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Match Report · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 128

U-18 Battalion 5-a-side Tournament
8/11/2008

The Battalion 5-a-side once again competition took place in Dungannon and was played on an artificial grass surface in a large hall. Knocknamuckley were defending the trophy which they won last season, but were missing 6 players who would have made the squad if they had not been unavailable for selection. This left Muckley with an uphill struggle, especially as they were going to have to compete for the entire tournament with no substitutes available to offer a pair of fresh legs. It also present players with opportunities, such as Peter Stewart and Nathan McConnell who made their debuts for the U-18s.

The tournament had a low turn out this year, with only 5 teams turning up. This meant that all 5 teams played each other in the group stage with the top 4 progressing to the semi finals.

v 7th Portadown

Knocknamuckley began with against old rivals 7th Portadown. The Methodist traditionally have a strong side, and this opening match would be a real yard stick for the quality of this weakened Muckley outfit. The game was tight throughout, with Knocknamuckley defending well, marshalled by captain Simon Grey, and Peter Stewart being equal to any time he was called into action. Unfortunately Muckley were unable to fashion many chances going forward, and the game finished goal-less, each team deservedly taking a point.

Full Time: Knocknamuckley 0 v 0 7th Portadown

v Charlemont

Charlemont were Knocknamuckley's next opponents, and it was them who took the lead leaving Muckley with an uphill task. They pressed throughout the game and got their reward through a Nathan McConnell equaliser. Nathan picked the ball up down the left hand side and ran with it, before slotting a cool finish into the bottom left hand corner. This was the least that Muckley deserved, and were unlucky to come out of the game with only one point.

Full Time: Knocknamuckley 1 v 1 Charlemont

v 5th Portadown

Tatarahagn were next up for Muckley, and the Knocknamuckley side were beginning to pay the price for only having 5 boys available as fatigue began to set in and they found themselves two goals down. Muckley continued to press to try to get back into the game, and they eventually pulled a goal back. A free kick was awarded, and Andrew Poole rolled the ball out to Grey, who controlled the ball with his left before firing a right foot shot across the goalkeeper. Unfortunately, they were not able to find another goal to grab a point and so suffered their first defeat.

Full Time: Knocknamuckley 1 v 2 5th Portadown

v Ahorey

In the final game Knocknamuckley dominated, but were finding it hard to put away their chances. This came back to hurt them as a goalkeeping mistake lead to Ahorey taking a one goal lead. After this Muckley continued to dominate as they went in search of an equaliser, which would have put them through to the semi-finals, but their efforts went in vain as they had to fight against some time wasting from the opposition, and eventually ran out of time in their search for the goal which would have sealed their progression.

Full Time: Knocknamuckley 0 v 1 Ahorey

Despite being the first team to exit the competition the Knocknamuckley side gave it their all, and made a fine effort considering the number of players missing, and the fact that they had to compete with only 5 boys, in what is quite a physically tiring competition.

Team- Stewart, Grey, Poole, Campbell, McConnell.