Northend Colts 1 Downshire Dynamos 0   Saturday 16th November 2024

After last week’s unlucky defeat to Dunmurry Youth in their opening game, The Colts were looking to get their first points on the board, in their second league campaign of the season, against Hillsborough side, Downshire Dynamos

Defensive pairing of Kavan Kerr and captain Noah McAleese were called into action early and a timely clearance from Kerr prevented the Dynamo forward from having a free shot on Harrison Moore’s goal. Archie Gordon and Noah Wright were providing a lot of width to allow Daryn-Shae Brett the freedom to drive forward and create opportunities for lone striker Oscar Fagan. With Brett and Fagan linking up well, the pairing were unlucky not to put their side ahead after Fagan blocked effort landed at Brett’s feet but the big midfielder could only toe-poke his effort wide.

With the under 10 league deciding to move to 3 x periods of 15 rather than 2 halves of 25 mins, the second period got under way. Conan O’Neill was fresh and was involved in the play of the game. Brett passed out wide to O’Neill, who showed intelligence to look up instantly and find the new frontman, Gordon, with a slick inside ball. The forward was unfortunate to drag his shot just wide. Dynamo soon after had an effort on goal of their own to which Moore saved comfortably. The keeper then looked up and went “route one”. He found Gordon unmarked who wasn’t going to miss at the second time of asking and coolly slotted the ball to put Northend 1-0 up.

The last period seen Dynamos push hard for the equaliser, but the ever-improving Myles Hardy and utility man Wright were a commanding presence at the back. Jackson Kyle-Cotter and O’Neill were digging deep and trying their best to drive forward with the ball whenever they could, to relieve pressure on their defence. Kerr continued to battle hard in the midfield and Fagan kept running the channels when the ball was passed up his direction. In the dying moments, Dynamos had an effort trickle wide allowing Moore to claim a clean sheet, with Northend holding on for victory. Full time 1-0

Each player on The Colts team did their part to bag a well-deserved, three points. There was one player who caught the eye of both his coaching staff. He never shied away from his defensive duties whilst linking up well with his teammates in the final third. A performance he is well capable of and todays display showed a new level of confidence which hopefully he will add to going forward.

Colts Panel: Harrison Moore, Kavan Kerr, Noah McAleese, Archie Gordon, Daryn-Shae Brett, Noah Wright, Oscar Fagan, Myles Hardy, Jackson Kyle-Cotter, Conan O’Neill

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