Castlederg United 9-1 Lisnaskea Rovers


Castlederg United put nine goals past Lisnaskea Rovers at the weekend as they made an empathic start in Division Two.

United suffered relegation last season but made their intention clear from the start on Saturday as they ruthlessly tore apart a depleted Lisnaskea Rovers side who will still be expecting to get back a number of players once the GAA club season concludes.

Dylan Russell netted four goals alongside a brace from Adam Milligan.

Castlederg manager Tristram Hannan was happy to start with a win in their opening fixture.

“It’s always good to kick off the season with a win,” he said.

"We should have had a couple more goals probably, but good for some young lads to play.

"All in all, played some good football, should have scored another few but their keeper had a good enough game but happy enough with the result.”

United started on the front foot at the Castlederg High School grass pitches as Jay Hannan and Dylan Russell had early efforts but they were denied by Lisnaskea’s goalkeeper with some impressive stops.

However, they eventually broke the deadlock when Harry Mills swung a corner into the front post and it came off a Rovers defender as he sliced the ball into the net at the near post, on 16 minutes.

After some good build-up play, Lukas Crozier lifted his head and slipped Milligan in behind the Rovers' defence and he stayed calm to finish for 2-0.

The away side did hit back a few moments later when Niall Keenan made it 2-1, although the two-goal lead was quickly restored when James Harper curled a cross, from the right wing, into the box and Milligan took one touch to create a yard and slotted the ball into the far bottom corner.

Milligan was then fouled in the penalty area five minutes before halftime as Russell stepped up to bag his first of the day to see his side take a 4-1 lead in at halftime.

The hosts scored four goals in the opening seven minutes of the second half with Harpur adding the fifth goal of the game.

Mills sent another corner into the box and it travelled all the way to the back post as Harpur guided it home.

Russell then scored three goals in a row as he displayed his one-on-one skills each time to make room and find the bottom-corner finishes for all three in a scintillating few moments of action.

Jamie Logue got the better of his man to storm into the box before being taken down as he was about to get his shot off.

Lukas Crozier buried the spot kick into the bottom corner to conclude Saturday’s scoring.

Castlederg went close to more goals with few chances coming for Lisnaskea at the other end.

Crozier and Jay Hannan both hit the crossbar with strikes from range. Castlederg used the final 25 minutes to give debuts to 16-year-old Sam Hannan and 17-year-old Shane Maguire to cap off a perfect afternoon for Hannan’s side as they play Orchard Farm this coming weekend while Rovers play Newtownstewart United.