A spirited comeback seals victory for Saintfield U17s against rivals Downpatrick U17s but loose out to Newhill in cup match
NIYFA Cup,
Monday 3 February,
Newhill U17 4 1 Saintfield United. U17s,
Newhill’s quality too much for Saintfield on the day
Saintfield faced their toughest challenge yet on Monday night in the last 32 of the NIYFA Cup, going up against premier side Newhill. Unfortunately for the Saints, they were on the receiving end of an early strike, showcasing Newhill’s intent right from the first minute.
A precise, incisive pass from the centre midfielder slipped between the centre half and full back, setting up their attacker to take a few touches before clinically finishing to give them an early lead.
Despite the setback, Saintfield regrouped, patching up the gaps and calming their nerves to give themselves the best possible chance against Newhill.
The strategy seemed effective, as Harry and Jamie valiantly battled against Newhill’s physical centre backs. Although clear-cut chances were scarce, Jonah and Luke formed a resilient partnership with midfielders Camden and Calum, establishing a robust first line of defence.
The backline stood firm against anything that filtered through, and while the final pass occasionally lacked precision, Saintfield could take pride in their first-half performance, remaining in contention for a potential upset in the 2nd half. However, the refreshed game plan was soon disrupted.
A Saintfield throw-in into the Newhill box was cleared, quickly transitioning into a counterattack down the left flank. A square ball to the striker doubled Newhill’s advantage, putting them two goals up. Undeterred, the Saints continued to chase and fight for possession.
But as time wore on, desperation for a goal and fatigue began to set in, due to Newhill’s effective possession play sapped their spirit.
A third goal followed when the ball was played down the left, and after a deflected block sent it spinning into the air, a Newhill attacker reacted first, scoring with a deflected shot past the helpless Patrick.
Patrick made a super save, palming the ball onto the underside of the crossbar to prevent a fourth goal momentarily.
But Newhill soon added another, with clever attacking play leading to a well-disguised pass to their attacker in the box, who poked the ball past the advancing Patrick.
Saintfield’s perseverance paid off in the closing minutes. Ronan made an excellent run down the corner, beating his man and forcing a save from the keeper. When the keeper spilled the ball, Jamie was quick to react and was brought down, earning a penalty.
Luke converted as he always does, getting Saintfield on the scoreboard and giving them something to fight for in the final five minutes. Camden was deservedly named Man of the Match for his relentless persistence in midfield and never-give-up attitude.
His 1v1 ability was key in breaking the Newhill press, creating space for his teammates. And despite suffering a calf injury in the last few moments, Camden was determined to stay on the field with his teammates for as long as possible, embodying the spirit of the team.
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SBYFL Division 1,
Saturday 8 February,
Final Score: Downpatrick U17 2 4 Saintfield United U17.
Saintfield’s exit from the cup earlier this week allowed them to focus all their efforts on the league campaign where they faced familiar rivals Downpatrick at Lough Moss.
As expected, a Saintfield fixture often signals early goals, and this match was no exception. Just three minutes in, after a series of intense 50/50 challenges in the final third, the ball found Jamie.
Positioned facing the goal, Jamie’s attempted dribble deflected off a defender’s leg landing perfectly for Harry, who took one touch to set himself before delivering a trademark finish into his favoured bottom corner, giving the Saints an early lead.
However, Downpatrick quickly regrouped and began to pose a threat through their forward line and set pieces.
A tricky bouncing ball in the box allowed a Downpatrick forward to sneak in a shot that hit the post, only for their striker to capitalize on the rebound from six yards out to level the score.
The match opened up with Saintfield creating several half-chances. Striker Jamie, known for his tireless runs down the channels, held onto the ball well under pressure and found Luke at the back post.
Luke’s challenging first-time volley, however, sailed over the bar.
Then energetic winger Ross showcased his quality by finding space in the middle, driving at the Downpatrick defence, and unleashing a fierce shot that skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Even full-backs Matthew D and Jackson got in on the action, with the latter delivering a clever cross that nearly resulted in a goal reminiscent of Benjamin Pavard’s stunning strike against Argentina in the 2018 World Cup, but it just missed wide.
Saintfield would rue their missed opportunities as confusion from a Downpatrick corner led to a free header at the back post. Despite Camden’s effort to block the bouncing ball on the goal line, it crept over, giving Downpatrick a hal-time lead.
Needing to score at least twice in the second half to secure three points, Saintfield knew an early goal was crucial. Enter Matthew D, who delivered an in-swinging corner that sailed past all shirts red and green, including the extended arm of the goalkeeper, and nestled into the far corner of the net, igniting the comeback with 25 minutes still on the clock.
The dynamic duo of Jonah and Ronan stretched the game on the wings, creating numerous problems for Downpatrick.
A pinpoint cross from Jonah found Ronan’s head, but he couldn’t generate enough power with a stooping header to beat the keeper.
The duo soon combined again when a blocked shot from Jonah ricocheted to Ronan, who expertly finished from a tight angle across the goalkeeper, sparking celebrations as the comeback appeared complete…for now.
With Matthew J returning, him and Ryan showed their defensive resilience in the centre which forced Downpatrick to search for opportunities elsewhere.
Saintfield’s renewed energy and tenacity ensured that every Downpatrick pass was intercepted or challenged, setting the stage for more attacks.
The victory was sealed when Jonah showed great determination to keep possession and passed the ball to Jamie on the flank. With his back to goal, Jamie turned and delivered yet another sumptuous aerial cross to Ronan, who, despite having work to do, calmly dispatched a first-time shot into the same corner as his earlier goal, completing his well-deserved brace.
This win propels Saintfield to the top of the table at the halfway stage, with a record of six wins, two draws, and two losses.
Matthew D was named Man of the Match for his stellar performance at right back. His crucial goal was instrumental in the comeback, but it was his ability to transition from defence to attack by consistently winning the ball back and finding a team-mate that helped Saintfield see out the game.
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