Match Reports

McConville scores at both ends in draw with United

Albion drew 1-1 against Manchester United in Premier League 2.

By Charlie Hanson • 08 April 2024

By Paul Hazlewood
Ruairi McConville scored both for and against his team on Monday night.

Ruairi McConville was credited with a goal for both teams as Albion drew 1-1 with Manchester United in Premier League 2 on Monday night.

The defender unintentionally slid the ball past Tom McGill in the Albion goal just before half-time, before smashing home from close range midway through the second half to equalise and ensure the spoils were shared.

Chances were hard to come by in the first half with neither goalkeeper tested by a shot on target, although Josh Duffus was denied by Dermot Mee when in an offside position.

By Paul Hazlewood
Josh Duffus was the only player to test either keeper in the first half, although he was offside.

But the deadlock was finally broken after 41 minutes when McConville diverted Harry Amass’s low cross into the back of his own net.

Albion had their first shot of the evening just after an hour when Luca Barrington dragged wide, before Amir Ibragimov danced into the Albion box but had his effort blocked.

McConville then bagged the equaliser for Shannon Ruth's side with their second effort on target, reacting quickest to latch onto a loose ball in the box before firing home after 72 minutes.

By Paul Hazlewood
Odel Offiah spent the first half of the season on loan with Hearts.

That put the wind in Albion's sails and if anything the visiting team may well come away disappointed not to have snatched all three points.

Substitute Louis Flower was played in on goal by Marcus Ifill, but his low drive was kept out by Mee, before Odel Offiah appeared to have scrambled home a late winner only for referee Anthony Taylor to rule it out after Flower had knocked the ball out of Mee's hands.

The striker then couldn't quite get on the end of Kamari Doyle's superb in-swinging cross from the right in added time.

By Paul Hazlewood
Caylan Vickers joined Albion on deadline day earlier on this year.

The result sees Albion sit in ninth spot after 18 games played, with two regular league matches to go before the end of season play-off games.

The Albion team: McGill, Offiah, McConville, Jackson (Kavanagh 65), Nilsson (Flower 65), Doyle, Mullins, Slater, Barrington, Vickers (Ifill 64, Duffus.

On the bench: Fisher, Albarus.