Willowbank U19s were back in action in the South Belfast Premier League on Monday night after playing (and winning) their cup semi final tie against Larne at the weekend. The game took place on a bitter cold night on a temperamental pitch which didn't lend itself to playing the ball on the deck due to the divots and ditches across the whole pitch which could send the ball in any direction at any time. The match started with Willowbank attempting to play out from the back testing the surface but finding it difficult to control the direction of the pass due to the extremely poor condition of the pitch. Instead the lads had to for the majority of the game just clear their lines as they couldn't trust the surface to carry the ball to their intended target. Chances were at a premium for both sides with Willowbank's backline looking solid as Emmet Llewellyn & Eamon McFadden provided a steady core and Conor Loughran & Christopher 'Mini' Heaney kept the wingers quiet while also getting forward to support the attacks. Brian Kennedy was a driving force in the middle of the park as he seemed to take the uneven ground and bobbling ball all in his stride as he drove through the heart of the Shankill midfield and defense but was just missing the final ball to end the attack. The 3 strikers Kevin 'Stu' Stewart, Ryan McAreavey & Ryan Hanna tried time and time again to dribble by their markers has they have done so many times in the current campaign but were unable to get up a head of steam as they constantly had to cut back and stop their momentum when the ball would hit a ditch. Shankill probably had the best chances of opening the scoring in the first half when from a free kick Gerard Marley was forced into a great save to his right and then from the proceeding corner he was again called into action but this time to his left. The half ended at 0-0 without really getting started due to numerous stoppages and injuries.
The second half started much as the first went with both teams struggling with the surface leading to a spectacle not too pleasing on the eye. Willowbank made a change at half time bringing on Dee Curran and changing to a 4-4-2 hoping that they could commit a few more players forward to pounce on any potential Shankill mistake. The opening goal was to go to Willowbank as from a free kick from Nathan 'Sanchez'Garland-O'Neill's searching ball found Ryan Hanna who slipped a nice through ball to Stu who showed great composure and confidence to round the keeper and smash the ball into the net to give himself 13 goals in 9 games! The second half dragged on with not much more action with both teams just resigned to clearing their lines the game ended 1-0. Man of the Match Brian Kennedy who was non stop box to box and showed great balance time and time again to settle the ball and run at the opposition a feat not to be underestimated on the surface the game was played on! Willowbank are now 3 points top of the league, with a game in hand over their closest rival and in the final of a cup, all before Christmas, keep it up lads!
