The Alma Lecky Cup Semi Final between Willowbank & Larne was played on Saturday morning at Olympia. Willowbank entered the game as pre match favorites as they have already taken all 3 points from Larne in their league campaign. However from the Willowbank defeat Larne have been on a mini resurgence losing only 1 of their previous 9 games and winning 7 in the process so came into the game also high on confidence and fancying their chances. The match started at a frantic pace with both teams looking unsure of themselves on the ball and maybe the fact that this was a semi final played in the back of their minds as neither team settled the ball and tried to play out from the back. Willowbank had an early chance to take the lead with a long hopeful ball from Conor Loughran found Ryan McAreavey at the back post who didn't anticipate the Larne defender missing his clearance and slashed at the ball not making clean contact with the ball kicking it into the ground and wide of goal from inside the 6 yard box. Apart from this early lapse in concentration both defenses were dealing with the oppositions simple long ball with ease which lead to very little chances created in the opening periods of the game. Despite not being at their best Willowbank were to take the lead in the first half when Ryan McAreavey went on a driving run down the line Larne had committed several defenders to stop the Bank wideman but they were unable to as he threaded a quality through ball into the path of Ryan Hanna who had eyes for nothing else but the goal took the shot on first time and beat the keeper with a thunderous effort across him and into the corner of the goal to give his side the lead. This could have been the que for Willowbank to settle down and show some of the confidence and quality football that they have come to be associated with, however much to the frustration to the Willowbank management the game carried on in the same vein as the half ended a 1-0.
The Willowbank starting 11 were given the hair dryer treatment as they were told in no uncertain terms that their 1st half performance was nowhere near good enough due to the boys themselves setting such a high standard for the season winning all of their games thus far. They came out in the second half with a changed altitude and approach to the game as the midfield 3 of Brian Kennedy, Nathan 'Sanchez' Garland-O'Neil & Michael 'Savo' Savage started to boss the game which allowed the backline more options when they had the ball on the deck so they could play out from the back in a more composed manor to the first half. As The half went on the possession stats went more and more in Willowbank's favor and Larne were sucked into pressing the high to try and regain possession, this left holes in the Larne defense. Willowbank just waited until the right moment and when McAreavey played a 1-2 with Sanchez he found time and space to put a quality ball into the box which was met by the great movement of Kennedy who showed great improvisation to use his knee to turn the ball into the top corner and double his sides lead. Willowbank were now in complete control of the game with Larne chasing shadows they were looking dangerous as every attack was incited with intent. They were to get their reward for their dominance when yet again the two Ryans linked up to devastating effect as McAreavey showed great composure and vision after yet another illusive run down the channel found himself in the box as he pulled the cross back to the edge of the box for Hanna to take on first time again as he doubled his goal tally for the day. Willowbank made a few changes as they brought on Mick McAlourm, Aaron Cush & Dee Curran and changed from a 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 to kill the game off. This put Larne further on the back foot and unable to mount any considerable attacks on the Willowbank goal due to the high pressing game of the Bank. Kevin 'Stu' Stewart was having one of his quietest days of the season on the left flank but was to show why he is the leading scorer in this free scoring Willowbank side as he pulled away from his marker to meet the low drilled cross of McAreavey and calmly stroked the ball beyond the grasp of the Larne keeper to make it 12 goals in 8 games for himself and 16 assists from 8 games for McAreavey! Larne had lost their hunger for the battle and were a little disheartened but Willowbank showed no mercy as they stayed on the front foot looking for more goals and it was to be newboy Ryan Hanna who would complete the scoring when he tried to drill a cross to the back post toward Stu but instead seen the bal fly into the top corner which no keeper would have got and would have been a contender for goal of the season...If he had have meant! Final score Willowbank 5-0 Larne which sees Willowbank's 100% winning streak to 11 games and sees them into the final of one cup before Christmas. Men of the Match, couldn't split the two Ryans, Ryan Hanna who got his second hat trick in three games and Ryan Mcareavey who used his pace and dribbling ability to devastating effect down the right flank setting up 4 of the 5 goals!
Squad:
Gerard Marley, Christopher 'Mini' Heaney, Conor Loughran, Emmet Llewellyn, Eamon McFadden, Nathan 'Sanchez' Garland O'Neill, Michael 'Savo' Savage, Brian Kennedy, Ryan Mcareavey, Kevin 'Stu' Stewart, Ryan Hanna, Dee Curran, JJ Crangle, Aaron Cush, Mick McAlourm
