26 Apr 2008 - U9's Steady Ship After Shaky Start
Mid Ulster Youth League
U9 Mini Soccer
Portadown FC Youth 0 - 2 Tandragee Youth
In the first game of the day the Ports came up against a determined Tandragee side who went at the Ports from the first whistle. The first chance fell to the Tandragee side with a well taken free kick outside the box which went just over the bar. Tandragee created a few more chances and the Ports were lucky not to find themselves behind. Daniel Robb hit one of Ports rare chances from his own half but was denied by the keeper who parried it away, it fell to Tommy Livingstone who fired wide of the post. Tandragee played some neat football and it finally paid off for them when the ball fell to Ryan Whyte who scored to put Tandragee 1 - 0 in front. Taking nothing away from Tandragee but the young Ports were just not at it in this first half. At the start of the 2nd half Tandragee went straight at the Ports and only sturdy defending from Robbie Grant and Daniel Robb denied them in their efforts to increase their lead. Robb himself had another fine effort saved, and then just as it looked as the Ports might fight their way back into the game Tandragee earned a corner and in a scramble in the Ports goalmouth the ball found its way into the net off a Ports player for Tandragee to go 2 - 0 up. Portadown fought back hard but to no avail they just couldn't get the breaks they needed and Tandragee ran out 2 - 0 winners.
Portadown FC Youth 1 - 0 Sunnyside
Next up for the Ports were Sunnyside and I'm sure manager Clive Robb was hoping for a much improved effort from his side. Well the Ports got an early corner which was taken by Craig Taylor, the Sunnyside defence got it clear but it fell to Livingstone who put it just wide of the post. Almost immediately the same player fired just wide again. Then Taylor went wide with a fine effort. It looked as though nothing was going to fall right for the Ports as they wondered what they had to do to get the ball into the net. Sunnyside responded to this pressure with lovely one touch football down the right wing to put Shay Gerahty clear but Lee Bonis made a fine save to keep it at 0 - 0 at the halfway stage.Just at the start of the 2nd half the Ports earned a throw in with William Irwin launching a throw into the box & the ball fell to Owen McConville who rolled it home to finally get the goal the Ports deserved. It was a game of ebb and flow after this with Bonis pulling of a couple of good saves to keep the Ports in front. As the game was drawing to a close Portadown earned a corner taken by William Irwin which nearly found its way into the net. Special mention has to go to Sunnyside keeper James McKee who pulled of a string of good saves throughout the game to keep it at 1 - 0.
Portadown FC Youth 3 - 0 Lurgan Town
Lurgan Town were the Ports next opposition, and Tyler Blair who had gone into goal for this game was called into action right away as Town launched an attack but Tyler denied them with a good save. Portadown went straight up the other end and after a bit of a scramble Lee Bonis got on the end of a cross to put the Ports 1 - 0 in front The Town keeper made a couple of good saves to keep the Ports at a slender lead. Lurgan then hit the post from a corner and created a couple of good chances only to be denied by Robb and Grant who were now on top of their game. It was much of the same in 2nd half with the Ports piling on the pressure and Town having sporadic chances with which the Ports coped well with. Irwin who had came on as a sub showed some nice touches and a good turn of pace down the wing. Taylor fired in a good shot which the keeper managed to clear but only as far as Livingstone who worked it onto his right foot and fired it home with a great strike. Ben Williamson who came into the team today for one of the missing players put in good performances also. The Ports continued to go forward and earned a corner which was taken by Livingstone. A defender headed it clear but only to Craig Taylor who got the loose ball to make it 3 - 0 and that was the final result. So after a poor start to the day they managed to turn it around and get back into winning ways. Well done lads and thanks to all the teams who took part today for their commitment.
Team: Lee Bonis, Daniel Robb, Robbie Grant, Kris Calvert, Owen McConville, Craig Taylor, William Irwin, Tommy Livingstone, Tyler Blair, Ben Williamson.
Report by Sid Irwin