Henderson kept the same team that beat Portadown last week. The mood was good around Planters Park and the players looked in good spirits during their warm-up led by Duncan Ferguson. Tommy Smyth was in the team after scoring his first Dollingstown goal against Portadown and a man of the match performance to excite the supporters ahead of kick-off. Smyth didn't disappoint and every time the 17 year old was on the ball it looked like something was going to happen, he was physical and shrugged players off like they wasn't there. He took the ball down on the edge of the box with his back to goal on 30 minutes and then played in Morgan with a nice pass who hit a shot from the edge of the box and the keeper couldn't keep it out! 1-0 to the Dollybirds! Nicky Quinn was disappointed not to double the lead on 39 minutes when he hit the post from Morgan's low ball into the box. Coleraine were the brighter team in the second half and they pushed Dollingstown back, Whelan pulled off a great fingertip save to keep the score at 1-0. Johnny McGurgan replaced Kurtis Kane with just over ten minutes to go. Tommy Smyth received a standing ovation when his number was read out to be replaced by Luke Kemp. David Kee took the free-kick short on 84 minutes, he passed it to McGurgan who was closed down so he played it back to McKenna, McKenna dallied on the ball and lost out to Cooney who came forward, played in Murphy to his right and he drove the shot low into the bottom corner across the keeper to equalise. The game rose to a new level in stoppage time and the intensity was there from both teams, Kee found Morgan inside the area, the crowd urged him to shoot and he passed it to Kemp who tried the shot but the defence got the ball clear down the right for Murphy to chase, Mulholland tried to match his pace and put in a tackle at the byline that got him a yellow card but tempers flared between both teams. McGurgan and Kee were in there to calm things down but Murphy was furious with the challenge. Watson took the resulting free-kick and Mark Kelly was at the far post to tap in the winner! Coleraine came from behind to potentially win this match! It's a blow to Dollingstown but you could see the goals were coming which saw them lose this match. Why didn't Henderson tighten up the midfield?
EH: Things went well for large parts of the match and we were unlucky not to be 2-0 up. I made the decision to bring Johnny on and put Luke Kemp in the attacking role to try and hit Coleraine on the counter, the plan didn't work out but we were competitive throughout. It's a blow to lose in stoppage time like we did and we need to be switched on at all times. Tommy was brilliant again today and played a mature game, he is young and we need to protect him.
PLAYER RATINGS
Ballmena United vs Dollingstown
27th February 2038
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There was no changes from the previous game as both teams prepared for the last match before the league split. A win for Dollingstown would see them overtake Ballymena and take 10th spot in the division. Dollingstown worked the ball well in the opposition half early on but were unable to break down the defence. Kane played it to McKenna and he got it wide into space for Quinn, he switched the play to Morgan and the ball was put into the six yard box for Quinn to finish and get his 10th of the season! This new look Dollingstown take the lead once again! It was good football from Dollingstown and David Kee was unlucky from the free-kick which hit the crossbar. The weather changed and the sun came out for the second half. Sean Sheridan was having a quiet game in attack and was replaced by Jimmy Boyd on 69 minutes. David Kee aimed the free-kick towards the back post but it was headed away, Smyth put his foot through the ball and it came off the foot of Wilson who put it into his own net! That one will go down as an own goal but it's 2-0 to Dollingstown! The Dollybirds are winning the fight against relegation! It's been a poor day for Ballymena as they go into the relegation play-off place and Dollingstown move into 10th!
EH: It's a fantastic result for us and one we deserved. We've now got five games against the bottom half of the table to secure our safety for another season in the top flight. It's been a difficult season and a tough rebuild, look at where this club came from and you can see already how much stronger we are. The hard work will continue and it's great to have a chairman who shares our ambition to take this club forward.
PLAYER RATINGS
LEAGUE SPLIT
LEAGUE TABLE
FINAL FIXTURES
With a month gap between fixtures, Henderson wants his side to play a friendly to keep fitness levels up and to avoid losing that momentum going into the last five matches.
