SCARVA Rangers safely negotiated the opening hurdle of their Mid Ulster Shield campaign with a 2-0 victory at Scarva Park.
The draw was kinder to the locals than has been the case in previous seasons, but they were without their best player and a ta
lented and hard working Killymoon Rangers Reserves ensured a far from easy afternoon for Sam Grattan's side.
The game was scoreless at the half time interval but Scarva had the best of the goal scoring opportunities.
Greg Douglas steered a shot narrowly wide and Mark Bicker's abject volley flew high over the Killymoon crossbar.
The game looked to have turned decisively in the visitors' favour early in the second half.
Mark Bicker had already been booked when he stupidly kicked the ball away after the visitors were awarded a free kick. The referee correctly showed him his second yellow of the game and the sending off left his team in hot water.
Scarva reacted well to the setback, however, working hard for each other and playing just as well with ten men as they had with 11.
It was ten men apiece when a Killymoon player received his marching orders for fouling Darren Clarke inside the penalty area. Clarke deepened the visitors' misery by coolly firing home the spot kick to break the deadlock.
Neil Anderson squandered a gilt edged opportunity to put his side two goals ahead. He had an abundance of time to pick his spot but the spot he chose was straight at the Killymoon goalkeeper, who easily saved.
The central midfielder more than atoned for the miss with some superb tackling as Scarva battled to retain their lead.
Gary McCune unleashed a stinging long range drive that the visiting keeper did well to tip over his crossbar.
The introduction of Alex Hammond provided the home side's attack with a more dangerous edge and the big striker wrapped up the tie in the closing stages.
Anderson found him with a pinpoint cross and Hammond controlled the ball and calmly swept it beyond the Killymoon keeper into the corner of the net.
The defence of Johnnie Douglas, Darren Clarke, Mo Brown and Derek Patton performed impressively.
Their rock solid display was the foundation for victory while the outstanding individual performance came from left midfielder Gary McCune, who worked incessantly to the final whistle and carried a constant threat to the Killymoon rearguard.
Scarva Rangers FC would like to thank Freddie Mills for his generous sponsorship of Saturday's tie.
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