Kilmore Rec notch up three early goals and a late one against Willowbank
The NAFL,
League Division 1,
Venue: Robert Adams Park, on 29 3 25,
Final Result: Kilmore Rec 4 2 Willowbank.
It was a good day at the office for Kilmore Rec who got off to an impressive start with a goal from a volley by Yaroslav Panfilov in 3 minutes after a burst of quick pressure into the Willowbank half and winning a corner in this league clash writes Jim Masson.
This settled the home side down and they kept up the attacks on Willowbank and 2 minutes later with a move from Philly Doran to Rhys Clarke to Shay McGrattan, Panfilov slipped the ball into the left corner of the Willowbank goal.
But Kilmore had not finished their goal spree yet. On 9 minutes Shay McGrattan hit a header over the Willowbank defenders to the top left corner putting them 3 goals in the lead stunning the visitors.
Willowbank did try and fight back and Matthew Reid had two efforts at the Kilmore goal but keeper Laurence McGonigle was on form.
Shay McGrattan was just wide on a volley on 17 minutes and then Ryhs Clarke charged in to face keeper Malachy Thompson who closed the shot down blocking the kick in the nick of time.
CHECK OUT ACTION PHOTOS ON DOWN NEWS FACEBOOK
But shell-shocked Willowbank tried to fight back into the game and Padraig Hamilton and Declan Gill both had chances to score. But eventually Ryan McAreavey rattled the ball in close to the Kilmore goal pulling one back on 35 minutes.
The second half commenced and Willowbank’s Clarke hit the post with an early volley. Willowbank were showing to be more effective into this half as they used both wings more trying to cut the ball across to the goal mouth and were genereally pressing more.
There was a moment of drama when Doran cross to Clarke on the left… his cross just ran across the front of the goal on 60 minutes without any takers.
Willowbank midfielder Eamonn McFadden took a kick at the Kilmore goal but Jack Larkin blocked it well.
Then Clarke made a blistering run past several Willowbank defenders and shot at goal but his effort was blocked.
Willowbank were slowly coming back into the game but the Kilmore back line were doing their job fairly well.
Kilmore were finding more space again and before long Eoion McGrattan got behind the back line and was on-side and nailed the 4th goal for Kilmore on 76 minutes. By 80 minutes both teams had fallen out into a conflagaration and the game became somewhat disjointed.
Conor Curran hit an excellent free kick at the Willowbank goal but it was well saved by keeper Thompson.
On 84 minutes, Reid crossed to the Kilmore goal area and sub Eoghan Brennan headed home to make the score 4-2.
CHECK OUT ACTION PHOTOS ON DOWN NEWS FACEBOOK
Kilmore Rec are current NAFL Division 1A leaders on 53 points having played 25 games but Lisburn Rangers are chasing them having just played 20 games sitting on 48 points. Dunmurray YM are dark horses in 4th place having played 18 matches and are on 40 points.
If Kilmore Rec finish third, they will face another season in Division 1A but they will be counting every point from on in in the hope of promotion to the premier league.
Trailing at the bottom of 1A, Killyleagh YC and Ballynahinch are struggling and could likely face relegation.
Kilmore Rec: Subs: 1 Laurence McGonagle (GK) 2 John Mahoney 3 Conor Curran 4 Jack Larkin (C) 5 Yaroslav Panfilov 6 Joseph Burns 7 Shay McGrattan 8 Anton McGrattan 9 Philip Doran 10 Michael Carvill 11 Ryhs Clarke. Subs: 12 Jonathan Murray 14 Eoin McGrattan 15 Sean Bell.
Willowbank FC: 1 Malachy Thompson (GK) 2 Oisin Crawford 3 Padraig Hamilton 4 Matthew Reid 5 Eamon McFadden 6 Noel Halfpenny 7 Declan Gill 8 Pearse Devine (C) 9 Gerard Doran 10 Patrick McIlKenny 11 Ryan McAreavey. Subs: 12 Eamonn Huges 14 Lee McGuinness 15 Eoghan Brennan.
