NAFL PREMIER DIVISION
ROSEMOUNT REC 1
ISLANDMAGEE 4
Dennis S Nash reports from Islandview Road
ROSEMOUNT Rec’s wait for a first league win of the season continued on Saturday as visitors Islandmagee emerged from Greyabbey with maximum points.
A strong, gusting wind at the Islandview Road venue made it difficult for players, officials and spectators alike and the climatic conditions certainly directed much of the proceedings during the 90 minutes of play.
Straight from the starting whistle the visitors, with the advantage of the elements set in their favour for the opening 45 minutes, adopted an attacking flair. Rosemount’s Scott Shannon, Jay Thompson and Callum Carleton certainly were fixed in their attempts to redress the imbalance caused by the conditions, but the early exchanges indicated clearly that the wind was going to play a big part in things.
The opening quarter-of-an-hour passed without either side finding a breakthrough, but after 17 minutes Dylan Hanley sent the visitors into the lead.
Allan Eccles remained very active in the home midfield, while Thompson, Shannon and Carleton still carried a steely intent as the Rosemount struggle with the conditions continued.
On 32 minutes, a Joel McMurtry strike doubled the Islandmagee advantage but, with Eccles and Joshua Ritchie retaining a certain mood of assurance in the midfield, the switch of ends at the interval still held out the possibility of a home resurgence.
Andrew Thomas and Jack Montgomery made a couple of advances in the attempt to land a third goal but, at the half-time whistle, Rosemount were still only two goals in arrears.
The wind was still raging as the second period began. Mitchel Watterson spear-headed another forward rush from the home side and Carleton delivered a threatening cross from the wide right, but visiting ’keeper Jay McPhee, and indeed the entire Islandmagee defence, gave the early impression that they were settled into a positive defensive mode.
Time was moving away without the home side making a dent into the deficit and, on 70 minutes, any thoughts of a comeback were totally shattered as Ciaran McCormick blasted the visitors into a 3-0 lead.
Rosemount, to their credit, kept an attacking presence on the agenda and while Scott Shannon pulled one back in the dying embers of the game, there was still time for Andrew Thomas to add a fourth for the away team who recorded their first league win since the opening day of the season.
THE MATCH CARD
Rosemount Rec: Zach McAvoy, Ben McMorris, Stephen Jest, Joshua Ritchie (C), Jack Thompson, Allan Eccles, Mitchel Watterson, Scott Shannon, Jay Thompson, Callum Carleton, Dean Shaw.
Substitutes: Alex Cafolla, Ross Murray, Thomas Cafolla
Officials: William McIlroy, Ryan Shaw, Kurtis Browne, Reece Bailie
Islandmagee: Jay McPhee, Oliver Robinson, Arron Anderson, Scvott McBride, Samuel Knox, Dylan Hanley, Andrew Thomas (C), Nicholas Baird, Joel McMurtry, Ciaran McCormick, Jack Montgomery.
Substitutes: Conor Tohill, Iain Wilson, Paul Thompson.
Officials: Paul Thompson, Paul Gibb, Alan McWhirter.
THE TEAMS
Rosemount Rec FC
In spite of the fact that teams from Greyabbey had participated in a programme of non-competition fixtures during the early summer months of 1911, the village was not represented in the first-ever summer competition of that year.
It was the decision to enter the 1912 Summer League which introduced competitive football to the village for the first time.
It was in 1922 that the football team first assumed the name Rosemount – adopted from the local Rosemount Estate.
Rosemount’s first venture into the Amateur League lasted from1975 until 1978.
Their return to that competition got underway in September 2010 and, in 2023, the club secured a place in the very top division of that Association.
Islandmagee FC
Islandmagee Football Club are from County Antrim and play their home fixtures at Wilbourne Park.
The club was founded in 1955.
They secured a league and cup double in the 2007/2008 season, winning Division 1A as well as the Clarence Cup. The club’s first Amateur League game was in Division 1B on August 17, 1957, when they defeated local rivals Barn United 5–3.
Five years later (1962/1963), both clubs gained promotion to Division 1A – then the League’s premier section. Islandmagee were promoted as runners-up.
THE COMPETITION
The Northern Amateur Football League, known simply as the Amateur League, is an Association Football League in Northern Ireland.
East Belfast are the current champions of the Premier Division.
Initially, membership was confined to teams from public bodies, private associations, schools and firms.
The league currently consists of three divisions of 13 sections, providing a base for 94 clubs with a total of 179 teams taking part competitively in Intermediate and Junior status competitions.
A LESS ARDUOUS JOURNEY
In view of the previous ‘nightmare’ Saturday getting down to Calhame Park, I chose the inland route last weekend.
Using my local knowledge of the countryside I enjoyed a totally trouble-free excursion of Loughries, Ballyblack, Garrett’s Corner Ballyboley and Kerr’s Isle.
It was very pleasant on the road from Cardy Corner which I often walked back in the days of the Lower Ards summer games on Saturday nights.
THE REFEREE
Matthew Goodricke is one of the top match officials on the local circuit and once again he produced a sound, competent and capable performance.
Personally I always find his patience and understanding with match statistics is extremely helpful and accommodating.
PHOTOGRAPHER
The official photographer at the game was Bob Torrens.
CLUB NEWS
Rosemount man of the match sponsored by Matthew McAvoy was Mitchell Watterson.
The seconds continued their good early season form with a 2-1 win over Holywood seconds, Jordan Foster and Nicky Eccles scoring.
Eddie Skimin failed to find the joker, therefore the jackpot rises to £320.
This Saturday, both Rosemount teams travel to Co Antrim to play in cup games. The first team travel to play Glebe Rangers from Ballymoney in the first round of the Intermediate Cup while the seconds play Clough Rangers at Ballymena in the second round of the Junior Shield.
Both games have a 1.30pm kick-off and a bus will leave Islandview Road at 10am.
The club would like to thank Kevin Orr for his continued support.
