Resurgent Scarva Rangers notch up second succesive win

Ballyoran 2

SCARVA Rangers secured a narrow 3-2 victory at home to Portadown side Ballyoran in their first fixture of 2014.

Wins this season have proved to be like Belfast busses for Rangers. Having searched in vain for four months before clinching their first league victory of the season, the village side has now registered back-to-back league wins.

The hosts had to show an iron will to ensure victory, picking themselves up after a two-goal lead was wiped out to successfully carve out a third and decisive goal.

Scarva opened the scoring when Greg Douglas crossed into the penalty area for Stephen Hendron to head emphatically past the keeper and into the net.

The village side tightened their grip on the game when they scored a second goal before the interval. A long kick out by Ritchie McGivern was headed over the top of the visiting defence by Greg Douglas and striker Dean McCammon fired the ball into the Ballyoran net. It was almost 3-0 prior to the half-time whistle but a Rod Douglas shot was cleared off the line.

A Ballyoran shot struck the Scarva post late in the first half. That proved a real signal of intent and the visitors scored twice in the second half, including a penalty, to level the match.

Back came Scarva though, restoring their lead when a Greg Douglas corner was headed powerfully into the net by his brother Rod.

A Neil Anderson headed goal was ruled out for offside and at the other end Ritchie McGivern produced a fantastic save at the feet of the Ballyoran forward to protect his side’s slender lead.

Scarva Rangers FC would like to thank the Grattan family for their generous sponsorship of Saturday’s match.