Amateurs bow out of the Border Cup

But despite this being registered as another defeat, the Amateurs can take some encouragement from the fact they gave their opponents – who ply their trade a division above Dromore in 1B – a real tough game.

The visitors took the lead on 35 minutes when Dromore goalkeeper Neil Beggs made a great save from a close range shot but the rebound was knocked in.

The Amateurs conceded a second right on the half-time whistle when they failed to clear their lines properly - this presented an opportunity to a Bloomfield winger who made no mistake.

In the second half, with a stiff wind at their backs, Dromore piled on the pressure and they reduced the deficit when Simon Henderson’s looping cross ended up in the back of the net.

The Amateurs pressed hard to find an equaliser but couldn’t quite create a clear opportunity.

Bloomfield rarely threatened at other end - but when they did Beggs, who kept a fine goal, was equal to the task.

Team: N Beggs, K Walsh, A McDonald, R McCartan, R Downey, N Allen, W McMurray, S Haslem, M MaGiness, S Henderson, W Coulter. Subs: C Harper, M Hunt.

The Amateurs must focus their efforts again on cup competition this weekend – and what a challenge lies in store when they make the short trip out the Lurgan Road to take on Dollingstown in the first round of the Bob Radcliffe Cup.

Dromore Amateurs Seconds 4 Kelvin OB Seconds 5 - Nine goals. Two contentious penalty kicks. One very dramatic opening game of the season.

Dromore Amateurs finally got their league campaign under way on Saturday at the Community Centre – and what a thriller this match turned out to be.

Ronnie McMurray’s team – promoted from 3F to 3E following their sixth place finish last season – threw caution to the wind with some adventurous forward play, but some slack defending proved their ultimate downfall.

The pendulum swung in favour of one team, then the other – Kelvin led 1-0 thanks to a fortuitous spotkick decision, the Amateurs blasted back to lead 2-1, before Kelvin hit a double to make it 3-2 at the break.

Another contested penalty gave Kelvin a 4-2 lead in the second half, then Dromore mounted a great comeback to get level at 4-4 – but Kelvin had the final say, scoring the ninth goal of a pulsating game to win 5-4.

Philip Smith and Aaron Noble struck up an exciting partnership in attack for Dromore - their pace and quick feet made them a constant danger and they scored two fantastic goals apiece.

Dromore can count themselves unlucky not to have garnered at least a point from this contest – but they’ll need to stop leaking goals if they want to pick up points and make an impression in this league.

This week, the Seconds are home at Ferris Park to St Oliver Plunkett’s. Kick-of 2pm.

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