League 1C: Donard Hospital 1 Bryansburn 2

1sts completed their season’s double over Donard Hospital with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Billy Neill Playing fields. In typical ‘Burn style they shook off their indifferent performance against 13^th-placed opposition mid-week, failed to build a strong lead when playing with the wind but went on to out-play 5^th-placed opposition to finally climb above the midway mark in 1C.

            A late start saw Bryansburn very much in command. A series of knock-downs from Morrison failed to find the necessary support but a blistering Mallon run tested the Donard keeper, Morrison’s 35 yard effort flew high over the bar and in the 10^th minute, an A. McMullan cross/shot bounced off the woodwork with no reply from the home side. Both teams were clearly struggling with the blustery conditions but Donard started to play some good football and went close with a long-range effort forcing Close to a great save in the 13^th minute. Two C. Cooling free kicks were collected by the keeper, Coard set up Tolson on the flank but Mallon saw his header clear the bar, and vintage ‘Burn faffing about on the edge of their area twice offered Donard chances to score either side of the half-hour mark. The wind was clearly hindering Donard in their attempts to push forward but equally making it difficult for Bryansburn to control through-balls or shots on goal. Finally good football at ground level prevailed as Coard fed Tolson from midfield and the wingers powerful run into the box was only stopped by a desperate lunge from the defender for a clear penalty. Morrison made it 1-0 from the spot on 31 minutes and was unlucky when first a header from a Parkes throw-in was tipped to safety by the keeper and in the 43^rd minute, when he beat the defence and keeper only to find the post. Half-time 1-0 to Burn.  

            Donard, predictably, launched a wind-assisted assault from the restart but A. Cooling and R. Thompson dealt comfortably with the aerial assault while Parkes and A. McMullan halted any incursions from the wings. Donard hit the side netting, shot wide twice and nearly capitalised when a great stop from Close fell to the feet of their striker but could not find the net. Mallon and Coard were still able to marshal the midfield and, again it was the impressive Tolson who, picking up a Thompson through ball terrorised the home defence before setting up Morrison for his second and a 2-0 lead with 56 minutes played.  ‘Burn could even have extended their lead when, ten minutes later a precision C. Cooling free-kick found Morrison whose side-footed effort was swept just over the goal but Donard were continuing to threaten with a string of wide efforts and corners. Higginson and Gray replaced Mallon and Cooling and ‘Burn continued to weather the storm until a sweeping, cross-field passing move from Donard saw them back in the match at 2-1 with 20 minutes to play. The final exchanges were, understandably, one-sided as Donard pushed hard but heroic defending from Gray, Parkes, Thompson and McMullan and wayward finishing saw Bryansburn inch towards the finish line. McGreevy made a welcome return from injury and almost immediately set-up Higginson on a rare break but there was a huge sigh of relief when the final whistle blew to confirm a deserved 2-1 victory.

            Best for Burn: Tolson with two assists and a constant threat, Coard running the show from midfield, and Morrison notching up his 30^th & 31^st goals in 32 games.