St Patricks share point

ST Pat’s put on a good display in difficult circumstances when they shared six goals with Bannockburn last Monday.

It wasn'’t the ideal trip for the side on a holiday Monday evening with a team cobbled together due to said holiday and injuries.

Within minutes of the start, the Saints made their intentions clear with a snap shot from Ryan Deeley that Fotheringham did well to push clear, before Hannaway took his turn to test the keeper with a half-volley from the edge of the box.

So it was no surprise when the visitors took the lead in the 15th minute when Fotheringham had no answer as Kevin McElroy whipped a vicious low drive into the back of the net curtsy of a neat pass from Ryan Deeley.

However, the home team soon reacted to force Dennison into action with a double save, first from Walker at close range and then Cowan from the rebound. The game was now open and in a sweeping move forward Bannockburn were back on level terms thanks to clinical finish from Harry Bruce.

The game entered a spell when the home side were gifted too much freedom but Darren Walker fired high and wide with the goal at his mercy. Suddenly St Pat’s broke with intent, Currie finding Dom McElroy who made progress over half the distance of the park before completing the move with memorable finish.

Into the second half the visitors would claim a third. Kevin McElroy and Hannway did well to fend off some frantic defending before the latter slipped the ball to the edge of the six yard box where Ryan Deeley was waiting to post the ball home from an acute angle.

This should have secured full points for the visitors but with 20 minutes remaining Steven Bell headed home, and then 10 minutes later the home side compounded Saints misery with an equaliser that came through elementary defensive mistakes.

St Pat’s: Dennison, Hainey, McIntyre. B Deeley. MacGuire. Hannaway. Graham. Currie. K McElroy. R Deeley. D McElroy. Subs: Gardiner. Bissett. Mansfield.