Match Report
|
U-18 v 4th Portadown (7-a-side)U-18 v 4th Portadown
(7-a-side, League Stage)
02/09/2007
Knocknamuckley opened the Lurgan BBOB Cup, and their defence of it with a tough match against 4th Portadown. Having only lost one player from last season, despite it being a very influential player in captain Drew Gardiner, hopes were high, with seven of the nine having played in last seasons final.
Knocknamuckley started the brighter of the two, with Johnny Mawhinney impressing in central midfield in his first match back since breaking his leg last season. Despite starting well, chances were too a minimum for the champions. Colin Irwin picked out Gregg Harrison excellently from the left wing, with a deep cross to the back post, but Harrison was unable to tuck away a difficult header. Andrew Irwin also came close to opening the scoring with a header over the advancing keeper, but the ball didn't dip enough and cleared the goalies cross bar.
After Knocknamuckley having had the better of the play for the first 5 minutes, the Presbies had a sustained period of pressure up until half time, with Muckley seeing very little of the ball in attacking positions. Despite this period of pressure, Portadown didn't create many close range chance and were taking long range shots, many of which weren't finding the target. Their pressure did pay dividends just before half time, when they won a free kick in front of goal. The strike evaded the wall and made its way into the net after striking keeper, Seth Mathers on the chest.
Half time 1st Knocknamuckley 0 v 1 4th Portadown
In the first half, despite there being no obvious problem, things just hadn't been working for Knocknamuckley. With one half to go, and one goal down, Muckley started at a quick pace, keen not to lose the first match of their defence.
Harrison hit the post with a drive early on, but apart from this Muckley didn't have many attempts at goal worth note, except for a few half chances from distance.
Muckley did eventually make the breakthrough and draw the scores level, when a long goal kick from Mathers picked out Harrison, just wide of the goal. His header looped over the goalkeeper and dropped inside the post to level the scores.
Knocknamuckley upped the tempo further and were definitely on top. A throw in was awarded in the right hand corner. A long throw was taken by Mawhinney, who fired the ball into the box, it was flicked on on the way in by John Henderson. Andrew Irwin then did well to react, get his head to the ball and redirect the ball in off the far post to give Muckley the lead.
The third goal came from a free kick in a similar position to the Presbies free kick in the first half, but on the opposite side. Harrison ran up and looked to strike it before cleverly tapping the ball right to Henderson, taking the wall out of the equation, and the substitute hit the ball, low through a number of bodies and past the goalkeeper.
Not long after Henderson got his second, this time from a volley after again being set up by Harrison.
Chances were now coming thick and fast as the Presbyterian heads dropped. A Harrison shot was parried by the goalkeeper, and Matthew Kimmins, making his début for the U-18s, followed up, and got to the ball before the defender to poke home, to round off an impressive display.
One last Presbyterian attack led to a penalty, when the ball bounced up and struck Kris Duprey, behind his back, on his trailing arm. The penalty was struck low to the goalkeepers left, but Mathers got down quickly, to not only block, but hold on to the ball.
Despite this being a far from impressive performance from a strong Knocknamuckley side, the result was more than satisfying, although 5-1 may flatter Muckley a bit. There is still plenty of room for improvement if they want to go as far as last year, but there were no signs that this improvement won't come especially as they could be forgiven for being slightly rusty for their first game. The manner in which they came back from a goal down in the second half was pleasing, it showed great pride and fighting spirit and hopefully promises for another good season
Full time 1st Knocknamuckley 5 v 1 4th Portadown
Team- Mathers; Calvert, Duprey; Harrison, Mawhinney, C.Irwin; A. Irwin: Henderson, Kimmins.
Goal- Harrison, A.Irwin, Henderson 2, Kimmins
|
