The NAFL
League Division 1
Killyleagh YC 51st Bangor OB 0
RED hot Jack Sharvin destroyed 1st Bangor with a four goal showing on Saturday.
Tommy Kincaid’s improving Bangor side arrived at The Showgrounds hoping to narrow the gap to Killyleagh in the Amateur League’s Premier Section basement zone but ended up on the receiving end of one of their heaviest defeats of the season after running into Sharvin’s goal blitz and a superb all round YC team performance writes Chris Hagan.
There were only two minutes on the clock when Sharvin had his team ahead. A neat exchange of passes with B J McMenamin left him one on one with Bangor keeper Carl O’Neill, and Sharvin steered the ball home.
In the next 20 minutes 1st Bangor belied their position in the relegation zone with Diarmaid McPhillips creating a good chance for Ryan Oliver, and then YC keeper Aaron Carberry fumbled away Connor Ogle’s free kick in a game that was wide open in the early stages.
Killyleagh were clinical in their finishing, though, and after 23 minutes it was 2-0 with Sharvin showing total composure to finish off after Keegan Rice created the opening with a super run and cheeky back heel.
Stevie Kennedy was just wide with a blistering shot after the ball had been played inside Bangor full back Sammy Wallace, the former YC legend, after 25 minutes by Jack Sharvin.
It was still end to end and it took an outstanding block from Michael McGarrity three minutes later to deny Oliver after more fine work by McPhillips.
Killyleagh started to take control after this and Charlie Holland’s surging run ended with him picking out Kennedy, but he was denied by a fine save with his feet from O’Neill. Soon afterwards the keeper produced another good save to deny Rice after McMenamin had created the chance. And he produced a brilliant third save from Barry Treacy after Jack Sharvin sliced the defence open.
After the interval, McPhillips missed a big chance for the visitors and they were made to pay in the 53rd minute when Killyleagh put the game beyond them. Kennedy was brought down by the keeper for a spot kick which Jack Sharvin smashed home to complete his hat triick.
Ten minutes later and Sharvin had his and his side’s fourth. Another super run from Rice ended with him threading through for Kennedy and when the keeper saved, Sharvin finished to make it 4-0.
Bangor were in danger of being over-run and Kennedy was denied by another fantastic save after Sharvin had shown some outrageous skill in the penalty box in the 67th minute.
But it was only a temporary respite as Killyleagh made it 5-0 a minute later. Jack Sharvin picked out Kennedy who unleashed an explosive shot. When it was knocked out, Mark Murray was on hand to slot it home.
Killyleagh were forced to play out the final 10 minutes with 10 men after Rice was given a straight red card for reacting to a late challenge. However, 1st Bangor never looked like narrowing the margin with Darren McConnell controlling midfield, supported by the hard working McMenamin taking up a new role, and McGarrity and Jon Joe Sharvin commanding in defence, alongside Jonny Murray and Danny Morgan.
Paul Sharvin’s team are back on the road this weekend with an away trip in the Clarence Cup to the Shankill side that knocked them out of the competition at the fourth round stage last March.
Killyleagh YC : Aaron Carberry, Jonathan Murray, Christian Holland, Jonathan Sharvin (C), Michael McGarrity, Darren McConnell, Keegan Rice, Barry Treacy, Brendan McMenamin, Jack Sharvin, Stephen Kennedy. Subs: Mark Murray, Daniel Morgan.
51st Bangor OB’s : Carl O’Neill, Samuel Wallace, Marc Cuthbert, Thomas Moore, Jordan Blair (C), Aaron Caldwell, Ryan Oliver, Dean Moore. Diarmaid McPhilips, Connor Ogle, Sam McCullough. Sub: Christian Fegan.