Henderson kept the same team that beat Portadown last week. The mood was good around Planters Park and the players looked in good spirits during their warm-up led by Duncan Ferguson. Tommy Smyth was in the team after scoring his first Dollingstown goal against Portadown and a man of the match performance to excite the supporters ahead of kick-off. Smyth didn't disappoint and every time the 17 year old was on the ball it looked like something was going to happen, he was physical and shrugged players off like they wasn't there. He took the ball down on the edge of the box with his back to goal on 30 minutes and then played in Morgan with a nice pass who hit a shot from the edge of the box and the keeper couldn't keep it out! 1-0 to the Dollybirds! Nicky Quinn was disappointed not to double the lead on 39 minutes when he hit the post from Morgan's low ball into the box. Coleraine were the brighter team in the second half and they pushed Dollingstown back, Whelan pulled off a great fingertip save to keep the score at 1-0. Johnny McGurgan replaced Kurtis Kane with just over ten minutes to go. Tommy Smyth received a standing ovation when his number was read out to be replaced by Luke Kemp. David Kee took the free-kick short on 84 minutes, he passed it to McGurgan who was closed down so he played it back to McKenna, McKenna dallied on the ball and lost out to Cooney who came forward, played in Murphy to his right and he drove the shot low into the bottom corner across the keeper to equalise. The game rose to a new level in stoppage time and the intensity was there from both teams, Kee found Morgan inside the area, the crowd urged him to shoot and he passed it to Kemp who tried the shot but the defence got the ball clear down the right for Murphy to chase, Mulholland tried to match his pace and put in a tackle at the byline that got him a yellow card but tempers flared between both teams. McGurgan and Kee were in there to calm things down but Murphy was furious with the challenge. Watson took the resulting free-kick and Mark Kelly was at the far post to tap in the winner! Coleraine came from behind to potentially win this match! It's a blow to Dollingstown but you could see the goals were coming which saw them lose this match. Why didn't Henderson tighten up the midfield?
EH: Things went well for large parts of the match and we were unlucky not to be 2-0 up. I made the decision to bring Johnny on and put Luke Kemp in the attacking role to try and hit Coleraine on the counter, the plan didn't work out but we were competitive throughout. It's a blow to lose in stoppage time like we did and we need to be switched on at all times. Tommy was brilliant again today and played a mature game, he is young and we need to protect him.
There was no changes from the previous game as both teams prepared for the last match before the league split. A win for Dollingstown would see them overtake Ballymena and take 10th spot in the division. Dollingstown worked the ball well in the opposition half early on but were unable to break down the defence. Kane played it to McKenna and he got it wide into space for Quinn, he switched the play to Morgan and the ball was put into the six yard box for Quinn to finish and get his 10th of the season! This new look Dollingstown take the lead once again! It was good football from Dollingstown and David Kee was unlucky from the free-kick which hit the crossbar. The weather changed and the sun came out for the second half. Sean Sheridan was having a quiet game in attack and was replaced by Jimmy Boyd on 69 minutes. David Kee aimed the free-kick towards the back post but it was headed away, Smyth put his foot through the ball and it came off the foot of Wilson who put it into his own net! That one will go down as an own goal but it's 2-0 to Dollingstown! The Dollybirds are winning the fight against relegation! It's been a poor day for Ballymena as they go into the relegation play-off place and Dollingstown move into 10th!
EH: It's a fantastic result for us and one we deserved. We've now got five games against the bottom half of the table to secure our safety for another season in the top flight. It's been a difficult season and a tough rebuild, look at where this club came from and you can see already how much stronger we are. The hard work will continue and it's great to have a chairman who shares our ambition to take this club forward.
With a month gap between fixtures, Henderson wants his side to play a friendly to keep fitness levels up and to avoid losing that momentum going into the last five matches.
Dollingstown vs Institute
Northern Irish Cup Quarter Final
6th March 2038
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You can't beat a cup atmosphere at Planters Park as the community pull together on such special occasions in Dollingstown. Institute are eight points clear at the top of the Bluefin Sport Championship and made it to the semi-finals of the Bet McLean Cup. Manager Malcolm Powell remembers Euan Henderson well from his playing days at Wycombe Wanderers and Swindon Town stating he was by far the best left winger at that time. His managerial career was still taking shape and he took on one of the hardest jobs in Northern Ireland but performances in the second half of the season has seen Dollingstown climb from the bottom and put themselves within a good chance of survival. Henderson said the cup is a bonus and that the focus is on the league but to be in the last eight was great for the club and he wants to take them further. The new January signings were ineligible, so Mackle returned in goal, Kee and McGurgan partnered in the middle with O'Shea and Young on the flanks. Boyd and Reilly started as the two Centre Forwards. It will be a tough test for Dollingstown with Institute winning all of their last nine matches. The atmosphere was vibrant as the teams walked onto the pitch and Henderson shared a moment with Powell on the touchline. Dollingstown needed to get tighter, but Mitchell played the ball wide to McMullan and he had the space to put the ball into the box, McKenna slid in to knock it back to Mackle but Rainey got in there and put it over the line to make it 1-0. Frustration continued when the ball fell to Kee on the edge of the box and he hesitated on the shot. Institute got the ball back and exploited Dollingstown in wide areas, Kee was weak in the challenge and Keane set up Delaney who hit a hopeful shot that beat Mackle on 20 minutes. Young's corner was cleared away and Kee knocked it to McGurgan, he had a crack from 20 yards and the keeper done well to turn it away. Four minutes into the second half, Reilly played in Boyd and with only the keeper to beat he blazed it over the bar. Michael Coyle came on for Ryan Reilly in the last 30 minutes. It was an awful day in front of goal for Jimmy Boyd who failed to test the keeper. Dollingstown were poor for large parts of the game and it showed they need further reinforcements next season.
