FIRSTS LOSE OUT IN A 7-GOAL THRILLER 

Clarence Cup Round 2

18th Newtownabbey 4 – 3 Carryduff Colts

It took less than a minute for the Colts to take the lead in this game.

Lovely play by Coyle who flicked the ball over two defenders before unleashing a beautiful volley over the keeper 0-1 to The Colts.

Carryduff were a constant threat going forward with the speed of Sherry, McNally and McSorley and the guile of Brownlee picking the passes.

However against the run of play the home team equalised with a fortunate rebound off a Colts defender which dropped kindly for the big centre forward to tap in 1-1.

The Colts showing a different resilience in the past few games kept attacking knowing the speed was doing 18th damage and it was Coyle who played a lovely through ball for Sherry to run on to and elegantly slotted past their keeper to restore the lead 1-2.

That is how it finished at halftime with the Colts having a deserved lead against the 1B team.

The second half started with 18th changing their formation to try and combat the Colts forward play and to an extent it did for the first part of the second half.

Duncan, Laverty, McDonnell and Murphy were under increasing pressure at the back and it was not long before 18th scored their equaliser 2-2.

The Colts never say die attitude came to the fore once again and it was that man again Conor Coyle who latched on to a poor clearance by the 18th keeper to casually stroke the ball with the outside of his foot from 30 yards to once again restore the lead 2-3.

The Colts brought fresh legs on to try and keep on top of the game but it was not long before 18th equalised yet again and this time there was to be no repeat of a fourth goal for this young Colts team led brilliantly in the middle by the aggressive McBride.

Sadly it was 18th who scored the decider with 8 minutes remaining but the great attitude of the Colts sprung them into the final attack of the game and it was the three substitutes Maynes, Laverty and Rafferty who combined and nearly set up 20 minutes of extra time but unfortunately it was not to be 4-3 game over.

I have to say that the first half performance from this young team will live long in the memory.

MOTM : Conor Coyle

McCann, Duncan P, Laverty S, McDonnell, Murphy, McNally (Maynes) McBride, Coyle, Sherry, Brownlee (Laverty D) McSorley (Rafferty)