Brown inspires Maiden City

Maiden City Academy U12...5

Cliftonville U12...4

MAIDEN City Academy Under 12 hosted Cliftonville Under 12 on Saturday morning in the national league and came out on top by the odd goal in nine.

The game started in lively fashion but neither side were able to create anything clear cut in the opening exchanges. Once the game settled down City found their stride and were soon in the lead. Josh Donnell received the ball inside the area and done well to find a yard and hit his shot on the swivel which crept under the keeper to put the home side in front.

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City continued to dominate possession but the Belfast side soon levelled the game up against the run of play. Very shortly after Micheal Brown put City back in control. He outpaced the right back before forcing a good save from the keeper only for the ball to find its way back to him and he made no mistake second time round.

Cliftonville were now showing signs of their potential and squared the game for the second time with a thunderous strike from 20 yards, good play down the visitors left lead to a good cross which City failed to clear and was met by the Cliftonville midfielder who left Jordan Devenney in the City goal helpless.

The second half was played in the same frenzied style as the first and it was again City who edged in front as the lively Brown was fed by Ronan Johnston and he eluded a few Cliftonville challenges before cleverly lifting the ball over the visitor’s keeper.

Although City looked like scoring with nearly every attack this was leaving gaps at the back and they were again exposed as the visitors levelled for a third time. But with City forwards on this form more goals were inevitable and Matthew Duffy on as a second half sub raced clear when the Cliftonville defender failed to clear. Duffy dispossessed him and ran with the ball keeping the defender at bay before rounding the keeper and slotting home to put City ahead again.

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City thought they had the game sealed when man of the match Brown turned provider beating two defenders getting inside the box and just when everyone thought he was about to get his hat trick he squared the ball Aaron Gardiner to slot home at the back post. City kept creating chances but failed to take any more of them.

Just when it seemed as the game had seen the last of goals Cliftonville pulled another back in the last minutes but City held on for a good victory over a very useful side; they now travel to Dungannon on Saturday.

Maiden City Academy U12: Devenney, Higgins, Johnston, O’Hara, McKinney, Thornton, Brown, McDermott, Moore, C McLaughlin, Donnell. Subs: O McLaughlin, Duffy, Walsh, Gardiner (all used).

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