Haslem grabs a hat-trick as Dromore Amateurs win six-pointer with Iveagh

The game started with Iveagh on top and Dromore unable to get close to the their players.

Every first, second and even third ball was being picked up by an Iveagh player and an early chance went past the Dromore post.

With 20 minutes gone Iveagh made the break through when a shot from outside the box hit the cross bar, and the Iveagh striker was first to react to slide the ball into the back of the net.

This inspired Dromore into action and they started to get the ball moving on the 3g surface.

On 30 minutes Martin broke clear but was brought down, with the referee giving a free kick on the edge of the box and a yellow card to the Iveagh player.

Dromore got back on level terms with 10 minutes left of the first half when good work by McMurray and Martin saw McMurray cross the ball into the box where Haslem headed past the Iveagh goalkeeper.

The rest of the half saw Dromore push for a second but it was 1-1 at half time.

The second half started with Dromore on the push from the off and it only took five minutes before both they and Haslem got their second when great inter play in midfield saw Haslem released and he calmly slotted past the on rushing goalkeeper.

Dromore were on top at this stage and a few free kicks into the box by Fletcher weren’t taken by the Dromore attackers. Iveagh hit Dromore on the break and the striker cool rounded Coady in nets to level the score at 2-2.

The equaliser was tough to take but the players picked themselves up and pushed for another goal and this duly arrived when a cross into the box was tucked away by Martin.

In the final minutes Dromore got their fourth and Haslem his third from the penalty spot after great closing down by Downey resulted in the goalkeeper taking Downey out in the follow up. The goalkeeper got a yellow card but talked himself into a red. The game finished 4-2 in Dromore’s favour.

Afterwards manager Brownlee commented: “This was a great performance which has been in the making after the last few matches.

“Today was about getting the three points to reel in Iveagh and hopefully we can now push on in the remaining games and pick up more points. The squad is finally coming together with competition for places on the up.”

Saturday 5th March sees Dromore Amateurs host Dunmurry YM at Ferris Park with a 2pm ko.

AMATEURS: R.Coady, R.Walker, W.McMurray, T.Martin, A.Mcdonald, P.Tinsley, J.Beattie, G.Flecther, S.Haslem, S.Downey, B.Martin, W.McCutchen, C.Mallon, D.Maguire.