Brian Bell happy to be back in driving seat

By their own high standards Redcastle United were going through something of a rough period of late. After crashing out of the Ulster Junior Cup to Foyleside neighbours Moville Celtic at the end of January, the Foyle Park side dropped rare league points against QPS before going down 4-1 to Culdaff in the shock result of the season. Redcastle boss Brian Bell is known for his meticulous preparation for games but he revealed to the Inish Times that he couldn’t name his starting lineup until just before kickoff on Sunday as a number of his players were struggling with injuries. “It’s the first time since I took over at Redcastle that I didn’t name the team until after the warm up,” he said. “We were carrying so many knocks that I had to see who got through that. Martin Farren, Gerard Crossan, Jimmy Gallagher and Eamon Donnelly were all doubtful. “I can’t praise the players enough for their commitment, it wasn’t pretty at times but we got the result. Jimmy Gallagher had a brilliant second half, he was a bit tentative in the first half because of his hamstring injury. “They ran out of ideas in the second half and we were strong at the back where Liam Davenport played very well. We normally play Andy Porter on the wing but he came into the centre of midfield and took his chance there well.” The result leaves Bell’s side just one point behind Clonmany but crucially they have a game in hand meaning the retention of the title is in their own hands. “It’s a big result for us and puts us back in the driving seat, we had talked about getting an early goal which went according to plan but we hadn’t planned on conceding again so soon! “I’m very content and happy with the performance, if we had taken our chances in front of goal we could have taken the pressure off ourselves. “I think Clonmany are going through a transitional period but they are a well run and well organised side and they never lost their shape right until the end. “I was surprised that there was so much added time at the end of the game, we had it timed as 8 minutes and 46 seconds and when I challenged Laurence Duggan about it afterwards he thought he only added 4 and a half minutes. Looking ahead the big two’s run-ins to the end of the season, Bell argued that both sides face stiff tests before the destination of the 2010 title is decided, “Clonmany still have to face Illies and Moville who are fighting relegation so that won’t be easy. Our last game of the season is at Moville so we’d prefer if we can get things wrapped up before then. We have QPS in Foyle Park this Sunday and then Culdaff the week after which can’t come quick enough for the players.”