St Mary’s U13’s completed the league double over Belvoir at Hydebank on Saturday with a comprehensive 5-1 win against the bottom club. With more clinical finishing from the boys, the scoreline could have been doubled, but they will be happy to continue winning and keeping the pressure on Abbeyvilla and Holywood.
They were without P Morgan, Begley and Lynch for the match, the latter who is on crutches after injuring his ankle. We wish him well and a speedy recovery and a return to the team.
St Mary’s made their intentions clear straight from the kick-off as O ‘Reilly went on a run down the left, but his effort went wide of the goals. Minutes later Ross tried his luck from distance, but the keeper held on to his shot. The pressure was beginning to tell on Belvoir and after ten minutes St Mary’s took the lead when McGarrity fed Ross on the left flank, and he glided effortlessly past two defenders before crossing over for O Reilly, who had the simple task of tapping the ball home for a 1-0 lead. Belvoir were being pressed by a very strong midfield of Ross, McNaughton, Morgan and Park, and were creating chances at will. They were unlucky not to double the score when Ross floated over a trademark corner and the ball was scrambled away for another corner. From this corner, Ross floated it over and O’ Reilly doubled his tally for the day by powering home a great header. It was nearly three when Ross was put through by Morgan, but his touch for once let him down and the keeper gratefully gathered the ball. Half-time 2-0.
The second half started much the same as the first with St Mary’s looking to increase their lead. They nearly did so when Park dribbled past a few defenders and fed O Reilly whose shot want narrowly wide. At the other end, Breen intercepted a Belvoir attack, and attempted to clear the ball with a crossfield pass across his goalmouth, which instead went to a grateful Belvoir striker who slotted home past Quinn in nets to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
This setback urged the Saints on, and less than 5 minutes later the score was 3-1 when Morgan fed the ball through to McGarritty, who took it in his stride and thumped the ball past the Belvoir keeper for a well earned goal. St Mary’s were pressing the Belvoir defence and but for inexperience in getting caught offside on several occasions, could easily have increased their lead more. With ten minutes to go, they did beat the offside trap and McNaughton crossed for O’ Reilly who took the ball down, and with all the time in the world to himself, he volleyed home from 8 yards to make the score 4-1 St Mary’s, and claim his hat-trick for the day.
It was one-way traffic now, and a great move involving Ross, Bannon, and Park led to O Malley having a shot from 10 yards which was blocked by the defender, as was the rebound effort. With time ticking down, Ross received the ball on the edge of the box and dribbled his way past a few defenders before he was fouled in the box, leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty. Breen was already charging down the field to take the penalty, which he slammed home with his customary poise to complete the scoring for the day. Such is his accuracy from the spot this season, that his team-mates don’t wait around for a rebound anymore, as they know he won’t miss.
This was another great team performance from the Saints, and star men on the day were Ross for his driving from midfield, and O Reilly for a brilliantly taken hat-trick which brings him level on 16 goals with team captain Ross.
This week the guys play their game in hand away to a very useful Ballywalter side, and know that they can’t afford any slip ups. Training is as usual on Thursday in St Patrick’s where emphasis will be on taking throw ins ( enough said Jack !)
