Killyleagh show fighting qualities

Killyleagh show fighting qualities

26 March 2014

IMPRESSIVE Killyleagh held on to an early two-goal lead to claim all three points in this Amateur League Premier Section clash at The Showgrounds on Saturday.

YC manager Stephen Johnston could not have asked for more from his team as they exorcised the demons of the previous week’s humbling at the same venue by Islandmagee.

Killyleagh started impressively and in the first six minutes centre half Willie McIlroy had an effort cleared off the line and John Murray fired wide.

They made the breakthrough after nine minutes. Ryan Montgomery raced to the by-line and produced a lovely cross that Adam Neale partly connected with. When it bounced to Andy Carberry, he hammered it home to make it 1-0.

Malachians responded with some delightful, passing football and it took a super catch from YC keeper Kenneth Carson to deny them in the 16th minute.

Within 30 seconds the value of the save was underlined when Johnston’s side made it 2-0. This time Carberry was the provider with a cross from the right that Neale smashed into the roof of the net from six yards out.

Gary Kelly missed for the Mals before Carson produced a fine save to deny Paul Prigent. Then came a stunning save from Carson to keep out James Doyle’s point blank header.

It is doubtful there will be a better save at The Showgrounds this season — it was of a quality that his brother Trevor would have been proud of as Carson somehow got down low to punch the ball wide to safety.

In this goalmouth incident Killyleagh lost McIlroy with a calf injury, but sub James Kernoghan slotted in superbly alongside hard-working skipper Jordan Kennedy and full backs Lee Morrison and Jamie Morrow as they helped repel the Mals attacks.

Killyleagh fans felt aggrieved when the pacey Montgomery was sent toppling in what seemed to be a last man challenge, but the ref waved play on before a not too strong shout minutes later when the flying midfielder was sent flying in the penalty box.

Neale almost rubbed Malachians’ noses in it when he ‘scored’ from close range in the 41st minute, but it was ruled out for offside.

Playing with the wind, Killyleagh picked up after the interval where they left off and the visitors had a let off with Peter Corr almost conceding an own goal from Neale’s cross in the 55th minute.

Chances were few for both teams, however, with Stevie Kennedy firing a free over after a foul on Montgomery, while Doyle rattled a shot wide.

Then came a super save from Magee to deny Kennedy before Kelly rattled a shot off the Killyleagh crossbar.

Both keepers were having days to remember with Carson denying Doyle in the 81st minute and then Magee producing a breathtaking save to deny the highly impressive John Murray the goal his play deserved.

Magee dived low to his right to keep out a beauty of a free from Murray in the 86th minute. From the resulting corner Kelly cleared off the line to deny Murray again.

Killyleagh YC 2

Malachians 0

AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER