Orchard Farm 2-3 Castlederg United


Castlederg United continued their impressive start to life back in Division Two as they overcame Orchard Farm in Fivemiletown.

United recorded a 9-1 win over Lisnaskea Rovers on the opening weekend and they now sit top of the table with their game against Orchard Farm the only fixture in Division Two on the second week.

Dylan Russell continued his fine form in front of goal with an early brace with Adam Milligan’s goal just before the 30-minute mark proving decisive.

Castlederg manager Tristram Hannan was pleased to see his side pick up another win: “It was a well-deserved three points in the end. The first-half we started really well, we controlled the play early on.

"It was a game of two halves, we were really good in the first half, second half we needed to do better, we needed to come out and put the game to bed.

"But Farm gave us a better second half and we will have to learn how to kill teams off better when we are in a commanding position.

"We deserved the win and the three points and that's what counts.”

Castlederg were on the front foot early at the King George pitches on Saturday afternoon and they opened the scoring after 15 minutes.

James Harpur played the ball down the line for Milligan who lofted a ball into the back post and Russell was in the right place to tap home from close range.

Goalkeeper Dylan Nicholas denied Orchard Farm an early equaliser with a great fingertip save two minutes later and he reacted quickly to deny Brian McDermott from following in the rebound.

Russell played in Milligan who rounded the goalkeeper and was brought down with a penalty being awarded.

Russell slotted home the spot kick into the bottom left corner to make it 2-0. The goals kept coming for the away side as they made it 3-0 before the half-hour mark.

Lukaz Crozier beat his man on the wing and delivered a ball into the box that Milligan took down and finished into the bottom corner.

Orchard Farm came out stronger in the second half, but couldn’t grab an early goal as they had efforts saved by Nicholas and put wide.

Crozier and Milligan went close to a fourth United goal, but Farm eventually got back into it with just five minutes remaining as McDermott grabbed his third goal in two games.

Nicholas spilled a shot in injury time that Winston Moran followed up and poked into the net but it was too little too late with the visitors taking all three points.

Farm manager Shane O’Donnell acknowledged his side needed to be better in the opening 45 minutes: “We definitely didn't turn up in the first half, we had to change the line-up for the second half which worked.

"Their keeper got man of the match, we had so many chances in the second half, but pleasing enough, you live and learn.”