CHAMPS ARE NO CHUMPS; Bell: Give 'em time and they'll be good as New.

Byline: MARTIN MAWHINNEY

THE man who masterminded Newington's latest defeat at the weekend believes it is only a matter of time before the Premier Section champions turn things round in their favour once again.

Donal Bell, manager of Drumaness Mills, was speaking after his side defeated Newington 3-1 on Saturday, effectively condemning them to a place in the bottom two of the table and piling the misery onto Eamonn McCarthy, as he reflects on his team's worst ever start to a Premier Section campaign.

However, Bell did have some words of comfort and encouragement for his managerial counterpart.

He said: "Newington are on a bad run - that's all there is to it. All they need to do is to get one good win behind them, and I can see them going right back up that table.

"Whether they can challenge for the title or not now is open to question. But Eamonn obviously has the full backing of his players and his committee."

The day had started so well for the Belfast men, with new signing Billy Youle getting the opener, but they conceded what Bell admitted was a 'soft' penalty, and a second goal before half-time.

Then, to add insult to injury, McCarthy had a man sent off, and they conceded a third. Newington put in a determined second-half performance, but by this stage it was too late - the damage had long been done.

Drumaness wasn't the only place to be for striking scorelines on Saturday. Dunmurry Rec sent Comber Rec to the bottom of the table by beating them 4-0 away from home, while Holywood climbed out of the relegation zone with a 3-2 win on their travels to Millisle, against Abbey Villa.

Possibly the most noteworthy of all the scorelines on a day of big results was Wellington Rec's comprehensive 4-0 dumping of Killyleagh, of all teams, in their own backyard.

Ards Rangers look as convincing as ever at the top after their 3-0 win over Malachians, unbeaten Downpatrick kept up the chase with a 3-1 victory against Albert Foundry and Dromara Village jump up to fourth with a valuable 3-2 away win over Islandmagee.

Meanwhile, Wellington Rec manager Jim Hagan has revealed what has driven him to push his team to a healthy second place in the table, and become a genuine key player in the early stages of what could be a very memorable title race.

The Larne-based club had been so used to fighting relegation battles over the last year that it would be no surprise if they got a nosebleed from the dizzy heights they now scale!

But since his arrival at the club in February, Hagan has been inspired by the efforts of the committee and other people's work, and wanted to repay it to those people the best way he could.

He said: "I know the committee are so hardworking here, and they have done so much off the pitch, like setting up this new clubhouse, and meeting all the grounds' criteria.

"They just let me get on with my job, too, which is so important. I have managed at Irish League level and there can be so much pressure.

"It's my job to get things moving out there on the pitch, and I think we are playing some good football now. I know a lot of these lads locally, and have always thought they'd be capable of so much better - now they are showing that.

"The results from the last two weeks have demonstrated perfectly just how far this club have come in such a short time - a 1-0 (Border Cup) win , then a 4-0 (league) win... both over Killyleagh and both away from home."

"My boys are growing in confidence," admitted Hagan. "They are playing with real self- belief now."

Wellington supporters, so accustomed to bottom-half finishes, will probably be bracing themselves for the moment of disappointment, when things start to slide.

Though maybe this season, it's their turn to dream.

3 pages of MATCH action pictures on 7,8 and 9

CAPTION(S):

PITCH BATTLE Rathfern Rangers' Andrew Doyle tangles with Ian Curry of Crumlin at the weekend. GET IN THERE! Downpatrick FC players show their delight after hitting the net against Albert Foundry.