St Mary’s paid a visit to Orangefield pitches, Castlereagh on Saturday to complete their final league fixture of the season against local side Bloomfield FC.
St Marys’ player of the month Patrick Ross took charge of the proceedings from early on and fastened the first scoring opportunity with a dazzling run and cross but Eoin O’Reilly and Eoin McNicholl appeared to get in each others way as the ball drifted harmlessly across the face of the goal.
Apart from a snap shot from St Mary’s midfielder Cathal McGarrity from the edge of the area, both defences were very much on top with the St Mary’s backline of Oisin Donaghy, Aidan Quinn, Aidan Begley again superbly marshalled by skipper Oliver Breen.
Jack Parke had the ball in the Bloomfield net minutes before the break but the referee had blown for an infringement as O’Reilly contested a high ball with the Bloomfield goalie prior to Parke netting.
As the teams turned around for the second period, it was beginning to look like a single goal might decide this cagey affair and it was the Glengormley side that edged in front. Jack Parke, now showing glimpses again of his sparkling early season form, controlled a ball thirty yards from goal before playing a pass to O’Reilly who swept the ball home from eight yards out.
St Mary’s kept the pressure on and forced a series of corners but with no end product and at the other end had goalie Cormac Morgan to thank for a splendid save at the base of the post as Bloomfield began to threaten.
It took until ten minutes before full time for the dangerous Bloomfield frontman to escape the attentions of St Marys’ centre back Aidan Begley but as he bore down on goal, he went down under a challenge from the back tracking Trevor McCormick. The referee had a big call to make and probably called it correctly, showing McCormick a yellow card as the resultant set piece came to nothing.
This win pushed St Mary’s up into fourth place in the table and left the management reflecting on ‘what might have been’ but for a poor start to their league campaign. Yet they now await the draw for the two remaining cup competitions in what will be the last chance for this age group to bring some silverware to the club this season.
Man of the match: Jack Parke (St Mary’s)
