Lisbellaw United 2 Killen Rangers 1

Lisbellaw continued their good run of form as they came from a goal behind to defeat Killen Rangers thanks to strikes from Matthew Woods and Jamie Coalter. The victory makes it four wins from their last six games, but Manager Kyle McCleery admitted the result could have swung either way.

“I was very happy to get the win after going 1-0 down,” he said.

“It was a really close game, as it always is between us and Killen. I would have to say they were a better side in the first half. They were sharp and slick, and quick at moving the ball forward, and our backs were against the wall, but we defended well when we had to.

“After they took the lead we were the better team. We regrouped and rolled our sleeves up, and our reaction to going behind was very encouraging. We raised the quality and the tempo of our play, and we were the ones pushing forward. We had a lot of possession and were looking a lot more threatening.

“Killen are a very good outfit and I was really impressed by them, so I’m delighted to come away with the win.”

Killen started the game on the front foot and pinned Lisbellaw back, but their sustained period of pressure did not yield a goal. A succession of corners were well defended by the home team, and when they did manufacture a clear sight of goal after a save from Sam McDonald, Gerard Duddy could only direct his shot onto the post with the goal gaping.

Lisbellaw were presented with an opportunity when Robbie Little pounced on a weak back pass, but despite getting to the ball ahead of Barbour, the goalkeeper was able to get a foot to the shot and deflect it past the post.

As the half progressed Lisbellaw looked increasingly threatening, and just before the break Lewis Vance burst forward from left back before he was upended at the edge of the penalty area.

Little stepped up to take the free kick, but his effort crashed off the crossbar.

Ten minutes into the second half Killen opened the scoring when a free kick into the back post was headed back across the keeper and into the net by Darren Long.

The goal sparked Lisbellaw into life and they were level within 12 minutes when Matthew Woods headed in Paul Elliott’s corner.

It looked as though the game was destined for a draw, but three minutes from time Lisbellaw found a winner.

Substitute Richard Woods was fouled on the right wing, and Coalter got on the end of Sam Lindsay’s cross to side foot in the winner.