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Match Report · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 63

U-18 v Ahorey
(7-a-side, League Stage)
27/02/2007

On a bitter night in Lurgan, the final group game for Knocknamuckley was in danger of being postponed as the wind was fierce at Dickson Primary School. However, once the goals were secure the game got under way, meaning that we wouldn't have to rearrange to come back on a later date.

As mentioned the conditions were far from suited to attractive football. Ahorey used the wind to great advantage in the first half, as Muckley found it hard to get a foot hold in the game against the strong breeze. Ahorey had the vast majority of possession and were putting some great high balls into the box, as well as using long throw-ins to great affect. On such a night a goalkeeper could be expected to have trouble under the high ball, especially under pressure from the oppositions forwards who were cramming the box. There were no such worries for Knocknamuckley as Seth Mathers held on to every high ball that he was asked to deal with, in an excellent display of how to deal with the ball under pressure.

When Muckley had the ball, possession was rushed and they were unable to string any passes together, as Ahorey really controlled the game. It was rather against the run of play that Muckley took the lead. A long ball out of defence found Gregg Harrison beyond the back post. Harrison was able to cushion the ball back across the goal for Graeme Jardine, who had got up in support from the left wing, to fire home from close range.

Ahorey still kept control the game, and won a corner on they're left. The ball was hung up around the penalty spot towards a group of players. Mathers managed to fight his way through the crowd of players to get a strong right fist on the ball to clear the danger.

Knocknamuckley were beginning to get a bit more time on the ball. The best move of the first half came when the midfield combined well, Harrison played the ball back to Jon Henderson who passed the ball to Jardine down the left, who quickly fed the ball up to Andrew Irwin who had made a good run, but was just unable to cushion the pass into his stride.

Half time came with Ahorey unlucky not to be in front, but were trailing by one goal to nil.

Half time 1st Knocknamuckley 1 v 0 Ahorey

Despite playing against the wind, Ahorey began the second half still in control. They looked assured of an equaliser in the opening minutes. A corner dropped in the box to an Ahorey player. The Ahorey player shot at goal only for Mathers to make an excellent reaction save. The panicked Muckley defence were unable to clear the ball fully, and Ahorey worked it to the far post where Seth had to scramble to make a save at full stretch, and then also managed blocked the immediate follow up, with what appeared to be his face, before stretching again to take it off the other strikers toe.

Despite being under pressure Knocknamuckley still managed to force a few corners. The wind made it difficult to judge the flight of the ball and the first few were over hit. A corner later on, was miss-hit, and driven straight into the keepers arms at the near post. However, the keeper didn't manage to hold unto the ball. Jardine had followed in and was able to fire the fumble home, for his second of the game.

So, despite being under pressure for 25 minutes of the 40 minute game, Knocknamuckley had managed to find themselves 2-0 up. The game then proceeded to even itself out, as these two goals against the run of play seemed to have deflated the Ahorey players slightly.

Knocknamuckley managed to dictate proceedings for the remaining 10 minutes of the match, and Harrison, Henderson, Jardine and Irwin had half chances. Jardine thought he had got his hat trick near the end, as a long throw-in crept in at the back post, but no player had touched the ball when in play, and so a goal kick was awarded.

This concluded the group stage with Knocknamuckley having won four, lost one, and finished in at least second place. This ensured that they're seeding would keep them and Bluestone, who knocked Knocknamuckley out in the semi-final in 2005, apart to the final if both teams made it.

Performances may have to improve slightly in the coming rounds, but this was a pleasing victory. Knocknamuckley dealt very well with the conditions, and the fact that they were able to soak up so much pressure, to come out with a clean sheet, whilst taking our chances with such efficiency was very promising.

Full time 1st Knocknamuckley 2 v 0 Ahorey

Team- Mathers; A. Calvert, Duprey; Harrison, Henderson, Jardine; A. Irwin.

Goal- Jardine 2