Rangers bow out of the Steel & Sons Cup after a difficult afternoon against Dunmurry YM, with the hosts adding three second-half goals after taking a 2–0 lead into the break.
Portavogie Rangers were beaten 5–0 by Dunmurry YM in the Steel & Sons Cup on Saturday afternoon, bringing an early end to this season’s run in the competition.
Two first-half goals put Dunmurry in control before another three after the interval completed the scoring, although Rangers had opportunities of their own and continued trying to play despite the game getting away from them.
Following Thursday evening’s 4–0 league defeat at Malachians, Peter Doherty made changes for the cup tie, with Harry Wallace starting in goal and Dylan Carlisle again captaining the side.
Rangers started brightly enough and were willing to get bodies forward, with the opening stages developing into a fairly open cup tie.
Portavogie got into useful areas in the Dunmurry half and committed players to attacks, while the hosts carried a threat whenever they were able to turn possession over and break in the opposite direction.
It was Dunmurry who made that threat count.
The hosts opened the scoring during the first half and, although Rangers continued to compete and looked for a response, a second Dunmurry goal before the interval left Portavogie with a considerable job to do.
At half-time it was 2–0.
Rangers came back out knowing the next goal could change the complexion of the tie and continued to try to play their way forward rather than simply sitting in.
There were promising moments, particularly when Portavogie were able to move the ball quickly and get runners beyond Dunmurry’s midfield, but the final pass or finish needed to bring Rangers back into the game would not arrive.
At the other end, Dunmurry remained dangerous and eventually found the third goal which effectively put the tie beyond Portavogie.
Peter Doherty turned to his bench on 63 minutes, with James Palmer replacing Matthew Moore and Scott Fitzpatrick coming on for Alfie McKee.
The changes gave Rangers fresh legs as they continued looking for a way back into the contest, but with Portavogie having to commit more players forward, the game became increasingly stretched.
Dunmurry took advantage.
A fourth goal followed as the hosts punished the additional space, leaving Rangers with a scoreline that was beginning to look much harsher than the contest had for long spells.
Aldas Daugela was introduced for Thomas Curry on 77 minutes as Doherty made his final change of the afternoon.
To their credit, Rangers kept trying to play and continued getting forward when the opportunity arose. There was no question of simply shutting up shop, even with the outcome of the tie effectively decided.
Dunmurry, though, were clinical when further opportunities presented themselves and added a fifth late on to complete the scoring.
There is no disguising the disappointment of a 5–0 cup defeat, particularly coming little more than 48 hours after a demanding league fixture at Malachians.
But there were periods at Napier Park where Rangers played better football than the final scoreline suggests. The difference was in the decisive moments: Dunmurry took their opportunities, while Portavogie were unable to turn their own promising passages into the goal that might have changed the direction of the tie.
It has been a difficult couple of away days for Rangers, but there is little time to dwell on either result.
Attention now turns back to the league, with Portaferry Rovers visiting New Harbour Road on Wednesday evening and an immediate opportunity for Peter Doherty’s side to respond.
Dunmurry YM 5–0 Portavogie Rangers
Line-up: 1 Harry Wallace, 2 Robbie Adair, 3 Dylan Carlisle (c), 4 Thomas Curry, 5 Jack Emerson, 7 Ben Adair, 8 Jude Carlisle, 9 Robbie Palmer, 10 Matthew Moore, 11 Alfie McKee, 16 Reece Cully.
Subs: 6 James Palmer (for Matthew Moore 63’), 12 Aldas Daugela (for Thomas Curry 77’), 17 Scott Fitzpatrick (for Alfie McKee 63’).
