Willowbank 7-1 Westbourne
Willowbank Under 18/19’s restarted their title charge again on Saturday after a week break, they would have to improve dramatically from their last performance against Berlin Swifts if they were looking to keep their 3 point advantage at the top intact. The Bank started the game at a high tempo moving the ball quickly and sharply from back to front probing for an opening in the Wesbourne defense and it wasn’t long before they did when Michael “Savo” Savage dispossessed the Westbourne midfielder then set the ball for Gerard “Scholsey” Doran who pinged a 30 yard ball into the path of the well timed run by Ryan McAreavey who rounded the keeper on the edge of the box only to be taken down. The Ref only deemed this foul as a yellow card offence and the keeper breathed a sigh of relief to still be on the pitch, however the danger had not gone because no Willowbank had a free kick right on the edge of the 18 yard line and Nathan “Sanchez” Garland-O’Neill looked like he fancied his chances. The skipper went for power over placement and hammered the ball which such venom the keeper couldn’t keep it out as he opened the scoring early doors for his side. Willowbank weren’t to rest on the laurels as they pressed again right from the opposition centre to regain possession this work ethic ensured Westbourne never had time to settle on the ball and the Bank dominated possession. Willowbank were looking slick in possession and dangerous from every attack they were to double their lead when Christopher “Mini” Heaney broke down the right hand of defense beating a number of players then finding Savo in the middle who slipped McAreavey down the line who timed his run again brilliantly before he provided a low driven ball across the face of goal for top goal scorer Kevin “Stu” Stewart to apply the simplest of finishes to round off a great team move down the right flank. Willowbank seemed to be getting free run down the right as another goal quickly came as Ryan Hanna went on an elusive solo run down the line and fired a cross goal ball to the back post to find fox in the box Stu lurking at the right place at the right time to make it 24 goals in 21 appearances for the North Belfast striker. Willowbank were rampant, solid at the back and look like scoring from every attack and on the half hour mark new boy Scholsey opened his account for the Bank when he powered through the middle of the park and done well to find himself with half a yard space to get his shot away which flew into the top corner leaving the keeper grasping at thin air and made it 4-0. Willowbank seemed to just coast through the last 10 minutes of the first half and were made to pay for this when a corner whipped in with great pace found a Westbourne striker less than 3 yards away from the line with the simplest of headers to give his side some hope going into the second half as it ended 4-1. Willowbank came out in the second half and heeded the warning from the end of the first half as they got back to their high pressing game off the ball and short sharp passing on it. The backline of Mini, Emment Llewellyn, Eamon McFadden & Conor Loughran showed great composure on the ball as they played out from the keepers feet with Gerard Marley in goal always showing for the ball back if nothing was on going forward keeping possession for long spells forcing Westbourne to hunt the ball down leaving gaps for the midfield to drop into and pick the ball up. Willowbank regained their 3 goal lead when Loughran chipped a ball down the left for McAreavey to latch onto and cut back to the edge of the box for Sanchez to come onto, open his foot and caress into the far bottom corner giving the keeper no chance. Stu was to complete his hat trick when Mick McAlourm showed great finesse in the centre of the park by opening up play then backheeling the ball to Savo breaking down the left and then slipped Stu in who saw his first shot saved but had a second bite at the cherry and made no mistake with it making it 6-1. The scoring was rounded off by Sanchez who acted shrewdly by asking the ref could he take the free kick quickly and cutely passed the ball into the corner of the net to round off the scoring at 7-1 and complete his own personal hat trick for the first time from he made his debut for the club at under 15! The boys now go into their last 3 games knowing that they need a minimum of 4 points from a possible 9 to be crowned league champions in their final year at youth level!
G.O.T.B!!