DF: It was a difficult outing and we allowed our opposition to get the ball down and play in key areas. We tried some long balls forward to our forwards who done the hard part but just couldn't put them away. There's a break now and we get back to league action, the players will have a short rest and then we go back to training ready for the end of the season.
lol I’d been waiting years to play them to drop that one. Looking forward to playing Metty Rollocks Rovers next year. Got a good one lined up for that match.
It's exciting to see young players giving a go with the first team. This season we have seen Duncan Herron, Barry Ewart, Luke Kemp, Luke Walker and new signing Tommy Smyth all play for the club at the tender age of 16 and 17 but it must be a special moment in a players life when he is taken on trial at the club at 16 for the academy but show something special that he is given the go ahead to start training with the first team. Paul Dunne is a Central Defender who showed so much promise and potential in the youth intake that a call was made to Henderson and Ferguson about how good the defender actually is. Needless to say he bossed the trial and was awarded a youth contract with the club but he has an even greater chance to make his first team debut against Glentoran in two weeks time. "Paul has an arrogance about him, but he is not cocky with it. He is very sure of himself and his ability and he stands out in all the right ways." Said Fitness Coach Danny Richardson. "He's tall but slim and we are working with him on how to improve off the ball and his awareness. He shows maturity for a Centre Half and looks for the right option." It's another talent for Dollingstown who seem to be building a squad that can compete for years to come.
Glentoran vs Dollingstown
3rd April 2038
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League action returned after the split and Henderson said his team have been preparing for the final five games. There were no fresh injury concerns which was good news for Dollingstown and it allowed Henderson to pick his best eleven. Morgan, Quinn, Smyth and Sheridan were playing in attack with support in midfield from Kane and McGurgan. Youngster Paul Dunne made the bench. It was still 0-0 in Glentoran when Ballymena put their third goal past Portadown in on 31 minutes, dropping Dollingstown into the relegation play-off place but as Tommy Smyth played a clever ball to Morgan and his shot was deflected, Nicky Quinn was onside and slotted it past the keeper to make it 1-0! Glentoran were knocking on the door but were struggling to get their shots on target. Nicky Quinn was fouled outside the Glentoran box and got up to take the free-kick, he managed to squeeze it into the bottom corner beating the outstretched keeper and making it 2-0 on 62 minutes! Two minutes later Quinn sent the ball into the box but it was headed away, Tommy Smyth took it down and volleyed it right into the top corner! What a strike! Jake Whelan pumped the ball forward from the goal kick and Sean Sheridan got on to it, he took the shot on the bounce and it hit the roof of the net, so close to the fourth. Paul Dunne came on for Kyle McNally for the last ten minutes to make his debut. Paul Dunne made a clearance on 87 minutes but nobody was there to collect the ball, Anderson fired one in beating the keeper to pull a goal back for Glentoran. There was to be nothing more from Glentoran and Dollingstown record a brilliant away win!
EH: It's not often we score three goals in a game, never mind away from home! The win keeps us a point ahead of Ballymena going into our game with them next week, it would be something special if we beat them.
PLAYER RATINGS
Dollingstown vs Ballymena United
10th April 2038
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Do games get any bigger than this? One point separates the sides in 10th and 11th respectively. A win for either side will see them move ahead of their rivals and could put them in a good position on their way to safety. Henderson kept the same team that beat Glentoran a week earlier. Nicky Quinn came close on 22 minutes and the keeper done well to push the ball away. Tommy Smyth went for goal a few minutes later but it was just wide of the post. Dollingstown started well but were being limited to shots from range. Tommy Smyth made a great pass forward for Sheridan taking out three defenders, his shot was pushed away and Quinn's follow up shot was blocked. Dollingstown kept going and Smyth laid it to McGurgan and his shot from 20 yards beat the keeper on 56 minutes! A few minutes remained and Dollingstown were close to recording an emphatic victory. The tension grew around the stadium as Henderson and Ferguson kept quiet. Kyle McNally almost got caught in possession on 94 minutes but the referee brought the game to an end and Dollingstown get another three points which moves them four points clear of Ballymena!
