Stevie’s wonder goal as Killyleagh’s force awakens

21 September 2016

KILLYLEAGH produced a stunning smash-and-grab raid to plunder all three points on their visit to Bells Bridge on Saturday.

Steven Kennedy scored the only goal of an entertaining game in the 37th minute to give Killyleagh a passport to paradise on an idyllic afternoon for football.

Things didn’t start that well for Killyleagh as Olympic’s clever passing game caused them all sorts of problems at the back.

Philip Rogan, Adam McLean and Chris McNamara were at the heart of Olympic’s attacking forays, but they were unable to break the deadlock.

Rogan was off target with a shot from outside the box, McNamara headed a perfect Rogan cross over the top and McLean drilled one wide from an acute angle.

With 12 minutes gone McNamara conjured up a delightful piece of skill on the run when he flicked the ball over Niall Walsh’s head and got on the end of it to get a shot in, but young Brett Clydesdale, who was making his first team league debut, saved well.

Three minutes later at the other end, the classy Jamie Sharvin threaded a sublime through ball into the path of Kennedy, but he shot wide from a great position.

Olympic continued to have the greater share of possession, and Rogan had another shot saved by Clydesdale as the pressure mounted. Stevie Noade joined in the fun and sent McLean clear with a laser pass, but the young playmaker shot straight at the ‘keeper.

Jason Noade was pushed up for a free kick set-piece, but contrived to head Karl Lewis’ cross over the top from just outside the six yard box and moments later Rogan had a header brilliantly kept out by the impressive Clydesdale.

Olympic were then caught napping in the 37th minute. The combative Darryl Heaney broke up an Olympic attack and the visitors quickly sprung into attack mode.

The ball was worked centrally to Lee Morrison and his trusted left foot immediately laid the ball into Kennedy, who ran wide of Nyal Walsh and Jason Noade before firing a cracking shot past a helpless Ryan Walsh.

Just before the break Kennedy and Sharvin combined well, but the latter had his effort saved.

There was a much quieter start to the second half with Killyleagh content to soak up the pressure and then retaliate on the break.

Olympic, who badly missed strikers Nathan Jones, who is now at Queen’s University FC and Niall Murray, who is awaiting surgery after damaging ankle ligaments at the start of the season, started committing too many players forward and should have paid heavily as Killyleagh caught them on the break.

A sweeping move involving Sharvin, Kennedy and Scott Grieves ended with Morrison shooting wide with the goal at his mercy. Sharvin was guilty of an even more glaring miss after he Jack Forbes and Kennedy ripped Olympic wide open.

At the other end all Olympic had to show was a stinging shot from Ryan Molloy that crashed into the crossbar and another effort from the same player that was comfortably dealt with by Clydesdale.

Killyleagh encountered few problems in the dying stages as they held out for three invaluable points.

Ballynahinch Olympic: R Walsh, R Noade, N Walsh, C Reid, J Noade, S Noade, A McLean, K Lewis, P Rogan, C McNamara, R Molloy. Subs: S Marmion, S McGoran, D Lyons.

Killyleagh YC: B Clydesdale, P Strain, J Murray, D Heaney, G Carberry, N Walsh, J Forbes, J Sharvin, S Grieves, S Kennedy, L Morrison. Subs: G Murray, B Strain, S Bentham.

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