South Belfast Youth League u11
St Mary’s FC 1-2 Rosario FC
Something had to give at Ashfield school on Saturday as the fixture list paired joint league leaders South Belfast side Rosario against St Mary’s, the pride of Glengormley as both teams put their respective 100% records (since the league split) on the line in this eagerly awaited tussle.
It was Rosario who was quickest into their stride but they struggled to turn their early possession into any notable goal scoring opportunities with the St Mary’s defence containing Patrick Ross, Aidan Begley, Cormac Morgan and Oisin Donaghy standing strong.
At the other end, a Conor Bannon corner kick landed at the feet of Jack Parke on ten minutes but Parke appeared to be caught unawares and fluffed the finish. Parke was to get a second bite of the cherry two minutes later from another excellent Bannon delivery but this time the ball crashed off the crossbar before being smothered by the Rosario custodian.
Some good passing movements resulted in Rosario fastening an opening in their next attack but the wood work was again rattled with St Mary’s net-minder Oliver Breen rooted to the spot.
Twenty minutes in and the deadlock was broken by St Mary’s with a goal made from the back. Patrick Ross picked up possession in his defensive berth and threaded a ball through to Matthew Shannon on the left hand side. Shannon in turn showed wonderful acceleration and quick feet before lofting the ball to the near post where Eoin O’Reilly was waiting to nod home.
The lead however was to last only five minutes, as Rosario drew level when St Mary’s conceded a free-kick at the edge of their own box which resulted in the Rosario striker’s shot squirming under the body of Breen.
St Mary’s gaffer McNulty was happy to get her troops in at the break and made a few positional changes with Matty Shannon taking up a more central role, Conor Bannon moving out left and Eoin McNicholl dropping a bit deeper to combat the pacy Rosario attack.
As the sides resumed the second period, the next score was going to prove vital and Aidan Begley very nearly contributed to St Mary’s potential downfall when a ball he was attempting to shepherd back to Breen was intercepted but Begley admirably recovered his position before clearing the resultant shot off the goal line.
Aidan Quinn and Eoin Lundy got the nod to get stripped out and entered proceedings with fifteen minutes remaining. Lundy, who has been in terrific goal scoring form of late nearly had his name in lights. A trademark Shannon run and cross found Eoin Lundy unmarked at the back post but with the goal at his mercy, he took a fresh air swipe at the ball and the chance went a begging.
Rosario made St Mary’s pay a heavy price for that miss, when with six minutes remaining, their central defender picked up on a sloppy defensive pass before drilling the ball home from the edge of the penalty area.
St Mary’s threw bodies forward for the remaining minutes but there was to be no way back and had only a long range effort from Mark Davey to show for their efforts which was well held by the Rosario goalie.
