Old failings haunt Wakehurst as run comes to end

Failure to convert chances, along with generous defending at the other end, were major contributory factors in a 3-1 defeat at Queen’s University.

“It was a bit of a setback for us,” admitted Gregg.

“We squandered a number of chances, particularly in the first half, and we ended up going in at half-time one apiece when we should realistically have been 3-0 up.

“A couple of refereeing decisions went against us and we still have that propensity for individuals errors which cost us goals.

“We will have to start to try and put together another wee run, starting with a trip to Killymoon this Saturday.

“They may be bottom of the table but it has already been seen in this league this season that any team is capable of beating any other so it will be tough,” added Gregg.

In Saturday’s match, Wakehurst got off to the best possible start with a goal in the third minute.

Keeper Duff and central defender Paul Prenter got themselves in a complete tangle after Ryan Young had chased a through ball and Jason Paul latched onto the loose ball and guided it into the empty net.

A tremendous run from young Andy Laughlin took him past four home defenders and his through ball found Conor Gregg whose hesitation in front of goal was both rare and crucial and the chance was gone.

Queens hit back on 22 minutes. Marc Maybin made a brave save at the feet of Johnny Maybin but as the ball broke to Lavery 20 yards out, he was put under no pressure by a sleepy Wakehurst defence and he drilled home the equaliser.

Wakehurst were penned in their own half from the start of the second half and it was only the heroics of Maybin that kept his team level. But Wakehurst’s dilitary start to this half didn’t go unpunished and two goals in 4 minutes put the ‘Students’ in an unassailable position.

Lavery’s firm header from a Mark Prenter corner found the net despite Maybin getting an outstretched hand to it and Johnny Maybin scrambled in the third after Maybin grabbed, then lost, Lavery’s effort.

It could have been even worse for the Ballymena team with both Mark Prenter and Lavery having efforts ricochet off the crossbar as the home team completely dominated the second period.

Wakehurst: M Maybin, M Crawford, R Colville, D Stevenson, D Gage, R Young, S Mellon, A Laughlin, R Gregg, C Gregg, J Paul. Subs: R Culbertson, D Paul, P Alexander, S McKinney, D Parker.