Willowbank Under 19s travelled to Larne on Friday night to face a Larne side that have got off to a flying start to the season winning their opening three games in the cup group stage looking to extend their 100% start to the season. The hosts started the game on the front foot looking to capitalize on Willowbank’s lack of a pre game warmup and for the first 5 minutes the boys from the Falls had a storm to weather but every storm passes and as this one did the Bank felt they could push numbers on confident that the backline of Mini, Emmett, Eamon & Conor could deal with any potential threats Larne would pose. The first goal of the game came from a well worked buildup from the back as a number of short passes along the backline found Mini I space who opened up and drove down the line before knocking a diagonal ball toward number 9 Sean Elliott who showed great determination and bravery to get onto the end of the slightly overhit ball just before the keeper and engineering himself the opening goal of the game. The boys from the Falls now settled into a nice pattern of play methodically knocking the ball about the back until Larne pressed then opening up into the gaps left by the pressing opponents, exposing the defense. Willowbank got their second of the game as Brian Kennedy dispossessed his opposite number inside his half then strode 20 yards before slipping a quality threw ball to Stu whos blistering pace got him away from the full back then held his nerve to double his sides lead in the game. Willowbank where confident in possession all over the park but an injury forced Savo off as Mini went into midfield, this switch up didn’t allow Mini any time to settle into the fiercely contested battleground that was the middle of the park as Larne pulled a goal back when Mini was caught dwelling on the ball and launched a counter attack which forced a shot that Gerard Marley saved but the ball fell out to a Larne player who was reacted first as the Willowbank backline stood static and watched on to see their lead cut to a signal goal. This was a wakeup call for the Bank and the warning was heeded the got back into their rhythm again and not long after conceding did they retrieve their 2 goal lead when a ball drilled into the feet of Ryan McAreavey was controlled and held up until Stu made a great run which Ryan found with a cross field ball as Stu once again held his nerve to double his tally for the evening ending the half at 3-1. The game continued in Willowbank’s favor in the second half as their relentless pursuit of more goals paid off when Savo showed great anticipation to read a pass and put a halt to the Larne buildup before playing a world class threw ball into the path of Mcareavey who outwitted the keeper then rounded him before putting the ball into an empty net. Chances where being created at will as Larne started to lose their discipline and as they couldn’t deal with the pace and quality of Willowbanks potent attack the 5th goal was to come from an unlikely source as left back Conor Loughran poped up at the back post to meet a quality cross from full back Mick Dorrian with the head to take his personal tally to 2 for the season already. Willowbank pride themselves on a high press game when the opponents are in possession and this tactic paid dividends when Aarron Cush stopped the Larne centre half with a good tackle before offloading the ball to the onrushing run of McAreavey who made no mistake with his finish to get himself on the scoresheet for the second time. Willowbank where to finish the scoring for the night when Mcareavey, goalscorer, turned playmaker for Stu when he chipped a great lofted ball over the defense as Stu finished emphatically to secure his hatrick and the three points on the night to get their league campaign off to the best possible start. Great win and great performance allround well done lads! Men of the match Stu & Ryan Mcareavey. GOTB!
