U-18 v 7th Portadown (7-a-side, FINAL)

Match Report · U-18 v 7th Portadown (7-a-side, FINAL)

U-18 v 7th Portadown
(7-a-side, Final)
14/04/2007

7th Portadown and Knocknamuckley met in the final of the Lurgan BBOB 7-a-side competition. These two sides had met earlier in the season in the First Round of the Northern Ireland Cup, when 7th Portadown triumphed. The match was played at Mourneview Park following Glenavon's Irish League match with Portadown.

This was the first time that Knocknamuckley had reached the final of this competition, now in its fourth year, and the third year that Muckley had entered. 7th Portadown were the holders and hoping to become the first team to retain the trophy.

The match was always going to be keenly contested between these two rival sides, especially with so much at stake, and promised to be a close contest. Knocknamuckley, fielding an unchanged side from the semi-final, made the perfect start. Minutes into the game, Gregg Harrison found space down the right hand side and fired in a low cross from the very corner towards the near post. Graham Jardine had made a run from his left sided position across the goal and got in front of his defender. Jardine met the cross perfectly and caught the ball with a side footed volley flew inside the near post to give Knocknamuckley an early lead, in front of the majority of the large Muckley support.

The early goal really put the Methodist on the back foot, meaning that they had to make something happen. Portadown lifted their game immediately, but Muckley had made sure to not get carried away by the goal, and the play was very even. Portadown were coming at Muckley, but the defence and midfield were managing to deal comfortably with the attack and were gaining some good possession. No clear-cut chances were created in these exchanges, although Andy Calvert, Drew Gardiner, John Henderson and Jardine all had efforts from long range, some ending up closer to the target than others. Gardiner had an attempted header from a Henderson corner and Andrew Irwin had a half chance when Gardiner managed to squeeze a cross in along the line from another corner. Irwin got a toe to the ball but was unable to force it across the line.

As Portadown continued in search of an equaliser they began to dominate proceedings, however the Knocknamuckley midfield and defence stood firm and were very focused at defending solidly and soaking up whatever Portadown had to throw at them. As the frustration grew in the Portadown ranks there were one or two unsavoury challenges flew in from a couple of Methodist players involving studs, which went unnoticed by the referee. To the credit of the Knocknamuckley players they managed to ignore the challenges and not react or rise to the bait.

As the half began to draw to a close Portadown were beginning to make a bit more headway against the Muckley rearguard. The Methodist striker and target man managed to turn Gardiner for the first time from a long ball, and fired a shot at the Knocknamuckley goal from close range. The Muckley goalkeeper, Seth Mathers, somehow managed to react in time and push the shot away for a corner, denying a certain equaliser. From a resulting corner a Methodist midfielder was picked out unmarked at the backpost and narrowly put his placed volley wide of the far top corner.

In the last few minutes of the half the Methodist side were still finding a few gaps in the Muckley defence. After a sharp passing move a Portadown player had space down the inside-right channel. He struck a firm, early shot across goal, and looked to have grabbed Portadown an excellent equaliser, which would have dealt Muckley a huge psychological blow just before half-time. However, somehow Mathers managed to react in time, shooting out a right foot to turn the shot away for a corner at the last second, before the ball nestled inside the post.

At the half-time whistle the sides came in with Knocknamuckley still holding a one goal advantage after holding on to their early lead following some late Methodist pressure.

Half time 1st Knocknamuckley 1 v 0 7th Portadown

The second-half was set to be a cagey affair with only one goal separating the sides. It was imperative that Knocknamuckley were to maintain their concentration if they were to win this competition for the first time and end a long trophyless run for the U-18 side.

The Methodist, as expected, were looking to attack from the outset, but Knocknamuckley were not going to be caught napping. Knocknamuckley were doing a good job of winning possession, and were breaking quickly, but were always careful not to commit too many men forward, one of the three midfielder's always having the presence of mind to hang back to mop up any Methodist clearances. This particular job was more often than not taken by John Henderson, who was having his best game defensively of the whole season.

The first and only clear-cut chance of the half fell Portadown's way. Again a well struck shot was remarkably saved by the excellent Seth Mathers, who was really keeping Muckley in the driving seat as he looked unbeatable in the Knocknamuckley goal.

A one goal lead is always difficult to defend and chances were stilling falling both ways as each side showed their great desire to win the game. Muckley were causing some problems with Gardiner's long throws and goal-kicks. One such goal-kick led to Colly Irwin managing to get infront of his marker and get the deftest of headers on the ball, as he flicked it over his marker and towards the goal. The touch fooled the goalkeeper and the ball bounced past a defender and into the goal. This was nearly an exact repeat of his goal in the semi final, when he also came off the bench to give Muckley a two goal cushion.

