Killen Rangers 3-1 Lisbellaw

Lisbellaw’s run of three consecutive victories came to an end with a 3-1 defeat to in-form Killen Rangers.  

Lisbellaw took an early lead with a Richard Woods goal, but Rangers hit back with a brace from Sam McKelvey and a Dylan Crawford strike giving them their sixth consecutive win. 

Lisbellaw manager Kyle McCleery admitted his team were second best on the day as Killen dominated the second half. 

“Overall, it was a poor performance from us,” he admitted.  

“I thought we looked a bit flat. We have been going well over the last couple of weeks, and I don’t know what it was, but we just didn’t really turn up on Saturday.  

"We went ahead with a really good goal and I thought that might have sparked us into life, but it didn’t really, although we did have a couple of chances to go 2-0 up which might have flipped the game for us.  

"It was a bit of a frantic first half and we created a few chances, but the second half was pretty much one-way traffic.  

"They grew into the game the more it went on and we weren’t really at it. We hadn’t got going and they made us pay for it in the second half.

"If we had been able to go two nil up the first half then who knows, but I do believe we weren’t at the races and it is a performance we will have to bounce back from quickly.” 

Lisbellaw took the lead with seven minutes gone when a Paul McGrath flick-on set Scott Moutray away down the left wing, and his low cross was tapped in at the back post by Woods.  

Craig Johnston came close to doubling the lead when he intercepted Graham Young’s pass, but he could not generate enough power on his shot to force the ball past Killen goalkeeper Alan Buchanan.

Paul McGrath also had a shot saved by Buchanan, but Killen were looking increasingly threatening and Gary McGuigan had an effort saved by Josh Brownlee before they drew level after 19 minutes.

Nathan Graham conceded a free kick on Killen’s right flank.  

Young’s cross was met by McKelvey, and his looping header found the net. Woods spurned a good chance to restore Lisbellaw’s advantage just before halftime, and Killen took advantage ten minutes into the second period.

Lisbellaw conceded possession from a throw-in on the halfway line and Gary McGuigan’s pass allowed Crawford to run in behind the defence and slot past Brownlee.  

Seven minutes later McKelvey bent a shot from the left side of the penalty area into the top corner of the net to give them a two-goal cushion.

Young then had an effort just wide and Richard Clarke almost lobbed Brownlee from long range, but despite not adding to their lead Killen comfortably held on to move to within three points of the league leaders.