Killen Rangers celebrate opening of new pitch against Coleraine
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Councillor Thomas Kerrigan, vice-chairman of Strabane District Council, and Darren Burke, chairman of Killen Rangers Football Club, jointly cut the ribbon to officially open the newly refurbished pitch on Friday night. AN3037
KILLEN Rangers celebrated the official opening of their new pitch and floodlights on Friday night with a match against a Coleraine FC select side.
Before kick-off, club chairman, Darren Burke, paid tribute to all those who helped with the £200,000 project: "We are delighted with the new pitch. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sport Northern Ireland and Strabane District Council for their help and support for this much needed facility.
“I would like to pay tribute to all the managers, Victor Dougherty, Jason Stronge and Alistair Sproule for their dedication and hard work and also the office bearers and committee for giving so generously of their time and talents."
Echoing those words, Eamonn McCartan, chief executive of Sport NI, added: "Sport Northern Ireland is dedicated to developing people in sport, especially young people, and providing facilities for this purpose is an important strand of our work.
“We have been delighted to work with Strabane District Council and Killen Rangers on the development of this project, and continue to see increased participation and performance within the club and the community."
Killen Rangers 2. Coleraine 2.
With the official opening complete, those in attendance were treated to an entertaining 2-2 draw between the Fermanagh and Western second division side and the Carling Premiership outfit.
The visitors arrived with a mix of youth and experience in their ranks and they comfortably established a 2-0 interval lead thanks to a stunning Ciaran McGinley free kick and an intelligent finish by the crafty Paul Gaston.
Rangers improved significantly on the resumption and the introduction of the guesting Richard Clarke, Glentoran, and Andy Crawford, Ballinamallard, helped turn the tide. Clarke struck shortly after the hour to give the home side renewed hope and moments later his namesake Ross engaged the biggest cheer of the night by crashing in a deserved equaliser.
The home faithful went home happy but in the first half those same supporters could have been forgiven for fearing the worst as
the Bannsiders, moving the ball with precision and purpose, settled to the task first.
Midfielder Stephen Curry blasted over Jason Young's crossbar early on when well placed and it was no surprise when McGinley opened the scoring with a thunderous 25-yard free kick to the goalkeeper's top left hand corner.
Three minutes later McGinley turned provider, playing Gaston down the right channel to cleverly hook the ball over his shoulder and inside the far post.
Rangers' perseverance though eventually led to the home side gaining a foothold although visiting keeper Wilson, who was relieved to see a thumping angled drive by Stuart Lindsay fizz by his right upright, remained largely untroubled.
The visitors, too, carried the greater threat in the opening exchanges of the second half but, after Greg McIvor spurned a glorious opportunity to make it 3-0, Rangers stormed back.
Ross Clarke signalled the intent with a long-range pile-driver that flashed inches wide of Wilson's left post before the visiting custodian, at full stretch, pushed another rasping effort by Clarke around the same post.
Moments later Killen were thrown a lifeline, Crawford laying the ball off to Glens midfielder Clarke, who from 16 yards fired in off Wilson's right post.
All of sudden Rangers found an extra inch to their step as Scott Sproule drilled into the side netting before McIvor at the other end failed to find the target when through one-on-one with Alan Buchanan.
It was the hosts though who were in the ascendancy and when Conrad Kee delivered a teasing cross from the left Ross Clarke arrived on cue to steer the ball inside Wilson's far post from around the penalty spot.
Then in the closing moments the woodwork denied both sides an outright winner. A Vinny Hargan shot crashed back down off the underside of the crossbar at one end before Graham Young almost provided the perfect climax for Killen but his venomous strike from all off 25 yards cannoned back off the base off Wilson's left post.
The contest ended with some light-hearted drama as Rangers claimed the spoils in a fun-filled penalty shootout.
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