On probably the coldest day of the year so far Willowbank made the short trip up the road to Donegal Celtic Park for the first final of the South Belfast Youth League, The Alma Lecky Cup.Willowbank faced reigning league championsAquinas in a game where they were looking to further extend their current 100% winning streak in all competitions to 13 games this season. Kick off was later than originally scheduled due to the previous final on the same pitch running into extra time and penalties which didn’t give either time the proper preparation as their warm ups where cut short. Willowbank looked very static as Aquinas started the stronger side pushing Willowbank back deep into their own area, The Falls Road boys failed time and time again to clear their lines as the pressure mounted on their goal. They were made to pay for their lax start to the game when from a simple throw in the ball was crossed in along the ground, the backline caught ball watching didn’t see the Aquinas striker backpost a yard out who had the simplest of tapins to put his side into the lead. Willowbank needed something to kick them into gear but didn’t really respond well to going one down as again from a simple throw in which wasn’t dealt with quick enough another cross was hit into the box and again an Aquinas striker was unmarked at the back post to apply an easy finish to double their sides lead. Aquinas looked to keep their lead in tact as they dropped deeper into their own half but this encouraged the stuttering Willowbank side to get their game together and finally they did! The Bank attack were starting to cause problems for their opponents at Kevin “Stu” Stewart, Ryan McAreavey & Ryan Hanna looked dangerous and got at their markers at every opportunity. From this chances started to present themselves as Brian Kennedy found himself 7 yards out when a jinking run down the wing by McAreavey gave the winger time to pull the ball back to the big midfielder but he couldn’t keep his shot on target hitting it over the bar. Willowbank again where to get a chance to put themselves back into the game when Stu’s driven cross found Emmett Llewellyn and the centre half got good contact on the ball but saw his shot cleared off the line by the man on the post. The pressure grew and grew as Aquinas struggled to get to grips with the game even though they were still two goals to the good. A sharp break saw Willowbank through on goal again when Hanna played a quality ball into the path of McAreavey who was too quick for the opposition backline got 1 on 1 with the keeper but failed to convert as his shot hit the post and went wide. The half time whistle came at a good time for the leading side as they were in real danger of letting their lead slip.
The second half started slowly as the standard of the already dilapidated pitch deteriorated further cutting up in the wide areas and the centre of the pitch more akin to the Bog Meadows than Celtic Park which lead to the game as a spectacle to suffer as a result due to the teams being unable to move the ball or their feet quickly on the surface. Willowbank did look on top of this game but nowhere near their top form which has seen them win every game thus far this season. Despite not being at their best they still pegged Aquinas into their box and were finally to get the reward for their work as a cross from Nathan “Sanchez” Garland-O’Neil from the right hand side found McAreavey at the back post who attacked the cross and beat the keeper but see his shot cannon of the bar and Kennedy was on hand to convert from short range to open the scoring for the boys from The Falls. The Bank seemed to get a little carried away with their celebrations as straight from centre Aquinas turned and run straight through the heart of the Bank without a solid challenge on them and they put a swift halt to thoughts of Willowbank going on to win the game scoring from the edge of the box in what looked to be a killer blow to the Banks hope of the trophy. The whole teams head seemed to drop apart from one Michael “Savo” Savage who was perpetual motion in the middle of the park hunting down the ball at all times going box to box and shouting encouragement to the rest of his teammates throughout and was key to Willowbank’s recovery as they started from scratch again to attempt to claw back a 2 goal deficit. Aquinas were again happy enough with their lead and sat back looking to see out the reminder of the match which was only around 10 minutes. Willowbank now in a changed formation looked to just throw everything they had at their opponents and when Hanna’s broke away from his marker he was took down in the box as his feet where too quick for the defender earning his side a penalty which skipper Sanchez stepped up and coolly dispatched to give his side some hope in the dying minutes of the game. Willowbank now had all of the momentum and Aquinas could only hope to weather the storm long enough to hold onto their slim lead but from a wide free kick whipped in across goal from McAreavey found Christopher “Mini” Heaney at the back post who turned the ball across the line to pull his side level send the sideline and the sizeable crowd supporting them into ecstasy as they celebrated the end of the long hard fight to get back level! With the last kick of the game Willowbank had the chance to win the game in normal time when a cross from McAreavey found Stu free at the back post unmarked no more than 10 yards out but he failed to convert the chance and the game went into penalties. McAreavey stepped up and took the pressure of his side scoring the first then Marley in goal saved Aquinas’ penalty to open up a gap early on! Kevin Stewart then scored his with Aquinas scoring theirs, next to step up was Ryan Hanna who sent the ball straight down the middle as the dove early to score his and Marley again showing his penalty saving expertise saved to set up a possible winner on the fourth penalty. Up steps long term clubman Mick McAlourm who sent the keeper the wrong way sent the ball into the corner of the net and secured an unlikely victory for his side and ensured the boys’ did sacrifice their Boxing Day/Night sitting in for nothing! Man of the Match Michael “Savo” Savage who’s never say die attitude lifted players around him when all looked lost. We would like to thank everyone that turned out in the cold to support the lads and also the Red Devil Bar who facilitated the post match celebrations. GOTB!!
