A terriffic effort from everyone but sadly falling short in the end as we tired badly in the second half after a titanic battle in the first. We began this game a the underdogs against the first diviion champions but we started the brighter, 5 mins had just gone when Lawrence put Gazza through, he had only the keeper to beat but scuffed his shot with the ball hitting his shin and going over the bar, we deservedly took the lead on 10 minutes with a super goal from top scorer Aaron, Boot played the ball out wide to him and as Aaron still had a lot to do to score he hit a sublime chip over the keepers head and into the net 1-0 Saints, Ballysillan were almost straight back in it only for Ryan to make a fine save low to his right, Ryan then tipped another Ballysillan effort over the bar and again keeping us in it saving Snaggles shot with his legs when clean through, it was far from all Ballysillan as we had chances ourselves, Aaron crossing to the back post for Boot who squandered the opportunity and Boot hitting a ferocious volley from the edge of the box which was blocked by Aaron and Dede firing high and wide, Ballysillan equalised on the half hour mark when Tommy ran from defence with the ball but lost possesion, they crossed the ball into the box which Ryan tipped onto the bar but the ball fell to a Ballysillan player to head home 1-1, we continued to push Ballysillan all the way and regained the lead when the ball was hit high into the box, Boot chased it down bundling the ball home following an error from there keeper 2-1 Saints, we held the lead until 5 minutes before half time when Ballysillaan crossed the ball into the box which was headed home by there player 2-2, just before half time we were denied a clear penalty when there defenders got in each others way, the ball fell to Boot who was just about to shoot but was unfairly put of balance by there keeper. We came under intense pressure in the second half as the battle hardened Saints couldnt sustain the first halfs impressive performance, Ballysillan took the lead for the first time when Adrian gave away a free kick right on the edge of the box which wa converted via a deflection 3-2, they went 4-2 up when Tommy attempted to clear the ball which spun of there players boot and into the net, on 70 mins it was 5-2 when there player was left clear in the box and fired his shot into the bottom corner and with ten minutes to go they got there sixth when Junior brought there player down in the box and Snaggles converted the spot kick. The 6-2 scoreline flatters Ballysillan as we more than matched them in the first half but sadly our lack of fitness told in the second as we tired badly, i am proud of the effort everyone put in not just yeterday but all season, unfortunately no trophy this season but a fine effort in reaching two quarter finals, a semi final and possibly finishing third in the league. A big thank you to each and every Saint for all there effort this season and hopefully everyone stays together for a new challenge in the first division next season. We can all look forward now to presentation day next Saturday where there will be four trophies up for grabs, players player, managers player, top scorer and clubman, for me everyone that pulls on a St Andrews shirt is a winner!!!
St Andrews C....Simply the Best!
