10 May 2008 - Life Is On The Sunnyside For U9's
U9 Mid Ulster Mini Soccer
Portadown FC Youth 2 - 0 Sunnyside
Both teams created chances right from the kick off and Portadown's first two fell to Tommy Livingstone, the first after a ball from Craig Taylor but it went just shy of the post and the 2nd produced a good save from Sunnyside keeper. Taylor next up with a fine effort which also went wide of the post. Sunnyside's first effort came from Shay Gerahty as it went just over the bar. Taylor and Livingstone were combining well in middle with some nice moves and the other pair at the back Robbie Grant and Daniel Robb also performed well. Geraghty was at it again with another fine effort for Sunnyside that produced a good save from the Ports keeper Lee Bonis. As Sunnyside went on the attack again they were intercepted by Taylor in his own penalty area, he picked up the ball went on a run down the left wing beating a couple of players then dummying another found himself in front of the keeper, he drew the keeper one way with a wee shimmy and then calmly slotted it into the net 1 - 0 to the Ports and a terrific goal from Taylor. The 2nd half saw William Irwin come on as a sub and he was in the thick of the action right away, he played in a great ball to Tyler Blair who touched it out Zac Wilson who in turn fired just wide of the mark. Portadown went on another run and this time Robb played it out to Irwin who played in another precision pass to Craig Baird who fired it home for 2 - 0 to the Ports. Portadown created couple more chances through Baird & Wilson but Sunnyside's keeper made a couple of good saves. They also went close themselves with Geraghty. It ended 2 - 0 to the Ports and a good start to the day.
Portadown FC Youth 0 - 1 Lurgan Town
Portadown were keen to carry on were they had just left of and within the first 3 minutes had at least 3 or 4 good chances. Irwin played in a good ball to Livingstone and he played it back to Irwin who pushed out to Blair whose shot went just wide. Baird & Wilson also went close. Lurgan Town earned themselves a corner and it was cleared by Wilson, the ball fell to Irwin who laid it of to Blair who went wide with his effort. Lurgan's keeper then made a couple of great saves from Wilson and Livingstone. At the half way stage it was 0 - 0. At the start of the 2nd half Lurgan launched an attack and just as it looked like they had found the opening goal Baird stepped up to clear it of the line to keep it at 0 - 0. The game flowed to & fro with most of it fought in midfield with both teams evenly matched. Lurgan were awarded a free kick and Harvey Shaw stepped up to take it and thundered it against the post, a lucky escape for the Ports. Lurgan earned another free kick, this time Matthew Russell took it and the Ports keeper fumbled it and it was 1 - 0 to Lurgan. Hard as the Ports fought they were unable to find an equalizing goal and it finished 1 - 0 to Lurgan.
Portadown FC Youth 7 - 1 Sunnyside B
Portadown were up against a make shift Sunnyside B team with a lot of their team making first appearances. Bonis who came out for this one and he had the Ports early chance that went wide. Taylor then looped one over the bar, it was the same player moments later who lobbed one over the keepers head to put the Ports 1 - 0 in front. Bonis and Taylor went close with another couple of efforts. The ball then fell to Wilson who was sporting a new pair of bright orange boots made it 2 - 0 after unleashing a fierce shot from the right wing. As the Ports piled on the pressure Sunnyside's young keeper made a string of good saves to keep it at 2 - 0. Taylor went close with another couple of chances then Robb popped up to make it 3 - 0 and the floodgates opened. Ryan Lewsley nipped in to pull one back for Sunnyside just before Wilson made it 4.1 at half time. It was more of the same from the Ports in 2nd half with Taylor grabbing a couple of quick goals for the Ports 5 & 6th and just before the end Owen McConville popped up to make it 7th heaven for Portadown. A couple of positive points for the young Sunnyside team was the performance of Ryan Lewsley on his first appearance and even though the young keeper conceded 7 he made a string of good saves.
Team: Lee Bonis, Daniel Robb, Robbie Grant, Zac Wilson, Tyler Blair, Tommy Livingstone, William Irwin, Craig Taylor, Craig Baird, Owen McConville.
On the sporting side, Sunnyside were a player or two short and Tyler Blair played a couple of games for them and scored 4 goals in the two games.
Report by Sid Irwin