Benburb are relegated

BENBURB will play next
season in the Central District Second Division after suffering the heartache of relegation.
The Govanites were condemned to the big drop when they were pipped by league champions Rutherglen Glencairn at their impressive New Southcroft Park stadium.
The Bens had shown their sporting side by applauding the homesters on to the pitch. But Glencairn showed no mercy to the struggling Southsiders, forging ahead on the half-hour mark.
And they doubled their lead just two minutes into the second half.
Bens then showed their fighting spirit, with Andy Dailly pulling one back with a superb effort before the gallant visitors went agonisingly close to grabbing an equaliser.
However, it was the ruthless Rutherglen side who struck next to seal the points – and Benburb’s league fate. The damage had been done earlier in the campaign as the Bens threw away a hatful of points.
And almost their last glimmer of hope had disappeared at the start of last month when they failed to defeat Govan rivals St Anthony’s at their McKenna Park ground.
Both sides had looked tense from the start as they knew the stakes were high. A point gained by The Ants would all but guarantee their place in the First Division next season.
But Benburb knew anything less than a win would leave them needing a near-miracle to beat the drop.
It was the Tinto Park side who enjoyed the early pressure but Ants keeper Turner was up to the task.
Saints seemed content to defend as they faced a swirling wind. But the Bens took a deserved lead in the 22nd minute, when a spell of pressure saw a cross from the left land at the feet of Kevin Ford and, from 22 yards, the former Ants player sent an unstoppable shot past Turner.
But nerves then seemed to grip the visitors, who surrendered the initiative and began to sit back to try to hold on to their slender lead.
This allowed Ants to get forward for virtually the first time in the match, and a couple of efforts from Taylor then Mansare went well wide.
Their persistence paid off in the 29th minute when a McIlhatton corner was knocked on by Mansare and blasted home by Bernie McDonald.
Both teams struggled to master the blustery conditions after the break.
Madden almost clinched a win for Saints late on but the draw helped them end up in mid-table – while the sorry Bens finished second-bottom.