Winning streak continues

Cherryvale, Sunday 20 January 2002, 1:30PM

St. Michael's FC (0)0 Dub FC (0)2

Due to an exclusive contract with the South Belfast News this match report and up to date league tables will appear in the South Belfast News on Friday 25th January.

Dub FC continued their recent good run with an impressive victory over St Michael?s which moves them up to third in the table. A super team performance helped Dub to move into its highest ever league placing in the Belfast Sunday Premier League.

Despite the blustery conditions both teams played out an entertaining match. St Michael?s threatened early on but Ryan McGaughey, playing in the role of sweeper, made a series of timely interceptions. Shane McCusker worked tirelessly throughout and midway through the half he was involved in the move that led to the first goal. He passed to Mcgaughey who found Sean Mullan down the right hand side. Mullan turned and volleyed from the edge of the box. His shot hit the post but Barry Houston was on hand to fire home his first of the season.

Facing into a strong breeze in the second half Dub sustained constant pressure. St Michaels took the game to Dub but resolute defending from Dickson, McCollum and Hill helped Dub to cling on to their narrow lead. When St Michaels managed to breach the Dub defence Colm Kernan showed a safe pair of hands and he went on to earn his first clean sheet of the season.

In the 65th minute Michael Smyth broke free in midfield and set up Mullan on the edge of the box. Mullan fired a first time shot which screamed into the roof of the net. This effectively ended the St Michaels challenge and Brian Gribben was unlucky not to have added a third goal late on.

After the match Sean Mullan received the Rose & Crown Man of the Match award and caretaker manager, Art Kernan, reflected on Dub?s recent performances. ?I am very pleased with the player?s performances over the last three games particularly the two clean sheets we have kept. The next match is against Hotspurs who have won every game this season but if we can play like we did last Sunday an upset could be on the cards.?

Art Kernan has now guided Dub FC to three consecutive victories and is on course to pick up the January Manager of the Month Award. When Art wasn?t seen at training on Wednesday night there was intense speculation that he may be on his way to Chester Park. Chester Park have made no secret of the fact that they are impressed with Kernan and club secretary Niall Houston sees him as the next Martin O?Neill.

It had been thought that Chester Park would make their move in the summer but having drawn with Deanby last week and lost 4-1 to Brookvilla last Sunday a move for Kernan could be imminent. If Kernan does go it could cause a family rift and there could be a tug of war for Dub?s top stars. It is believed that Dubs ?25 rated striker, Barry Houston, could be top of his shopping list. Kernan said recently ?Houston has only played two and a half matches but with him on the pitch Dub have yet to conceed a goal and they have won every match.? The question now remains: will Art Kernan be at Dub?s next match? Watch this space.

Team: C Kernan, L McCollum, G Dickson, R McGaughey, K Hill, J Magee, J Quinn, S McCusker, M Smyth, S Mullan, B Houston

Subs: M Harvey for J Magee (45), B Gribben for K Hill (66)

Rose & Crown Man of the Match: Sean Mullan

Squad

Barry Houston, Brian Gribbin, Colm Kernan, Michael Smyth, Mark Harvey, Liam McCollum, Gareth Dickson, John Quinn, Sean Mullan, Shane McCusker, John Magee, Kristian Hill, Ryan McGaughey

Subs

Match Statistics

Goals	Sean Mullan Barry Houston
Assists	-
Yellow cards	-
Red cards	-
Man of the match	Sean Mullan