EH: Chris Paterson has complained about the playing surface and said it was unacceptable, what does he expect? The weather has been bad and we've had to deal with it to make it playable as best as we can. We won today because we deserved to and we dug deep to keep the lead, three games to go and I firmly back us in this.
It's exciting to see young players giving a go with the first team. This season we have seen Duncan Herron, Barry Ewart, Luke Kemp, Luke Walker and new signing Tommy Smyth all play for the club at the tender age of 16 and 17 but it must be a special moment in a players life when he is taken on trial at the club at 16 for the academy but show something special that he is given the go ahead to start training with the first team. Paul Dunne is a Central Defender who showed so much promise and potential in the youth intake that a call was made to Henderson and Ferguson about how good the defender actually is. Needless to say he bossed the trial and was awarded a youth contract with the club but he has an even greater chance to make his first team debut against Glentoran in two weeks time. "Paul has an arrogance about him, but he is not cocky with it. He is very sure of himself and his ability and he stands out in all the right ways." Said Fitness Coach Danny Richardson. "He's tall but slim and we are working with him on how to improve off the ball and his awareness. He shows maturity for a Centre Half and looks for the right option." It's another talent for Dollingstown who seem to be building a squad that can compete for years to come.
League action returned after the split and Henderson said his team have been preparing for the final five games. There were no fresh injury concerns which was good news for Dollingstown and it allowed Henderson to pick his best eleven. Morgan, Quinn, Smyth and Sheridan were playing in attack with support in midfield from Kane and McGurgan. Youngster Paul Dunne made the bench. It was still 0-0 in Glentoran when Ballymena put their third goal past Portadown in on 31 minutes, dropping Dollingstown into the relegation play-off place but as Tommy Smyth played a clever ball to Morgan and his shot was deflected, Nicky Quinn was onside and slotted it past the keeper to make it 1-0! Glentoran were knocking on the door but were struggling to get their shots on target. Nicky Quinn was fouled outside the Glentoran box and got up to take the free-kick, he managed to squeeze it into the bottom corner beating the outstretched keeper and making it 2-0 on 62 minutes! Two minutes later Quinn sent the ball into the box but it was headed away, Tommy Smyth took it down and volleyed it right into the top corner! What a strike! Jake Whelan pumped the ball forward from the goal kick and Sean Sheridan got on to it, he took the shot on the bounce and it hit the roof of the net, so close to the fourth. Paul Dunne came on for Kyle McNally for the last ten minutes to make his debut. Paul Dunne made a clearance on 87 minutes but nobody was there to collect the ball, Anderson fired one in beating the keeper to pull a goal back for Glentoran. There was to be nothing more from Glentoran and Dollingstown record a brilliant away win!
EH: It's not often we score three goals in a game, never mind away from home! The win keeps us a point ahead of Ballymena going into our game with them next week, it would be something special if we beat them.
Do games get any bigger than this? One point separates the sides in 10th and 11th respectively. A win for either side will see them move ahead of their rivals and could put them in a good position on their way to safety. Henderson kept the same team that beat Glentoran a week earlier. Nicky Quinn came close on 22 minutes and the keeper done well to push the ball away. Tommy Smyth went for goal a few minutes later but it was just wide of the post. Dollingstown started well but were being limited to shots from range. Tommy Smyth made a great pass forward for Sheridan taking out three defenders, his shot was pushed away and Quinn's follow up shot was blocked. Dollingstown kept going and Smyth laid it to McGurgan and his shot from 20 yards beat the keeper on 56 minutes! A few minutes remained and Dollingstown were close to recording an emphatic victory. The tension grew around the stadium as Henderson and Ferguson kept quiet. Kyle McNally almost got caught in possession on 94 minutes but the referee brought the game to an end and Dollingstown get another three points which moves them four points clear of Ballymena!
EH: Chris Paterson has complained about the playing surface and said it was unacceptable, what does he expect? The weather has been bad and we've had to deal with it to make it playable as best as we can. We won today because we deserved to and we dug deep to keep the lead, three games to go and I firmly back us in this.
If only that little caravan of yours had eyes Macca! And it sort of does with the hidden camera I rigged up in one of the holes in your roof, I can confirm Mrs McGurgan does indeed put on quite the show!!
If only that little caravan of yours had eyes Macca! And it sort of does with the hidden camera I rigged up in one of the holes in your roof, I can confirm Mrs McGurgan does indeed put on quite the show!!
