Derby win for Thistle in George Best League game

Thistle, pushing for league honours, and Dromore sitting mid-table promised to be a feisty affair and it didn’t let the large crowd down.

Dromore started the brighter and had the Thistle defence of Scott, Stewart, Woods and McMillan scampering to clear but the Banbridge outfit soon settled and got a grip on the game, looking dangerous on the break with Carroll and McCavitt both going close. Russell thought he had opened the scoring on 15 minutes but to his dismay his celebration was cut short as the off-side flag had been raised.

The hard pitch was creating the high bounce of the ball and was catching players out and giving them less time to control the balll without being closed down as a lot of nearly chances were being snuffed out, but from one such high ball played into the Dromore box, the defender hesitated, thinking the keeper would come to collect, and in nipped quick thinking Cairns to round the keeper and open the scoring on 24 minutes.

It was soon 2-0 as four minutes later as again a ball allowed to bounce in the box caused havoc and this time it was striker Carroll who prodded home to send Thistle into the break well in control.

As the second half took shape Thistle were trying to kill the game of pushing hard for the third goal but it was Dromore, with a swift bit of wing play which resulted in a cross, met by the on-rushing striker, who made no mistake to put his team back in the game.

The goal lifted Dromore who had a good attacking five minute spell but for their entire endeavour the Thistle keeper remained un worked.

Again Thistle asserted themselves on the match and with slick passing created a series of pressure producing corners and free kicks but the Dromore defence stood firm.

In the closing five minutes Thistle had well struck efforts on goal from Carroll, McCavitt and Moore but two one was to be the final score, a result that keeps Iveagh Thistle’s league ambitions on track as the season enters the critical stage.

Team: Lewis Hunter, Ryan Woods, Ben Scott, Sam Stewart, Lewis McMillan, Jack Moore, Michael McCavitt, Ryan Gallagher, Bailie Russell, Josh Cairns, Adam Carroll, Lennon Wilson.