Battling point - but Wakehurst remain in relegation trouble

Wakehurst's Kurtis McCartney plays the ball down the line during Saturday's scoreless draw with Tobermore United. Picture: Damian McKee.

The Ballymena men claimed a battling point from a scoreless draw against Tobermore United at Mill Meadow.

Remarkably, it was the third time this season Wakehurst have kept a clean sheet against the high-flying mid-Ulster side after previous wins in the corresponding league fixture and also the North West Cup.

With interim manager Dougie Stevenson unavailable, and another member of the interim coaching team, Stephen Mellon, in action on the pitch, former manager Ian Gregg was back on the touchline, along with his former assistant Darren Parker.

“I was disappointed we didn’t win the game but a draw was probably a fair result,” Gregg told Times Sport.

“We came close to winning it with about 15 minutes left when Ryan Gregg did everything right with a volley after a great move but the keeper pulled off an outstanding save.

“Aside from that, we looked solid at the back, did the basics well and Ryan Armstrong in goal was very competent in anything he had to do.

“The message I told the players to take from the game is that Tobermore are third in the table and we’re bottom, yet there was nothing between the sides on Saturday.

“It was nice to end a run of defeats but it’s obvious that we’re going to need a run of victories if we’re going to get away from the relegation places.

“The morale of the players is superb - they don’t behave like you would expect from a team at the bottom of the table, nor do they play like a bottom of the table team.

“I really have to commend the players for their spirit and commitment that have showed because it hasn’t been an easy season,” added Gregg.

Wakehurst travel to Dollingstown this weekend for a Championship Two fixture.

Wakehurst: Armstrong, Ross, Swan, G Young, Price, R Young, Laughlin, Mellon, McCartney, Gregg, Bradley. Subs: Colville, Millar, Adams.