‘Derby’ stalemate for Southside Youths

The last time the two sides met in the league it ended 0-0.

This was to be a full dress rehearsal for the Knockout Cup Final between the two teams which took place last night (Monday).

An injury depleted Southside started with a few players playing in unfamiliar positions but they were up for the occasion.

Northend started the better of the 2 teams with Southside slow to the ball in the early exchanges. But as the game went on things got better. Sam McNiece and Josh McCready began to control midfield with Matthew Henry winning the ball for Southside in every tackle he made.

Northend had their share of the ball without ever causing any concern to Lewis Erwin in the Southside goal.

On 20 minutes a Sam McNiece header at the back post was somehow headed off the line as Southside pressed forward.

A Ryan Corrigan cross from the left found Leon Bonnes who neatly laid off the ball, again to McNiece, who this time watched as his well hit effort from the edge of the box was saved by the home goalkeeper.

But it looked like a goal was coming and indeed it did on 30 minutes when a long throw from Sam McNiece caused confusion in the Northend penalty area and there was Ryan Stewart to guide the ball into the far corner of the net with the slightest of touches. 1-0.

The game continued to sway from end to end with no further goals before the whistle blew for half time.

The second half started with Southside picking up from where they left off.

Kyle Jackson, Jordan Kirk and Jonny Logan at the back for Southside were dealing comfortably with the Northend frontline as constant long balls were played in their direction. Dylan Hamill on the Southside right was working tirelessly to create for his team. Josh McCready latched onto a through ball before neatly lobbing the ball over the Northend keeper only to see his effort land on the roof of the net.

The score remained 1-0 until 60 minutes when the home team broke down the left. The ball was played across the Southside goal and as it was cleared to the edge of the penalty area a Northend player shot home to level the match at 1-1.

The game swayed from end to end in the remaining minutes without any real chances for either team.

A sound performance from a weakened Southside squad.

Southside: Erwin, Kirk, Jackson, Henry, Logan(C), McNiece, McCready, Bonnes, R.Stewart, Corrigan, Hamill, J.Stewart, McDowell.