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Match Report · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 131

U-18 v Lurgan BBOB Youth
15/08/2009
(Friendly)

Knocknamuckley again met Lurgan BBOB Youth as part of pre-season preparations for BBOB before the commencement of the Mid-Ulster Youth League. Knocknamuckley fielded a few new faces, which will be playing a key role this season with the departure of a vast proportion of last season’s first team squad. Knocknamuckley were also allowed to field a number of players who have now left the BB, but would only be too old for the Lurgan BBOB side by a matter of days.

The opening exchanges proved to be very entertaining, as Muckley began to control the midfield area. Knocknamuckley set up with five men across the middle, allowing Adam McKeown, Stephen Russell and Graham Jardine to dominate the midfield area, allowing Stuart Campbell freedom to attack down the left hand side, where he was causing the BBOB defence problems. Matthew Kimmons was also very lively in attack, not allowing them time to settle on the ball, and using his movement to unsettle them. This movement led to a couple of half chances for Kimmons, but he was unable to find the back of the net.

Muckley’s best chance of the half was yet to come. Jardine found space on the right after bursting forward to deliver a wonderful cross, which cut the keep out of the equation in the process. Campbell had drifted in from the left flank, and stooped on the edge of the six yard box, but somehow looped his header over the bar.

Knocknamuckley did take the lead that they deserved moments later, a through ball from Russell was raced onto by Kimmons, who confidently rounded the keeper, after he had appeared stranded, and coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Andrew Poole had had a quiet start to the game on the right flank, but was temporarily switched to the left flank and had an immediate impact. Receiving the ball from the centre midfield Pooley managed to turn his full back inside out with some sublime skill in one of the highlights of the half.

The fitness of the Knocknamuckley side began to tell on the game, as Lurgan BBOB began to take charge, after having completed a full pre-season. Fortunately for Muckley Seth Mathers was on top of his game, and made numerous saves when Lurgan BBOB found themselves in one-on –one opportunities. The swing in the balance of play also highlighted how well Knocknamuckley’s young full backs were playing, as Josh Black and Nathan McConnell continually snuffed out danger and started attacks from deep as they looked composed in possession.

Lurgan BBOB did manage to pull the scores level when they equalised from a corner, as the defence temporarily lost their organisation. So the teams went in level at half time, which reflected the play so far, as Muckley dominated early on, only for Lurgan BBOB to dominate in the final half of the opening period as their superior fitness began to show.

Half Time 1st Knocknamuckley 1 v 1 Lurgan BBOB

Knocknamuckley made changes at the start of the second half, with the introduction of Matthew Lamont, with Josh Black moving into the centre of defence. Brooke Love came in on the left wing, while Matthew Parks was introduced in order to counteract the tiring legs of thee Muckley midfield.

Lurgan BBOB started the second half in the ascendancy with two quick goals, as their superior fitness was proving crucial.

Knocknamuckley refused to roll over and die though. Despite struggling to maintain any sort of shape throughout midfield, as their tiring legs didn’t allow them, Muckley showed plenty of grit and determination. McKeown had a fierce strike fumbled by the goalkeeper, but Parks had been quick to follow up the shot. Despite slipping as the ball was spilled just wide of him, Parks managed to readjust and fire the ball into the net on the half volley as he lost his footing.

Lurgan BBOB regained their two goal lead through a strike which Mather could do nothing about in the Muckley net as the striker placed the ball in the top right hand corner. Although he was rather fortunate, as he slipped before striking the ball and was lucky that the ball flew in the direction that it did.

Knocknamuckley continued to play well and when Parks was played through by McConnell, beating the offside trap he made no mistake, finishing gloriously over the advancing keeper. The two sides then traded goals, with a lovely finish from a Lurgan BBOB striker being cancelled out when Poole crashed a shot home after a good move involving McConnell, Parks and Love, who had been delivering some fine crosses from his left wing position.

Lurgan BBOB scored another, but it was Muckley who rounded off the scoring, when Campbell slotted home when played through one-on-one, to finally get his name on the scoresheet.

Every one of the Muckley players came out of the match with credit, but particularly pleasing were the performances of the younger players who are just stepping up to this level. Josh Black was hugely impressive with his defensive display and his skill on the ball, while Nathan McConnell also showed why he is so highly thought of and Brooke Love impressed with his wing play in the second half.

Hopefully this provided a good warm up for Lurgan BBOB, and hopefully Knocknamuckley will have a chance to even up the scores later in the season, once they have raised their fitness levels to the necessary standard after their own pre-season training.

Full Time 1st Knocknamuckley 5 v 7 Lurgan BBOB

Team: Mathers; Black, Calvert, Duprey, McConnell; Poole, McKeown, Russell, Jardine, Campbell; Kimmons. Lamont, Love, Parks.

Goals: Kimmons, Parks 2, Poole, Campbell