Match Report
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U-18 National 5-a-sideU-18 National 5-a-side
(Round 2)
22/12/2007
Knocknamuckley travelled to Larne for the second round of the National 5-a-side, and after winning their Battalion competition and topping their group in the first stage they were confident of progressing to the Irish Finals of this competition. They had been drawn in a group alongside 1st Ballyclare, 1st Cullybackey and 1st Portrush, but after a late withdrawal from Portrush, the group was reduced to three. Each team would now play each other twice each in this round. With the top two sides going through this meant that Knocknamuckley just had to avoid finishing bottom to progress.
v 1st Cullybackey
The first match is always one of the most important, as no team wants to be playing catch-up in the remaining games. It was Cullybackey who made the brighter start, forcing Muckley keeper Seth Mathers into a good save, and later taking the lead with a greatly struck left foot shot right into the bottom right hand corner of the net. Knocknamuckley did get back on level terms after John Henderson won the ball, and Jonathan Mawhinney was able to equalise with a cool finish. It was Cullybackey who regained the lead after confusion in the Muckley defence following the award of a goal-kick. Knocknamuckley again drew level, this time through a Gregg Harrison goal. Knocknamuckley managed to keep the scores level with some heroic defence from Mathers and Simon Grey. Mathers made a good save to deny the Cullybackey team first, followed by a last ditch block from Grey, and another Mathers save. Muckley managed to take the lead for the first time in the match. Henderson again won the ball brilliantly with some great pressure, and finished it off himself with a cool finish.
Half Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 3 v 2 1st Cullybackey
Cullybackey really piled on the pressure at the start of the second. Seth pulled off a wonderful save low to his left hand, before Cullybackey hit the post. The scores were level again when Cullybackey hit Knocknamuckley on the break to leave the scores at 3-3. Knocknamuckley regained the lead through a Harrison goal, from a Henderson pass, before Harrison was unlucky with a well struck free kick. Knocknamuckley were then awarded a penalty, when the Cullybackey goalkeeper strayed out of his area, which Harrison confidently slotted away. There was now a two goal cushion between the sides for the first time in the match. Knocknamuckley extended their lead and wrapped up the match with the best move of the game. A Mawhinney drive across goal, beat the goalkeeper after a great passing move involving Henderson and Harrison.
Full Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 6 v 3 1st Cullybackey
v 1st Ballyclare
Knocknamuckley took on the hosts Ballyclare in the second game of the tournament. Ballyclare took the lead with a goal from down the right hand side as Knocknamuckley again went behind early on. Simon Grey prevented his side from going 2-0 down with a great double tackle. Seth Mathers was then called upon to make a save from a great Ballyclare strike. Knocknamuckley drew level when John Henderson scored from a great Gregg Harrison pass. It was Henderson again who then put Muckley in front, this time from a great pass from Grey.
Half Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 2 v 1 1st Ballyclare
Jonny Mawhinney put Muckley further ahead with a wonderful individual goal. Jonny weaved his way through the defence before making no mistake with the finish, for a special goal. Harrison rounded off the scoring using the wall to beat his player before firing in from wide on the right.
Full Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 4 v 1 1st Ballyclare
v 1st Cullybackey
In the second round of matches Cullybackey again started brightly hitting the bar with a powerful shot, and the ball again came off the post when a Gregg Harrison backpass rebounded off the post. Stephen Russell had the first chance for Muckley when he hit the side-netting, but it was Cullybackey who took the lead when they slid the ball past Seth Mathers just before the ball entered the goalkeeper's circle. Jonny Mawhinney levelled the scores, before he later was unlucky to see a low shot from a free kick come back off the post.
Half Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 1 v 1 1st Cullybackey
The second half started well when Harrison hit the underside of the bar after a beautiful passing move involving Mawhinney and John Henderson. Mawhinney again saw a shot come back of the post when his shot struck the inside of the post. It was Harrison who put Knocknamuckley in front. Henderson was also unlucky not to score when his shot missed by a matter of inches after a Mawhinney pass. Mawhinney then capped a brilliant performance with a goal from wide on the right. Cullybackey pulled a goal back when they tucked away the rebound after a Mathers save, but Harrison made the points safe, and their passage into the next round, with a spectacular left foot volley.
Full Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 4 v 2 1st Cullybackey
v 1st Ballyclare
Ballyclare needed a result in this match to ease the pressure on them going into their final game,while Knocknamuckley had already safely progressed. Ballyclare took the lead when they put the ball through the legs of Knocknamuckley keeper, Seth Mathers. They later doubled their lead when their player powered his way through the Muckley defence and scored. Mathers then pulled off a great save from a Ballyclare free-kick, and shortly after pulled off another fine save. Ballyclare extended their lead further and Mathers pulled off another save, this time with his feet. The game went from bad to worse for Knocknamuckley when Simon Grey was rightly shown a red card for foul language.
Half Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 0 v 3 1st Ballyclare
The second half began with Knocknamuckley playing 4 against 5. Ballyclare hit the post early on, but only had to pull off two other saves of note, one a fine reaction stop, thanks to the determined display of the three Muckley outfield players. Despite the difference in numbers Muckley nearly got on the scoresheet when John Henderson forced a save from the Ballyclare goalie.
Full Time: 1st Knocknamuckley 0 v 3 1st Ballyclare
Despite the defeat in the final match Knocknamuckley once again progressed as group leaders. They are now into the Irish Finals, which is already a great achievement, in their bid to go the whole way to the UK Finals. Despite there being so many positives to be taken from this round, the tournament finished on a sour note as Simon Grey will now be suspended from the Irish Finals, as well as being a huge personal disappointment for Grey, is also a big blow for the team as Simon has been excellent in the three tournaments to date.
Team- Mathers, Grey, Russell, Harrison, Mawhinney, Henderson, Campbell.
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gregg
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Notice ya ddnt metion that u decided it would be a good idea to sub me for the 1st 5 minutes of the last game & we were 3-0 down then got Simon sent off angry that i wasnt playin  Good report though, bar that last game 
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