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Match Report · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 63

U-18 v 2nd Lurgan
(7-a-side, Quarter Final)
20/03/2006

This was the second occasion that these two sides had met in this years 7-a-side competition, the previous occasion seeing Muckley run out as comfortable winners. This time the match was of much more importance as the winner would progress to the semi-final and the loser would be out of the competition.

Conditions were perfect for a good game of football. The weather was clear and bright, and the pitch was dry.

Despite the good conditions the opening exchanges were never much more than scrappy. Muckley were failing to get into their rhythm throughout the first half, with each move consisting of no more than one or two passes before a hopeful hoof into the box. Lurgan were managing to cope with this style of play comfortably and looked solid at the back and dangerous on the break. It may have been that Muckley were taking Lurgan lightly because of the previous match between the two teams, and were too eager to get their own name on the scoresheet than come out of the box and look for a short pass, but were failing to break the Lurgan defence down. The one exception was Andy Calvert who was having an excellent half and was always looking for a good pass to stretch the defence.

After another short Knocknamuckley attack was dealt with, Lurgan again hit them on the break. One of the Lurgan players had a shot at goal which he hit cleanly and tucked inside the post to give them the lead. This had been on the cards throughout the half, but still appeared to come as a shock to the Knocknamuckley players.

Muckley restarted with extra energy, but seemed to be stuck in their ineffective style of play. Despite his Knocknamuckley did have a few chances during the half which they just failed to take. Colin Irwin had a volley which he just failed to connect with, Andrew Irwin managed to manoeuvre a chance and just failed to get a shot away, and Graham Jardine made an excellent run and was only inches from being picked out at the far post.

Despite this it was Lurgan who were closest to grabbing the second goal of the half which may have put the game beyond Muckley, but Seth Mathers was to come to the rescue with an excellent double save to keep his side in with a chance.

Half time 1st Knocknamuckley 0 v 1 2nd Lurgan

It was imperative that Knocknamuckley’s play improved in the second half or they would be out of the competition. They began to play more as a team and started to string a few passes together whilst also playing with more energy than before.

Despite Muckley taking the play to Lurgan in the opening minutes of the half it was Lurgan who came closest to the first goal of the half which would have sewn the game up. A counter attack set a Lurgan forward free to the left of the goal. Mathers advanced out of his net well in order to narrow the angle, only for the Lurgan forward to cleverly take the shot more quickly than expected and slid it past Seth’s left hand. Despite looking like a certain winner the ball somehow only hit the post, much to Muckley’s relief.

After this the Knocknamuckley defence looked less vulnerable, as the side pressed forward in search of an equaliser. Muckley’s running of the ball had also increased, and this combined with some more incisive passing was making life more difficult for the Lurgan defence. Lurgan were still hanging on to their lead admirably and making it very hard for Knocknamuckley to break them down.

Muckley were definitely looking more dangerous, were forcing a lot of corners and beginning to carve out a few chances. An excellent corner from the right picked out Drew Gardiner who had been left unmarked at the back post. Unfortunately he did not quite connect with the header, but he did manage to head it down to the edge of the six yard box but a Lurgan player made it to the ball first and cleared it to safety.

Good play down the left played Andrew Irwin in, who despite good movement to find space was let down by his first touch.

A good run from Jardine allowed him to be played clean through. The ball had to be hit first time on the half volley as Jardine stretched to reach it, and he was unfortunate to see his shot go straight into the keeper’s arms.

Gregg Harrison also had a chance when a cross into the box dropped to him. He connected perfectly with the ball but his shot just fizzed over the cross bar.

Gardiner had another chance from a corner in what was a virtual carbon copy of his previous chance. Despite making a better contact with the header the ball was still cleared before reaching the goal.

Despite Muckley’s dominance in the second half, it was looking like it just wasn’t going to be their day, and that the equaliser was not going to come. Just as these thoughts were beginning to creep in, Gardiner managed to get a long range shot in which fired past the goalkeeper into the net to pull the sides level, just at the right time.

Both sides had further chances, with Mathers pulling of a couple of saves, and Calvert and Gardiner blocking a few dangerous looking strikes.

The game had been getting rather heated during the second half with the high tempo of the game, the prize at stake and both sides commitment in a very tight game. This was making for a fascinating contest as both sides gave their all, neither willing to give an inch.

After the referee had talked to one of the Lurgan players for dissent Muckley had a couple of corners which came to nothing.

The game was set for extra time when with 90 seconds left on the clock Gardiner fired in another shot which somehow managed to fly through a number of bodies in the box and inside the keeper’s left hand post.

Muckley defended the last minute and a half determinedly, limiting Lurgan to one long range shot and Andrew Irwin easing the pressure by holding the ball well upfront.

This was an excellent match to watch. It had everything that would be expected of a great match: well balanced, excitement, tension, good football and a grandstand finish.

In the end Muckley were deserving of the win. The performance in the second half was excellent and filled with desire, when anything short of that would have seen them not get back into the game. This has set the standard for the coming round, and with a similar performance and the rub of the green, two more wins and a trophy isn’t out of the question.

Full time 1st Knocknamuckley 2 v 1 2nd Lurgan

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

Goals- Gardiner 2