This really gave Knocknamuckley some much needed breathing space. The Methodist began to attack with even more energy, as a goal became even more urgent than before. But as had been the way throughout the entire half, and indeed most of the match, every Knocknamuckley player had their mind firmly on the job at hand and were giving the Methodist players no time on the ball. The defence were quick to mop up anything that got past the Knocknamuckley three man midfield. Too much work and gone on throughout the season to throw it away now.

The Methodist were limited to a few long range efforts and wasted one or two opportunities to pick out unmarked players. As Portadown pushed further and further forward Knocknamuckley had chances to put a further gloss on the scoreline. Colly Irwin was played in behind the defence, just past the half way line. He carried the ball up the field as the defence closed, managed to get the ball out of his feet, but the resulting shot was saved.

As the game was winding down to a conclusion, and the two goal lead looked like it would be enough, Kris Duprey came on as Knocknamuckley switched to three at the back to see out the closing five or so minutes.

Andrew Irwin was brought back on upfront for his namesake Colly, for a set of fresh legs, as Colin had put in a great deal of energy running to close down defenders on the ball, to give them less time to play and rushing them in to mistakes. Andrew Irwin soon had a chance similar to the one that fell to Colin Irwin earlier, he was played in behind the defence, but his well struck shot fizzed just past the top corner.

The final whistle finally went, meaning that Knocknamuckley were the fourth LBBOB 7-a-side Champions.

Throughout the season these players have been a pleasure to deal with. During the final all 9 of them did not just their manager, but themselves and their company proud. They give their all for the entire 40 minutes, and showed what has become characteristic team spirit.

Seth Mathers pulled of a string of outstanding saves, Drew Gardiner dealt with their centre forward brilliantly forcing them to play a different style form they're used to, Andy Calvert mopped up any loose balls or unmarked players, Gregg Harrison was always available in attack and defence, John Henderson held his position superbly, not afraid of the tackle, Graham Jardine got up and down, putting in hard challenges and grabbing the important first goal, Andrew Irwin put himself about upfront causing the defence problems as he pulled from left to right, Colly Irwin ran his heart out, posed the defence a different problem, and again grabbed a goal, and Kris Duprey came on to steady the ship at the back just when it was needed.

Everyone of them did exactly what was asked of them and played as a team not as individuals, and I think that Knocknamuckley were worthy winners, not just because of how they performed today, but throughout the entire season. Congratulations.

After the medals were handed out to the team, Dew Gardiner, the Knocknamuckley captain was presented with the trophy and Seth Mathers was deservedly named as Man of the Match, his performance even more impressive as he discovered later that he had played the entire game with two broken bones in his hand.

Full time 1st Knocknamuckley 2 v 0 7th Portadown

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

Goals- Jardine, C.Irwin.

Man of the Match- Mathers

Match Report

Lurgan BBOB Report

Sat 14/04/07; Final, 1st Knocknamuckley 2, 7th Portadown 0

The Under 18 Final was a much anticipated local derby involving first time finalists and league stage runners-up 1st Knocknamuckley, and reigning champions, 7th Portadown, who had finished three places below in the league stage. Like the Under 14 final, 7th Portadown were bidding to become the first team to win the competition twice. However, it was Knocknamuckley who made a dream start by opening the scoring inside the first couple of minutes with a headed goal by Graham Jardine. Given this early platform, Muckley set their stall out by defending resiliently, led by Drew Gardiner at the back and with goalkeeper Seth Mathers making some fine saves behind. No further goals were scored in the half as Muckley held onto a 1-0 lead at the break.

HT 1-0 (1st Knocknamuckley)

The second half was a similar affair. Again, 7th Portadown pressed and played some fine football but Muckley defended superbly with goalkeeper Mathers outstanding throughout as he pulled off some more great saves. Indeed, Matthers made four absolutely top draw saves in the game. Their goalkeeper’s form gave Muckley the confidence needed and they doubled their lead in the second half with Colin Irwin’s strike. Without conceding any goals, Muckley secured a 2-0 victory. Not surprisingly, Seth Mathers was chosen as man of the match by LBBOB match referee Andi Heasley and received an award from sponsor Nigel Armstong of NA Sports.

FT 2-0 (1st Knocknamuckley)

Teams:

1st Knocknamuckley
Seth Mathers, Drew Gardiner, Kris Duprey, Graham Jardine, Andrew Calvert, Gregg Harrison, John Henderson, Andrew Irwin, Colin Irwin

7th Portadown
Keith Richardson, Jeff Richardson, Craig Cloughley, Chris Jeffers, Jason Hall, Stephen Hatfield, Jonathan Gaithwaite, Simon Williamson

Parks · Re: U-18 v 7th Portadown (7-a-side, FINAL)

gregg · Re Parker boy

It wasn't a cross, I took the throw in Also it wasn't a side footed volley, it was a poke in front of the keeper So in response, no not very happy at all lol

Parks

Excellent reporting there by that Match Report fella!! Keep up the good work

U-18 v 7th Portadown (7-a-side, FINAL)

Re: U-18 v 7th Portadown (7-a-side, FINAL)

Re Parker boy