Match Report
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U-18 v 3rd Kilkeel (NI Cup)U-18 v 3rd Kilkeel
02/01/2008
(Northern Ireland Cup, 1st Round)
Knocknamuckley travelled to Kilkeel for the first round of the Northern Ireland Cup. The competition having changed format from the traditional 11-a-side to a new 7-a-side alternative, strangely still played on a full pitch, under normal rules, yet abandoning the off-side rule.
The opening exchanges were very controlled with neither team carving out many chances. It was Muckley who came closest to opening the scoring. A long range effort from Gregg Harrison sailed over the goalkeeper only to crash off the cross bar, with Stuart Campbell unable to redirect the rebound goalwards.
Unfortunately, it was all down hill for Knocknamuckley after this, as Kilkeel began to run the game. Kilkeel twice came close to taking the lead. The first effort saw a shot from the edge of the box clip the the post, and were later unlucky not to score from a flicked header that Seth Mathers just managed to claw away.
Kilkeel did manage to open the scoring soon after. They were were afforded too much space, as they passed the ball down the left hand side into the box and were allowed to shoot under very little pressure.
Kilkeel were prevented from going further ahead by an excellent block from Andy Calvert, after a fluent passing move.
Although, they did manage to extend their lead soon after, with a crisply hit right foot shot when a cross was played in from the right wing, and went further ahead with another goal soon after, leaving Muckley with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Half time 3rd Kilkeel 3 v 0 1st Knocknamuckley
Knocknamuckley knew that they had underperformed in the first half, and they needed a big performance to give themselves any chance of remaining in this competition past the opening round.
However, a huge task was made nearly impossible when Kilkeel added a fourth early in the second half, after Muckley had given away possession too easily. A long range effort was fired against the crossbar, but bounced kindly for the Kilkeel striker who had followed in, and the ball was tapped home.
Knocknamuckley finally got on the scoresheet through a John Henderson goal. Johnny Mawhinney ran up the left wing before the ball was lost, having to turn and ran all the way back down the touchline to win the ball. He fed Simon Grey inside him who was able to carry the ball forward before slipping a pass to Henderson who made no mistake with the finish.
Kilkeel hit back to regain their four goal cushion, hitting Muckley on the break as they were forced to push forward, smashing an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner of the Muckley net from just outside the box.
Knocknamuckley then had a series of chances as they exerted their first real period of pressure during the game. Henderson saw a good shot saved, and Mawhinney was unlucky not to squeeze the ball home on the rebound. Colin Irwin fed a clever pass to Harrison inside the box, and despite the ball taking a terrible bounce off the pitch, Harrison was still able to get a shot away, which was saved by the Kilkeel goalie. A Harrison run which took him past a couple of Kilkeel players allowed him to feed Grey down the right, and after beating his man, Simon curled his shot narrowly wide of the far post.
Henderson was denied by an unbelievable block from a Kilkeel defender, after he had rounded the keeper, and looked to be unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after the keeper's trailing leg appeared to catch Hendo as he passed him, leaving the Muckley player having to struggle to retain his balance in order to get a shot away.
Soon after Henderson was on the end of a wonderful pass from Harrison, who from just inside the Kilkeel half was able to strike a pass which completely split the Kilkeel defence straight into the run of Henderson. Hendo recovered from a poor first touch to stick the ball into the top corner with his left foot, to cap a great individual second half performance, full of tireless running and some tremendous tackles.
Kilkeel had the last chance of the game when Seth Mathers was called upon to make a save while the striker was through one on one.
Excuses could be made for the result of this game, such as that Knocknamuckley were new to this format of the game while Kilkeel have competed in similar local competitions. However, excuses count for very little, and no comfort can be taken in the possible reasons for this defeat, as this season's Northern Ireland Cup campaign has ended in the first round. This being fourth season in a row Knocknamuckley have been unable to progress past the first round in the most important competition of the season. Unfortunately nothing can be done to rectify this embarrassing stat until next years competition, when the majority of this squad will have their last chance to win the trophy which Knocknamuckley have only once managed to lift.
Full Time 3rd Kilkeel 5 v 2 1st Knocknamuckley
Team: Mathers; Calvert, Grey; Harrison, Henderson, Mawhinney; Campbell: McKeown, C.Irwin, A.Irwin.
Goals: Henderson 2.
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mckeown
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the only time my name was mentioned was in the team sheet, and i was on the bench  cheers parker. i made the 2nd goal, the whole team agrees [encluding harrision]
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