Match Report

Match : 2nd XI v Ballynahinch 3rds
Date : 2006-10-07
Venue : A
Score : 1-2
Scorers : K. Chalmers

By L. Currie

The second eleven travelled to Ballynahinch on a cold wet friday night to play on their famous gravel surface.The match started of as expected with the hinch team applying some sustained pressure on the East goal, but after 10 minutes or so the boys got used to playing on this unfamiliar surface and started to dominate the game.
Indeed it was East who were creating chances and peppering the hinch goalmouth with crosses and shots. Unfortunately we just couldnt seem to get on the end of anything. The back four were coping admirably with anything ballynahinch threw at them in particular D Kerr and S Cummins who let nothing by them. Our very youthfull midfield of M Baillie, K Leslie and A Russell were completely dominating their more experienced midfield. Indeed it was from this dominance that East managed to score with Kriss Leslie tackling their centre midfielder and spraying the ball out to Mark bailie who in turn picked out Emmet Carlin on the right wing. Emmet then majestically ran at their left back turning him inside out before slipping a cross to Keith Chalmers at the back post who despite the attention of two defenders and a keeper managed to slot the ball home. So at half time and East had a deserved 1-0 lead.

Then came the second half were East continued where they had left off and were putting pressure on the hinch goal particularily Alan Russell who was having an excellent night in right mid. Unfortunately the decisive second goal never came and while we were pushing forward hinch started playing long ball counter attacks. It was from here that they scored their two goals from two short corners. Then for the last ten minutes of the game East were encamped round their circle trying to get an equaliser, which unfortunately didnt come and the game ended.
All in all it was a very enjoyable game and East did themselves proud with some tremendous play. Particularily pleasing was the midkield of Kriss, Mark and Alan who played brilliantly and if keep putting these performances in week in week out will surely be pushing for a chance with the first eleven.

Alan Russell