Pride for inexperienced South Seconds side despite defeat

The 2nds continued their build up to their Junior 1 league campaign with a hard fought match against Lisnagarvey 3rds at Friends’ School.

The young South side started brightly creating a number of chances in the early exchanges.

Though Garvey inevitably came into the game more as the half wore on, the South defence, marshalled by debutant Matt Frazer, coped admirably with all that the Hillsborough outfit had to throw at them.

To the credit of the inexperienced South Antrim team, the scores were level at half time.

Lisnagarvey began the second half determined to make up for the lack of goals in the first period.

After an extended spell of intense pressure Garvey took the lead with a neat finish.

Credit to the Lisburn team that they did not let their heads go down and they came back into the game strongly.

It was through some expert wing play from another South Antrim debutant Chris Arnott, on the left side of the pitch that lead to the first short corner of the half.

From this set piece Chris Redpath slid the ball towards the back post for John Semple to expertly deflect home bringing the home team level.

After this Garvey showed what has made them an ever present in Junior 1 over the last number of seasons, scoring two quick goals whilst the Lisburn team were tiring from chasing the game for the majority of the second half.

The home side they played to the final whistle and were duly rewarded.

Late on, some neat stick work by schoolboy Jamie Dawson bought him time to find James Brown in the Lisnagarvey circle.

Brown played a precision pass to Mark Conn through a crowded D, who in turn laid the ball off for Neil Wilson to power home a deserved second goal for the home side.

Having seen chances go begging throughout the game, the South know they should’ve salvaged at least a point from the game. Thanks must go to George Redpath for umpiring the game.