Guthrie treble maintains Drumkeen United’s title tilt

A brilliantly taking hat-trick by young striker Michael Guthrie and a cracker of a goal by sub Kevin Bonner saw Division Two leaders Drumkeen Utd record their 12th League victory in 14 games.

Drumkeen United 4 Letterbarrow Celtic 1

Drumkeen maintain their push for a league title after the win at St Patrick’s Park.

Benny Bonner’s side has a nice mixture of youth and experience in it’s ranks with Philip Whyte pulling the strings in midfield and keeping the team moving with his wide range of passing.

The highlights of a closely contested first-half were Michael Guthrie’s two goals after 16 and 37 minutes respectively.

The opening goal came when full-back Kevin Boyle’s through ball was flicked on by Lee Guthrie and his brother Michael reacted quickly to steer the ball past the advancing Ciaran Gildea.

It was 2-0 in the 37th minute with an even better finish from young Guthrie, again Kevin Boyle was involved and when his cross arrived in the box Michael cushioned a super volley into the far corner of the net giving Gildea absolutely no chance.

A minute later Letterbarrow Celtic almost pulled one back when Gerard McBrearty’s pass put Pauric Carr away on the left but his piledriver just missed the target by a few inches.

Letterbarrow Celtic

The visitors needed to get the game’s next score but instead it was that man Micheal Guthrie who provided another super finish when Eoghan Kennedy’s pass put him through and yet again he showed a really cool head to pass the ball to the net without any fuss and make it 3-0 with his hat-trick goal.                          

Eunan Doherty hit a post and Gildea saved well from Lee Guthrie as Drumkeen Utd chased more goals but when one came it was at the other end.

Home keeper Benji O’Meara got caught in two minds with his clearance and gave possession away to John Roper, the winger still had plenty to do but drilled an excellent angled drive past the keeper to pull a goal back.

O’Meara saved well from McBrearty’s well struck free-kick in the 75th minute but three minutes later the home side made it 4-1 when following a good exchange of passes the ball reached sub Kevin Bonner outside the penalty area and he hammered a super shot past keeper Gildea to wrap up another win for Drumkeen United.

Benny Bonner’s side have only conceded eight goals in their 14 games to date and with second place Glenree Utd being held 1-1 at home by Whitestrand Utd they are now five points clear at the top of the table.

Glenree have also played two games more than Drumkeen so third place Cranford Utd who are seven behind but do have a game in hand may now be the leaders biggest challengers for the title.

Drumkeen United: Benji O’Meara, Kevin Boyle (Shane Laverty 70), Benny Bonner, Seanie Gallagher , Jerome Duffy, Philip Whyte, Eunan Doherty (Chris Kyle 82), Eoghan Kennedy (Johnnie Black), Lee Guthrie, Michael Guthrie, Aaron Doherty ( Kevin Bonner 62).

Letterbarrow Celtic: Ciaran Gildea, Jamie Coyle, Alan Foxton, John Kenny, Christy Burke,  Declan Gallagher, John Roper (Nathan Carr 77), James McGrory (Alan Mc Girr 86), Alex Mc Nelis (Iarlath Cox 60), Gerard Mc Brearty, Pauric Carr.

Referee: Michael McLaughlin.