SBYL under 12 first division report by Robert Morrow
Sat 6th April 2013 – Hydebank 9.00 ko - Opposition – Bangor Academy
Holywood took on Bangor Academy for the first time this season in another early morning kick-off at Hydebank. It took us a wee while to get going. Despite some good combination play on both wings and some decent half chances it looked like Bangor were going to be a tough nut to crack. Playing against a team that we hadn’t played before would always bring an element of surprise and Bangor posed a few problems in the early stages although the back four of Ben, Paddy, Cameron and Josh Burford settled as the half wore on. Josh in goals had to be called upon a couple of times and as usual he displayed his customary coolness. Eventually we began to assert our authority on the game. The first scare for the Bangor defence was when sub Dozie curled a wonderful shot from the edge of the box but the ball bounced down off the crossbar but unfortunately not over the goal line. On the balance of play we deserved to be ahead and the first goal duly arrived in the 20th minute when Niall stabbed the ball into the roof of the net from a corner. We pressed looking for a second. The guys in midfield Niall, Geo, Tom and Thomas plugged away, linking up with Euan and Jamie up front to try and work an opening but Bangor were not giving much away in defence. We tried to change things by bringing on Tom Wilson for Tom McIlhatton but Bangor held out until half time only a goal down.
Half-time : Holywood 1 , Bangor 0.
At the start of the second half Jack came on for Geo and Tongai for Cameron. Tom Wilson moved in centre mid and Ben moved into centre half to be replaced by Tongai at right back. After some encouraging words at half time to let the boys know that we could do better, the boys came out with a bit more purpose. Only a minute into the second half Dozie was put through and cooly side-footed past the keeper to make it 2-0. Thomas – who was having an excellent game - added a third 5 mins later. Dozie got his second on 45 mins when he poked home to make it 4-0. Then Cameron came back on again this time for Jamie and scored on 50 mins. He feigned to shoot inside the 6 yard box but instead dragged the ball onto his left and shot between the near post and the keeper to make it 5-0. Nice finish !! To round things off Niall was clean through one v one with keeper and audaciously lobbed the advancing keeper to make it 6-0. More subs were made to freshen things up. Euan coming on for Dozie, Tom for Thomas, Geo for Josh B and Jamie for Tom Wilson. Bangor probably should have had a consolation goal when the ref awarded them a dubious enough penalty at the death but the penalty was hit wide of the post to give Josh a pleasing clean-sheet.
Final score : Holywood 6 , Bangor Academy 0.
Goal scorers – Niall(18 & 55 mins), Dozie(31 & 45 mins), Thomas(36 mins) .
MOTM - Thomas Wilson. His best game this season.
Squad – Josh Johnston, Josh Burford, Tom Mc Illhatton, Paddy Crookshanks, George Moore, Cameron Alexander, Ben Murray, Dozie Ajeh, Niall Grimley, Thomas Wilson, Jamie Owens, Euan Morrow, Tom Wilson, Tongai Watson, Jack McNeill.
