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Match Report · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 131

U-14 v 1st Lurgan
(11-a-side, Friendly)
13/01/2007

In a friendly match played away from home at Carrick Primary School the U-14's took on 1st Lurgan with each team fielding a couple of 15 year olds. It was a very blustery day, but this didn't prevent either side from trying to play a bit of football, and made for a very tight and eagerly contested match.

Playing against the wind in the first half Knocknamuckley held their own, with the opening exchanges being very tight with both sides having an equal amount of the play.

Knocknamuckley were working well down the left hand side, where Brooke Love and Lawson McKitterick were linking up well together. McKitterick was winning the ball regularly with good support from Love.

Knocknamuckley had managed to force a bit of pressure, having won a few corners. They won a free kick 20 to 25 yards out, just to the left of the goals. Jon Henderson took the free kick, managing to curl the ball over the wall and out of the goalkeeper's reach. The goal was however ruled out for a Knocknamuckley player being offside when the ball was hit. Despite the player being in an offside position, under current rules, the goal should have stood as the Muckley player did not interfering with play.

Lurgan struck the first blow of the match. During a Muckley attack Lurgan managed to break quickly with some sharp passing. A Lurgan attacker broke down the right and was able to get in a good position wide of the box. He put an excellent ball across where he picked out a Lurgan player who had sprinted to make it into the area in support. He managed to finish with a wonderful glancing header at full stretch which gave the Muckley keeper no chance.

As the wind got stronger Lurgan pinned Knocknamuckley back, as Muckley were unable to get out of their own half they were forced to keep on defending. They were being forced to defend on the line of their 18 yard box, and were being forced back, really just trying to hold on for half time. They managed to defend admirably in the conditions, keeping the score down to 1-0 at half time having played against the wind.

Half time 1st Lurgan 1 v 0 1st Knocknamuckley

The wind had died down to the level it had been at the start of the match. In contrast to the first half, the game had began to open up more, with both teams trying to play open football and get at the opposition.

Lurgan applied some good pressure early on, without ever really getting behind the Knocknamuckley defence.

The only half chance Muckley managed to carve out was a good ball over the top for Henderson, but the ball got stuck in a combination of his feet and the grass and didn't quite run for him.

Lurgan continued to have the better of the play,and were really beginning to control the midfield, causing a lot of pressure on the defence, and forcing the midfield very deep, making it difficult to break. Lurgan were trying to break the defence down the Lurgan left, but were unable to thanks to some great, full hearted tackles from Joshua Black.

This was to be Josh's last involvement in the game, as he made way for fellow recruit Thomas Chambers. This substitution involved a reshuffle with Matthew Wright dropping back to right back to add a bit more experience and Henderson falling back into midfield to strengthen it and add a bit more attacking impetus in order to chase the game.

The substitution worked as planned, with Knocknamuckley switching the momentum of the game. Muckley began to pile on the pressure with Chambers giving the Lurgan defence no time on the ball to get it clear.

This added pressure began to pay off with Muckley having more of the ball, and Henderson was able to drive the team on from midfield. During a break through the middle a Muckley player was fouled in the centre of the pitch, about 30 yards out. Henderson again took the free kick, and thanks to the wind at his back was able to drill the ball towards goal. The shot was low and firm and managed to find it's way through the bodies in the box. The keeper was only able to block the shot, but pulled off a great double save when he reacted to save Matthew Kimmins' rebound. However he was unable keep the third shot out as Love finished from five yards out past the last ditch defenders who tried to block the shot.

This set up an entertaining end to the match, as the game opened up, with both teams eager for the win. Lurgan managed to create some half chances, but Chris Falloon was able to save on two or three occasions.

Muckley also had their chance to steal it at the death when Kimmins managed to get the ball down the right hand side, and got to the bye line with Muckley players arriving in the box. Instead of put the cross in, he pulled it back for Poole who was arriving behind him. Pooley tried to strike the ball first time on the half volley, but was unlucky as the ball hit a bump and his slice skied out for a goal kick off his ankle.

Overall, a very entertaining match, played in difficult conditions, and in the end both teams were worthy of a draw.

Full time 1st Lurgan 1 v 1 1st Knocknamuckley

Team- Falloon, Black, McKitterick, Wright, Lamont, Cowan, C.Calvert, Kimmins, Henderson, Poole, Love; Chambers, Mathers

Goal- Love