The Sky Blues U15s ended Glebeside's 100% record with a fantastic away win. The 14 players who travelled to Ballymoney all contributed to a great performance. The Sky Blues prolific front two of Ciaran Moore and Shane Heavron both scored two goals.
Ciaran Moore opened the scoring after a fine move, which ended with Moore taking up a great position to head home a pin point cross from Heavron. It didn't take long for the Sky Blues to extend their lead when Heavron raced through the Glebeside defence to lift the ball over the on-rushing keeper. A mention must be given to the superb through ball from Aedan Kerr.
The Sky Blues went in at half time with a three goal lead, Heavron providing another fine finish. Tomás McLaughlin and Jason Ritchie put in a great first half performance providing a solid base in the centre of midfield from which the Sky Blues built on.
The 'Wee Sky Blues' suffered a shaky first fifteen minutes after the break and allowed Glebeside to take control of the game. After a series of scares at the back Glebeside pulled a goal back. Another five minutes of torture followed and luckily Glebeside failed to punish a nervy Sky Blues team. Gradually the Sky Blues team began to exert control on the game again and the defence of Gary Doyle, Matthew Higgins, Fintan Kerr and Ben McAllister began to look solid again. Aedan Kerr and Oisín Moran stretched the Glebeside defence from the wings as the Sky Blues pushed for another goal. The goal finally came when Matthew Higgins hit a speculative shot from all of thirty yards only to see it come crashing off the Glebeside crossbar. But as ever, Ciaran Moore showed his strikers instincts to follow up with a cool finish.
The Sky Blues brought on Paul McGrath who slotted into the solid defence with ease, Harry Mulholland who was unlucky not to score after a cheeky turn in the box, and Kyle McElhatton who provided great cover on the left hand side. Jonnie Ritchie acted as a great sweeper for the young Sky Blues through out the game and relieved the pressure time after time.
Praise must go to the young Sky Blues team for a really disciplined performance in the face of provocation on and off the pitch. Special thanks must also go to Glebeside's coach Hubert McVicker who was a gentleman from start to finish.
This now sets the standard for the rest of the season!!
Paul G.