Outstanding result for South seconds

BELFAST HARLEQUINS SECONDS 4

THE Seconds made the trip to league leaders Harlequins on a wet Friday night. With previous results having dropped off from the fantastic start of the season form many would have believed that a depleted seconds squad would roll over. But this was not to be the case in a very tightly contested game. After a cagey opening 15 minutes the deadlock is finally broke by Harlequins. South fought back well and began to get more of a foothold in the game with every player working hard. South equalised with a quickly taken free and Alister squared to Ferris who had made his way to the back post for an easy finish past the keeper. The impressive Patric Cochrane then beat a few Harlequins players to play to Bittle who lashed the ball into Alister who deflected past the despairing Harlequins keeper. Harlequins then responded almost out of their shock to pile on the pressure with the South defence and midfield working very hard and showing good composure. South had threatened on plenty of occasions with the pace of the frontline and a quick counter attack allowed Alister to square the ball to Bittle who then put the ball in with composure. Then as expected Harlequins came back with even more focus and a lovely dink over Chris Alexander made it 3-2. Continued pressure followed and Alexander made a few good saves to deny the league leaders. South went in at halftime with the lead maybe slightly against the run of play. Harlequins were straight out of the traps in the second half and again applied a lot of pressure and equalised to make it 3-3 quickly. The young South team then showed a lot of composure with Hutchinson and Redpath particularly impressive at holding possession in the midfield. South won a short corner and after Bittle’s two previous hits had been saved Curragh the captain for the day took over to change it up and put a brilliant drag flick into the bottom left corner. South allowed Harlequins back into the game and rare slack defensive work allowed a hit top of the D leaving Alexander with no chance in nets. With both sides looking for the points the game became stretched and Conn’s pace in particular on the counter attack was causing problems. Hutchinson then won the game for South very close to full time with a brilliant solo goal going past three Harlequins players to the flick over the on rushing Harlequins keeper. A fitting end to a great game. Harlequins will definitely feel they did enough for at least a point but South will be over the moon with an outstanding result.