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Match Report · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 127

U-18 National 5-a-side
(Round 2)
10/01/2009

Knocknamuckley continued their attempts to become Irish Champions in Ballymena in the second round of the National 5-a-side. The draw had pitted them against 6th Ballymena, 1st Cullybackey and 1st Greenisland. Knocknamuckley had made two changes from the previous round, with Seth Mathers, taking his place in goal after being unavailable in the previous round, when Matthew Kimmons deputised well. The other change saw Stuart Campbell recalled.

v 6th Ballymena

The first game saw Muckley play the first of two back to back games against the hosts, Ballymena. Knocknamuckley made a bright start and ended up taking the lead when Gregg Harrison won the ball before playing it out right to Nathan McConnell. McConnell played a lovely stabbed pass back inside to Harrison who shimmied away from the defender and gave his side the lead. Another good attacking move saw Stephen Russell and McConnell link up well, but Nathan shot wide. McConnell had another near miss after winning the ball back in an attacking position, but again shot narrowly wide. Again Knocknamuckley threatened, Simon Grey carried the ball out of defence and played a back-heeled pass, opening up space for Harrison, who shot from half way, but saw his shot saved.

Rather against the run of play Ballymena managed to pull level with a shot from the right which went in off the post. Knocknamuckley continued to have the better of the play. Stephen Russell was denied by a save from the keepers leg when through on goal. Russell turned provider soon after, finding possession on the right Russell fed a pass inside to Harrison, who was again denied by the goalkeeper.

Half Time: 6th Ballymena 1 v 1 1st Knocknamuckley

After having the better of the play in the first half it was frustrating for Muckley to still be level at half time, especially as a slip-up in the first game could prove costly. The second half however seemed to bring better luck, and Knocknamuckley regained the lead, Harrison making the breakthrough. Harrison rounded off a fine hat-trick with a great individual goal. Despite having the ball in the Ballymena half it looked as if nothing was on, with a defender between him and the goal, but from practically no where Gregg poked the ball around the defender and into the bottom corner of the net, with the keeper stranded. Andrew Poole had a chance to increase the lead for Muckley but hit a poor shot after doing well to get clean through. Muckley did manage to give themselves a cushion after a lovely passing move starting with Harrison, involving Poole and finished off by Russell with a shot into the top corner. At the other end, Grey made a good block to maintain the three goal cushion.

Full Time: 6th Ballymena 1 v 4 1st Knocknamuckley

v 1st Cullybackey

Knocknamuckley needed to play their second match straight after their first. Cullybackey made the best possible start with an early goal, with a low, hard finish from down the left hand side. Cullybackey had a great chance to double their lead after a deflection played their forward through on goal, but he failed to hit the target. In a half of few chances, Knocknamuckley tried to push forward, but were denied a shooting chance by a last ditch tackle on Nathan McConnell. A good through ball from Simon Grey played in Gregg Harrison but the goalkeeper produced a good save.

Half Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 0 v 1 1st Cullybackey

In the second half Cullybackey had an early chance but shot over the bar when clean through. Cullybackey began to control the half, with Knocknamuckley being completely outplayed. Cullybackey had another one one-on-one situation, but hit the post.

Muckley began to push forward in search of an equaliser, but naturally, this left them exposed at the back. Knocknamuckley did begin to fashion some chances as the half wore on. Simon Grey had a shot, which was saved rather fortuitously by the keepers legs. Again the goalkeeper appeared to get a bit lucky when Stephen Russell's shot appeared to have went through the goalie's legs, only to be deflected by his trailing foot. Time was fast running out for Knocknamuckley and despite having the majority of possession, it looked like it was to little, too late. As time ticked away Gregg Harrison had the ball in the Cullybackey half, he played a nice ball from the right inside for the advancing Grey, who had the chance to shoot first time. Grey timed his run perfectly and stroked the ball with great composure and precision into the top corner of the net, for a gorgeous goal, and a vital equaliser, just before full time.

Full Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 1 v 1 1st Cullybackey

v 1st Greenisland

Going into the final group game, Knocknamuckley knew that a draw would send them through, while Greenisland needed a win to progress. Knocknamuckley started well. Simon Grey came closest to opening the scoring with a run into the Greenisland half and a shot which the keeper just managed to save. Muckley then mounted a spell of pressure without managing to make the breakthrough.

Not making the most of the early pressure came back to haunt Muckley as Greenisland managed a soft goal from the left hand side, which really should have been saved. At this point, as things stood, Knocknamuckley were crashing out. After his crucial goal in the previous game it was Grey who again popped up with a vital goal, to draw his side level.

The game was now very much in the balance, and Greenisland came very close to regaining their lead when a low shot cannoned off the inside of the post and away to safety. Again it looked like Greenisland were about to take the lead when the ball dropped on the edge of the area to one of their forwards. Stephen Russell made a wonderful block after running back, the length of the pitch to get in a crucial block.
Just as Greenisland looked as if they were taking control of the match, and as half time approached, Nathan McConnell received the ball wide left, and released a shot with his left foot from a narrow angle, beating the keeper and giving his side the lead, injuring himself in the process.
Following a stoppage for treatment to McConnell the game restarted, and straight from the kick-off Harrison won the ball, shimmied past the last defender and scored to put Muckley 3-1 up. With the game having turned on its head in the last two minutes, the half-time whistle was blown.

Half Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 3 v 1 1st Greenisland

Greenisland now had to make up three goals on Muckley to send them through, and knock the Portadown company out. They got the first of these, when a loose ball, after some slack play from Muckley was seized upon by a Greenisland player and tucked away.

The game was turning into an end to end affair, as Seth Mathers pulled of a great diving save from an excellent shot from the left hand side to keep his side ahead. Gregg Harrison then had a shot saved by the foot of the goalkeeper and Simon Grey made a good block at the back. Gregg Harrison wrapped the game up as a contest with a goal from the left hand side to restore his sides cushion, and allow them that extra bit of breathing space.

This allowed Muckley, especially Harrison and Grey, to play some good possession football, and Stephen Russell and Andrew Poole to look for openings in the Greenisland defence. Andrew Poole kept possession with some wonderful tight control when surrounded by numerous defenders as Muckley closed the game out, to progress, as group winners, o the Irish Finals for the second year in a row.

Full Time: Knocknamuckley 4 v 2 1st Greenisland

Knocknamuckley will now contest in the Irish Finals for the second year in a row, and will hope to improve on last years performance and advance to the UK Finals as Irish Champions. Their performance in this group stage was very impressive, as some of the squad were suffering having played football in the morning, and having to play two tough games back-to-back. But in the end strength of character and will to win shone through, and this should stand them in good stead in the finals.

Team- Mathers, Grey, Russell, Harrison, Poole, Campbell, McConnell.