Match Report
18th October 2008
Kircubbin were drawn at home in the first round of the Junior Shield against St Andrews YM, a team from the BBOB league and somewhat of an unknown quantity. But the villagers were spurred on after last weeks win away to Kilroot in the league and they were determined to put on a strong performance in front of the home crowd.
Five minutes into the match Kircubbin scored their first goal of the game to take an early lead. Peter Clancy swung a corner into the six yard box and Jonnie Clarke rose highest to head the ball past the keeper. Kircubbin then dominated all over the pitch, with Cahal "Bunny" McGrattan giving a commanding performance in the centre of defence. But for all their dominance, Kircubbin couldn't quite find the elusive second goal. Several chances to extend their lead were wasted in front of goal. 1-0 at the break.
In the second half Kircubbin knew their opponents would get a few chances and indeed the visitors came out of the blocks quickly after the restart. But the back four of Kircubbin were solid and kept St Andrews at bay. The visitors got back on level terms with a well worked cross to the back post, and the centre forward had no problem scoring into the open net. But this seemed to give Kircubbin the wake up call that they well and truely needed. Brendan Masterson restored Kircubbin's advantage almost imeadiately scoring from close range. But the most spectacular goal of the game came with fifteen minutes left when Kircubbin's keeper Fintan Bell lauched a clearance high into the St Andrews area, and their keeper mis-timed his run only to see the ball bounce over his head into an empty net. Kircubbin had now effectively won the game, but in the dying minutes Jamie Fowler scored his first goal for the club with the aid of a deflection from the keeper. Jonnie Clarke converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute to leave the final score 5-1. Looking forward to round two of the Shield when Kircubbin have been drawn at home to Bangor YM on 8th November.
This week the team travel to Newtownabbey to play Mossley in the Cochrane & Corry Cup. Transport to leave at 12pm