacking pressure pay with a long range strike to take the lead.

 

Scarva’s best attacking moment was a dangerous Mark Gracey shot the visiting keeper pushed to safety.

 

The home side carried a greater threat after the interval and Gracey was the supplier for their equalising goal.

 

He picked out midfielder Mo Brown with a raking diagonal cross from the right and the Scarva player manager showed courage and determination to beat the keeper with a header and then get his head to the ball for a second time to send it over the line.

 

United restored their advantage with a fine counter attacking move but Scarva pegged them back again, David William McCabe producing a magnificent close range volley that screeched into the net after Danny Cullen’s terrific corner caused havoc in the visiting defence.

 

Wayne Dodds had made a series of crucial saves to keep his side in the game but he could do nothing about a low shot that crept inside his post to put Lurgan United Reserves 3-2 ahead.

 

Nathan Dodds unleashed a low powerful strike in the dying minutes that was destined for the bottom corner of the United net until it was blocked close to the goal line.

 

Best for Scarva Rangers Reserves were Matty Anderson, who had an impressive game at the heart of the defence, and Mo Brown in midfield.