Willowbank were finally back in action at Under 19 level after 41 days off and where given a tough game to try and get back into their groove, an away game to fellow title challengers Berlin Swifts. This highly anticipated game had been postponed a number of times but finally got underway on a cold wet night at The Hammer. Willowbank started by far the brighter side showing no signs of rush looking to get straight at their opponents from the off with the wingers Stu & McAreavey helping the strikers Hanna & Elliott press from the front pushing Berlin further and further back. Berlin started to realize this and introduced a very high defensive line which played right into the hands of the Bank as they slipped through pass after through pass down either flank and through the middle which proved a fruitful source of chances for the boys playing in their away green strip. As Time after time the midfield two of Sanchez and Kennedy sliced apart the Berlin defense found either one of the wingers or strikers to go clean through on goal. There was numerous 1v1s where Willowbank showed a lack of sharpness in front of goal as they failed to beat the keeper sometimes even find the target and even missed an open net from 3 yards out which looked harder to miss than score as it hit the bar and went straight into the keepers hands! The Falls Road men were to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal as Berlins first attack found the backline dropping off too deep giving the striker time to turn and find the winger whose shot was saved by Marley in goal but followed in by another Berlin player to give his side the lead against the run of play. Willowbank seemed to look about in disbelief to be behind in this game but just got on with their game again and created yet more chances that they failed to convert. Just before the half time whistle Willowbank number 9 Elliott showed great determination to chase back into midfield and dispossess the opposition before driving through the heart of the Berlin team and laying the ball off to the overlapping fullback Loughran who took a touch, which allowed Elliott time to get into the box and take up position at the back post, before whipping a quality ball between the defense and keeper which Elliott bravely stuck his head onto despite the onrushing keeper looking to get to the ball before the striker but Elliott was too quick and nodded the ball home to level up the game at 1-1 at half time.
The second half started slowly but with Willowbank always looking dangerous on the attack but with the linesman looking committed to giving the Berlin defense the benefit of any offisdes Willowbank struggled to recreate the opportunities they did in the opening 20 minutes but not looking threatened by anything Berlin really had to offer either. It took a quality counter attack from a Berlin corner which was cleared by the head of Mini to Sanchez who slipped Hanna down the line as he beat a number of players before playing a superb crossfield ball right into the path of the 6 ft 7†Elliott who showed great feet as his first touch knocked the ball perfectly in front of himself to open his body up and curl the ball into the top corner to show great composure as well as good feet to double his and his teams tally for the day! The Bank kicked on from here as they looked to go for the kill and bombarded the Berlin backline once again creating chances at will one of which resulted in a corner for McAreavey to deliver a quality ball into the box for Elliot to show great hunger and desire to get to the ball and head home for his first (hopefully of many) hat trick of the season. The pressure stayed on as the boys in green weren’t just happy with the 2 goal lead when a firm but fair tackle, which was the order of the night from McFadden, gained possession back for his side launched another counter attack as he fed Kennedy who seamlessly glided by numerous players to get himself a chance at goal as he slid the ball past the Berlin keeper to get himself on the scoresheet. Berlin started to lose their discipline as Willowbank started to show their quality and got a player sent off for a second yellow card offence when Stu took the ball out of the air and drove down the line just to be scenically taken out. The game looked dead and buried until Mini was sent off for foul and abusive language to the linesman which gave Berlin a shot of adrenaline as they pushed and found themselves back in the game after two very late goals just for Stu to put the game back out of their reach again when as he did all night chased down every ball and finally got his reward as he got onto a backpass before the keeper and rounded him just to stop the ball on the line and cheekily finish the game at 5-3. 100% record is now extended to 8 games and men of the match Sean Elliott & Sanchez.
G.O.T.B!!
