5 May 2008 - Portadown U11's Heroic Effort Not Enough
U11 Lisburn Junior Invitational League
In their final two games Portadown FC Youth finished the league season with a draw against eventual league winners Hillsborough Boys and a win against Ballyclare in the last game to confirm the runners up spot.
Portadown FC Youth 2 - 2 Hillsborough Boys
Portadown knew nothing short of a win would do if they were to win the league, but despite a heroic effort the young Ports were cruelly denied in the closing minutes what would have been a historic first Lisburn League title for Portadown FC Youth.
Considering what was at stake, Portadown in the first half put in their best 30 minutes of the season. They were completely dominant in all areas of the pitch, the commitment was as total as the football. Jordan Lyttle and Brett McKinney scored, Scott Rae hit the post, Peter Campbell and Eoghan McCawl both came close all in a first half that Portadown didn't want to end. However the half ended at 2 - 0 and the league title was within sight.
The second half was a much tighter affair with Hillsborough responding to the Ports first half display and they got a goal back early in the half to give them the encouragement they needed. The rest of the half was very tense and as the midfield battle raged very few chances were being created. Portadown continued to be the better team and with only minutes to go it looked as if they were going to see the game out when Hillsborough scored to equalise. This was only their second shot on target all game and there wasn't time to respond. The final whistle blew and no-one could believe that Portadown had been robbed of the result they deserved.
To say the boys were disappointed was of course an understatement but they had no reason to be. They had given absolutely everything possible. They have won a lot of admirers for their performances not just in this match but for the way they have conducted themselves on and off the pitch all season and for this they should be very proud of themselves.
Prior to the game we had asked people to come along and support the boys and if there had been a trophy for the best support we would definitely have won that, thanks for the great support on the day.
Team: Ryan Purvis, Ryan Wells, Nathan Thompson, Jordan Lyttle, Luke Adams, Stephen Duke, Eoghan McCawl, Brett McKinney, Peter Campbell, Scott Rae, Jonathan Douglas. Subs: Jake Richardson, Nathan Woolsey, Mark Whitten.
Two nights prior to Portadowns final game with Ballyclare, Hillsborough won their final league game to be confirmed as champions. Congratulations go to them from all at Portadown FC Youth U11's. They say the the league table never lies and Hillsborough have now completed 60 games over two seasons with only two defeats a fantastic effort which deserves reward.
Portadown FC Youth 7 - 3 Ballyclare
They also say you can judge a good team by how they respond to defeat. Back in October 2007 Portadown lost 4 - 0 to Hillsborough in the league. This win against Ballyclare means that since that game the team have played twenty five league games won 22 and drawn 3, not a bad response. Indeed that was their only league defeat of the season, a record which would have won many other leagues. For the record the the goalscorers in this game were Scott Rae with two, which means he finishes top scorer with a total of 48 exactly the same as last years Lisburn League total, consistent or what! Peter Campbell with a hat trick making him second highest scorer with 22 in his first season with the team another great effort. Luke Adams and Nathan Thompson collected the other two goals.
Team: Mark Whitten, Jake Richardson, Nathan Woolsey, Luke Adams, Jordan Lyttle, Stephen Duke, Eoghan McCawl, Brett McKinney, Peter Campbell, Scott Rae, Jonathan Douglas. Subs: Nathan Thompson, Ryan Wells, Ryan Purvis.
A fantastic season from the boys who gave all was asked of them and then more, two cup semi-finals and league runners-up, while there is no hiding the disappointment of not collecting a winners trophy manager Paul Rae will not put result orientated football before the football development of the players, the key is to encourage players technique at this age and the trophies will come or not. The team continues to go from strength to strength, and just as the team has moved on from last year I have no doubt manager Paul Rae and coach Gary McCullough who are to be congratulated on their efforts are already looking at how the team can move on again for next year.
A message from the boys:
Sorry we didn't do it Granny P but we'll be back next year having another go for you, thanks for all your help and support.
Report by Brian Lyttle