Tullyvallen 3 Scarva Rangers 4

The easy way is not the Scarva way.

The village side came perilously close to orchestrating their own downfall in their final fixture of the 2009/10 season.

They conceded two penalties in this high scoring clash in Newtownhamilton, contrived to miss two spot kicks of their own and for good measure had a man sent off early in the second half.

But there were spade loads of spirit in this performance by a side half made up of reserve team players and they brought the curtain down on a disappointing season with a victory that was as satisfying as it was well deserved.

Rangers made a disastrous start, conceding a penalty for handball in the opening two minutes.

Goalkeeper Gordon Magill produced a superb save but the ball rebounded to the spot taker’s feet and he scored at the second attempt.

The visitors had an early opportunity to level matters but Rod Douglas’s spot kick was saved by the Tullyvallen keeper.

Shortly afterwards slack marking allowed a Tullyvallen player too much time and space inside the Scarva penalty area and he doubled the home side’s lead.

It looked like the season was going to end in a whimper but Greg Douglas dragged his side back into the match with an audacious lob.

The visitors then won their second penalty of the game but this time Freddie McKelvey was thwarted by the Tullyvallen goalkeeper. It was Scarva’s tenth penalty miss of the season.

Scarva were playing up the slope in the second half but they made light of what was literally an uphill task.

Greg Douglas’s immaculate delivery from a free kick on the right was matched by a towering header from striker Alex Hammond that crashed under the crossbar and into the net.

Hammond was also involved in Scarva’s third goal, which gave the village side the lead for the first time. A Scarva corner was only half cleared and Wes Baird clipped the ball to the far post where Hammond headed it into the path of second team player manager Mo Brown, who coolly controlled the ball with his chest and swept it imperiously past the Tullyvallen keeper.

Tullyvallen were back on level terms after Scarva were penalised for a second time for a handball inside the area and the tide seemed to be turning back in the hosts’ direction.

But as the clock ticked down towards full time, Alex Hammond swivelled on the edge of the area, losing his marker and creating enough space to fire a clinical low shot that evaded the home keeper’s desperate dive.

This was an excellent team performance, with Mo Brown and Rod Douglas forming a rock solid defensive partnership and Alex Hammond’s brace proving the difference between winning and losing.

The Man of the Match award though goes to Greg Douglas. The home side simply couldn’t cope with his pace, energy and skill.