17th October 2009

 

Kircubbin travelled to Bangor last Saturday to play a Castle team who were languishing at the foot of the table following several heavy defeats, including a 6-0 loss away to Kircubbin. Given the result earlier in the season Kircubbin were full of confidence, and with a full quota of players to pick from the manager had the difficult job of picking only 14 players for the squad.

Eugene McGrattan started in goals, with the back four of Cahal McGrattan, Fergal Bell, Ciaran Taylor and Chris Wright. The midfield quartet was Philip McCarthy (Capt.), David Arthurs, Matthew Torney and Mick O'Prey, which left Turlough Bell and Matthew Clarke to lead the line in attack. Kircubbin's superiority was obvious from the start of the game as they continuously forced Castle onto the back foot. Unfortunately for Castle, two early injuries in the game, and only one substitute, meant they played for almost an hour with only ten men. But Kircubbin couldn't quite make their dominance show on the score sheet as the home keeper pulled off several point blank saves to keep Castle in the game. Team manager Stephen Clarke thought it was going to be one of those days, as wave after wave of Kircubbin pressure came and went without reward. With time running out in the first half Kircubbin were awarded a penalty which Turlough Bell converted to give the visitors a well deserved lead at the break.

With several players sitting out of the game ahead of next week's Junior Shield tie, this was the chance for the rest of the Kircubbin team to prove their worth. But again a combination of good goal keeping and poor shooting meant that the game was still on a knife edge. Midway through the half Turlough scored his second of the game with a shot from a tight angle to the keeper's near post, and with time running out the points were in the bag. Ross McCann and Adam Arthurs came on for David Arthurs and Mick O'Prey to freshen up the midfield. The result was almost immediate as two close range goals from Philip McCarthy and Matthew Clarke finished off the scoring to leave Kircubbin winners at 0-4.

This week the lads are away to Bangor Rangers II in the second round of the Junior Shield. Team to leave at noon for a 1.30 kick off at Bloomfield Playing Fields.