Willowbank U18/19s had their first game of 2015 on Saturday against 18th Newtownabbey in the South Belfast Premier, the boys were looking to extend their 100% record to 14 games and build on their success in the Alma Lecky Cup. Willowbank started on the front foot looking to do the damage early when straight from centre Kevin “Stu” Stewart dove down the left beating defender after defender then cutting inside and firing a shot on goal that was turned away for a corner by the opposition goalkeeper. This was to set the tone for the game as Willowbank looked hungry and sharp, keeping possession well and pressing high up the field when not in possession. It wasn’t long before the scoring was opened after a sustained period of possession working the ball across the park Michael “Savo” Savage opened up the Newtownabbey defense with an incisive through ball from as Ryan Hanna used his blistering pace to get away from the defense and showed great composure to keep calm and slide the ball past the keeper to put his side into the lead. The Bank smelt blood and went straight for the jugular as they looked to increase their lead and did so when the scorer turned provider as Hanna’s shot come cross found Stu at the back post who had the easiest of finished to double his sides lead in the game before the half hour mark. The boys were in full flow now stroking the ball about from back to front with ease with Newtownabbey just chasing shadows, Willowbank further increased their lead before the half when almost a carbon copy of the last goal Hanna’s shot/cross found McAreavey this time at the back post who had a simple tap in to make it 3-0 at half time.
The second half started much as the first ended with Willowbank comfortable and confident in possession of the ball and keeping it for prolonged periods of the game but Newtownabbey looked resigned to defeat as they stopped pressing their opponents this gave the two centre backs Emmet Llewellyn & Eamon McFadden space and time to bring the ball out from the back and spread the ball. With a plethora of chances coming Willowbank’s way it looked inevitable that there was more goals in this game for the boys from the Falls. The forth goal came from a great run by McAreavey down the right and once he had beat his marker showed great awareness to pull the ball back to Aaron Cush in the box who had his first effort blocked but got a second bite at the cherry and he made no mistake with the second as he hammered the ball into the corner of the net. As The half went on the one way traffic continued and the chances again mounted Mick McAlourm dispossessed his opponents putting a halt to the Newtownabbey attack and then launched a counter attack slipping Savo down the left who linked up with the overlapping fullback Conor Loughran with a nice 1-2 before Loughran smashed the ball near post right into the top corner before the keeper could even react the ball was over the line. The match as a contest was over but that didn’t deter the Bank in their lust for more goals and the scoring was finished off when Dee Curran bullied his way through a number of defenders and laid the ball off for Mini who hit a first time shot from the edge of the box right into the bottom corner of the net giving the keeper no chance of preventing the goal! The final whistle went a little bit earlier that usual as Willowbank go 2 points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand and extend their 100% record another game to 14! Man of the Match Nathan “Sanchez” Garland-O’Neill who along with Savo bossed the middle of the park, showed a great range of passing and held the midfield allowing the wingers to bomb on and cause havoc in the opposition box. Willowbank U18/19’s players and staff would also like to pass our sincere condolences to the Heaney family on the loss off their Mother/Grandmother last week and we would like to thank 18th Newtownabbey for observing the minutes silence before the game.
