Southside’s thrilling season continues as they claim semi-final place

On a night of torrential rain under the lights the Southside boys did not waste any time making their intentions known when after only minutes Stewart Nixon found himself through on goal only to be denied by the Shankill keeper.

The deadlock was broken on ten minutes when the influential Leon Bonnes headed home at the near post from a Stewart Nixon long throw.

From a quick free kick on the half way line the home side equalised on 25 minutes. A high ball over the Southside defence allowed the Shankill striker a run through on goal and he slotted home past the advancing Lewis Erwin.

Southside were dealt another major blow only minutes after when Stewart Nixon had to leave the action through injury adding to the already long list of casualties.

Lewis Erwin made a couple of excellent saves to deny the Shankill just before the break as both teams attacked at every opportunity.

On 65 minutes a through ball was chased by David Calderwood forcing the Shankill keeper to race out and collect the ball but as he dived at the feet of David his momentum carried him outside the penalty area and the referee quite rightly awarded Southside the free kick right on the edge of the eighteen yard area.

Standing over the ball captain Jonny Logan passed the ball square to Sam McNiece who unleashed a bullet like shot which flew into the net before the home keeper could even move. The big crowd of loyal, faithful and very wet Southside fans went absolutely wild.

Shankill again on 75 minutes were denied by the huge figure of Lewis Erwin as he saved again at the feet of a Shankill forward.

In the dying minutes the Southside team showed just how much they have matured over the past two seasons as they retained possession and frustrated the home team in their quest for the equaliser.

The team showed incredible belief in themselves to travel to Belfast on a wet Monday night to beat a very good Shankill team in their own back yard and now look forward to the semi final against Rosario or Ballyclare.

As the season approaches boiling point it’s no more than deserved that the team are still in contention and competing in all competitions rather than fulfilling meaningless fixtures to complete the season. This is the reward to all the players and officials since all the hard work began in pre-season back in July last year.

Squad: Erwin, Henry, Allen, Logan, McCready, Nixon, Graham, Bonnes, Corrigan, McNiece, Calderwood, McDowell, J Stewart.

* Southside’s scheduled weekend match against St Mary’s was postponed due to a bereavement.