The Penultimate league match saw us play host at Dairyhall to Shorts, even though they are bottom of the league we knew we had a job to do to set up going into the last match with the chance to win the league.
We started this match with the same formation and team that played so we against Loughside the week before and we started brightly when in the 5th minute Noah Crenshaw saw his shot hit the post run along the goal mouth and away. Chances were coming thick and fast without finding the net and in the 15th minute we hit the woodwork again this time Stuart Hannah saw his shot clip off the bar. Surely a goal would come, as we kept the pressure on. A change was made in the 17th minute when Brandon McFerran came on to his usual role at right back, replacing Ryan McKittrick which meant Stuart Hannah would come on to his usual roll on the left wing and Jack Patterson went up front to give us more speed and strength. Two minutes later and we got the breakthrough when Jordan Mulholland had pushed forward fired in a shot from 25 yards out which the keeper save but couldn't hold on to the ball and Joel Hill was quick to react and tap the ball into the net; 1:0 RABA. Even though we were in control there was still a bit of nerves out there as the win was so important but our sheer determination to get that breathing space came in the 33 minute when Jack Patterson set up Edward Muldrew and from 22 yards out Edward hit a superb strike low and hard which gave the keeper no chance; 2:0 RABA.
HALF TIME: 2.0
Half time talk was simple to get more control of the midfield and close down quicker.
We started the second half brightly and we were pushing at ever opportunity, and seven minutes into the second half we put the game beyond Shorts, Noah Crenshaw put the ball through for Jack Patterson to run on to and he slotted the ball into the net; 3:0 RABA. We were now playing better football and winning everything in midfield, it was now looking like we could score every time we went forward but we were squandering some good chances. Jai Sykes in our goal was a virtually a spectator as the back three of Brandon, Matthew & Jordan were in total control. Our fourth goal came in the 62nd minute when Joel Hill was taken down inside the box and the Referee pointed to the spot, up stepped Captain Reece Atkinson and kept is 100% record from the spot by easily slotting the ball into the net sending the keeper the wrong way; 4:0 RABA. A double substitution was made with 11 minutes remaining, Stuart Hannah & Ryan McKittrick came back on to replace the hard working pair of Ryan Hannah & Noah Crenshaw and both were unlucky not to get on the score sheet. Stuart saw his shot from 20yards out fly over the crossbar and Ryan saw his attempt skim past the near post. The boys weren't finished yet and grabbed a 5th goal in the closing minutes of the match when Curtis Higgins sent a ball over from the right and Joel Hill scored at the back post with a diving header; 5:0 RABA.
FULL TIME: 5.0
Managers Comments:
A good result boys which now sets everything up for the final match against Bryansburn to win the league. We must stay focused and step up with a strong performance if we want this league title. You can do this RABA.
Coaches Comments:
Robbie McGarry - Well done Ards Fc U16s winning today 5- 0 against Shorts U16s not our best performance but another 3points with 1 league match to go.
Parents Comments:
Roberta Atkinson - We mans first match of many and we won 5 nil well done lads
