Swift exit for Kilmore in Steel and Sons Cup

Swift exit for Kilmore in Steel and Sons Cup

17 August 2016

TWO late second half goals from the mercurial Johnny Frazer at Robert Adams Park helped Linfield Swifts set up a second round Steel and Sons Cup meeting with St Patrick’s Young Men.

The ‘Wee Blues’ were worthy winners. They enjoyed a greater share of possession and in Frazer and Ballynahinch’s Reece Neale they had two players who dovetailed perfectly down the left flank to give the Kilmore defence a thorough testing throughout the 90 minutes.

A young Linfield side started positively and forced three corners inside the first five minutes, but safe handling from the impressive Chris Turley and superb defending from man of the match Jack Larkin kept the game scoreless.

With 10 minutes gone Larkin went on an overlap down the left and carved out a chance for Scott Grieves, but he blasted over from a good position.

Kilmore hadn’t long to wait for the breakthrough and it came in the 15th minute when a Grieves free from the right evaded everyone in the box and ended up in the net after Larkin’s presence in the box had caused problems for the Swifts. 

Linfield applied some concerted pressure in a bid to get back on level terms, but Turley was in commanding form and never looked like being beaten as he bossed his area with confidence.

With 35 minutes gone Kilmore should have made it 2-0 when Matty Stewart combined with Liam Graham to release Grieves, but the former Killyleagh player shot tamely at Alex Moore.

As the half drew to a close, Frazer gave Kilmore fair warning of what was to come when his pace helped him beat Kilmore’s offside trap, but he shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Frazer really came into his own after the break when his mesmerising runs caused untold panic down the left and Turley was getting busier and busier.

It was all Linfield at this stage, but getting past Turley was a different matter and when the equaliser came in the 75th minute it had a touch of luck about it.

Pablo Andrade’s cross from the right was partially blocked and Michael McClellan’s shot was parried away by Turley, but Frazer tucked the ball home at the back post to bring the sides level.

The winner came 10 minutes later when Linfield broke up a Kilmore attack and Frazer stormed away from the halfway line before beating Turley with a classy finish.    

Kilmore manager Graham McConnell saw enough to suggest that he has something to build on. 

Kilmore Rec: C Turley, L McGreevy, M Miskelly, J Larkin, M Murphy, A Denver, M McGreevy, J Patterson, S Grieves, L Graham, M Stewart. Subs: L McGonagle, A Hanna, C McStay, E McGrattan, C Degan.

Linfield Swifts: A Moore, R Glendenning, R Neale, I Maxwell, C Stewart, J Campbell, J Frazer, M Lynch, R Strain, M McClellan, L Houston. Subs: R Whittle, E Taggart, P Andrade.

Kilmore Rec 1

Linfield Swifts 2

STEEL & SONS CUP 1ST ROUND