Wakehurst boss pleased with opening day victory

Wakehurst manager Ian Gregg was delighted as his side started their Belfast Telegraph Championship Two campaign on a winning note.
Wakehurst captain Dougie Stevenson leads his team on the pre-match handshake ahead of Saturday's game at Dollingstown.Wakehurst captain Dougie Stevenson leads his team on the pre-match handshake ahead of Saturday's game at Dollingstown.
Wakehurst captain Dougie Stevenson leads his team on the pre-match handshake ahead of Saturday's game at Dollingstown.

The Ballymena men claimed all three points from their trip to newly-promoted Dollingstown after Conor Gregg scored the only goal with an audacious chip.

“It’s a great start for us to get three points on the opening day,” Gregg told Times Sport.

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“We knew it was going to be difficult because it was a big day for Dollingstown, playing their first game at that level, but I didn’t want to over-emphasise that to our players.

“It’s an over-used phrase at times but we produced a professional performance, we dug in, did the right thing and won it thanks to a wee bit of quality.”

That came in the form of the only goal from Conor Gregg 20 minutes from the end, the former Ballymena United player producing an impudent chipped finish.

“I was going mad on the touchline when I saw Conor check because I was wanting him to drive on and then have an effort.

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“But he produced a remarkable chipped finish because there was so little space to work with to get the ball over the keeper and under the crossbar.

“It was an exquisite goal - we’ll probably struggle to score a better one all season.”

Two players at the opposite ends of their careers also caught the manager’s eye.

“Roy Colville retired from first team duties a couple of seasons ago but I persuaded him to give it another go to help us out with a bit of experience and he was superb.

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“Aodhan Tolan, aged just 15, also had a superb debut in goal - he was authoritative and came for crosses brilliantly.

“Our regular keeper Marc Maybin is on holiday and with Aodhan and also Macauley Cairns, who has returned to us from Ballymena United, there will be great competition for the keeper’s jersey.

“We also have George Young back with us following a spell with Ballyclare Comrades and he will be a tremendous asset for us.

“We’re playing George in a more advanced midfield role, playing in the hole behind Conor Gregg and the pair of them linked up very well.

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“Overall it was great to get a win and even more pleasing to keep a clean sheet, given the difficulties that we had in doing that last season.

Wakehurst will look to continue their encouraging start to the campaign when they take on landlords Moyola Park at Castledawson this week. At the time of going to press, it hadn’t been finalised whether the match would be brought forward to Friday night (7.30pm) or remain in its Saturday afternoon slot.

It will also see Wakehurst reacquaint themselves with last season’s Player of the Year Jason Paul, who switched to the Castledawson club during the summer.

Wakehurst: Tolan, R Young, Stevenson, Colville, Millar, Ross, Laughlin, Crawford, R Gregg, G Young, C Gregg. Subs: Muir, Erwin, Kirkwood, Allen, Scott.

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